# Realistic ways that the shutdown could end **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 22, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215 "2019-01-22T18:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/61 "2019-01-24T03:49:05Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Here’s my theory. Pelosi is 78 years old. She had opposition in her primary race, and opposition from within the party leading up to her election as Speaker. She knows this will be her last time around. > > Up to now, Trump has gotten his way by threatening to hold his breath until he turns blue. But Pelosi literally has _ **nothing to lose** _. Imagine a game of Russian Roulette where Trump pulls out a revolver with one bullet, and Pelosi says, “Let’s make it interesting,” and pulls out a fully loaded revolver. > > I don’t know if Trump has ever been out-crazied in a negotiation, but Pelosi is willing and able to try it and see what happens. Pelosi (may) have nothing to lose but members of her caucus might. She only serves at their pleasure. Same with McConnell in the senate. All I am saying here is Pelosi/McConnell still have people to answer to even if they, personally, could not give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![str8cashhomie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@str8cashhomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/str8cashhomie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/62 "2019-01-24T04:33:50Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I’m curious where, at this point, they think the GOP base will go? The biggest reason GOP politicians don’t want to break with Trump is that they’ll lose a primary to a far right candidate. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/63 "2019-01-24T12:04:02Z")
> [@str8cashhomie](#): > > The biggest reason GOP politicians don’t want to break with Trump is that they’ll lose a primary to a far right candidate. I respectfully disagree. I think the real reason is that they both have the same underlying goal, which is screwing over Democrats. They just go about in a more politically correct (to use the term literally) way than Trump does. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/64 "2019-01-24T12:50:46Z")
I doubt Trump cares specifically about screwing over Democrats. He’s probably content as long as he’s screwing over _somebody_. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/65 "2019-01-24T13:50:06Z")
I assume Trump will soon get a bill with money for border security that he can claim is a win and the Dems will point out that there is no money for a wall so they won. Whatever - the shutdown can’t continue. The shut down is just the beginning. Pelosi will continue to control the situation. When the STOU does occur, it will not be the traditional love fest. It may resemble the British Parliament. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/66 "2019-01-24T14:39:35Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > And you know this…how?:dubious: Don’t know for sure. Haven’t heard stories and most people I talk to don’t seem mobilized over the issue. They haven’t made a deal, so that is one clue they aren’t being pressured to do so. There were those govt workers who had a protest demanding money extorted from taxpayers, but that’s about it. I hear mostly “SMH another Trump moment” and a little “They should be building the wall anyway, fuck ‘em” from people unfamiliar with my political leanings as I don’t make that a part of my public life. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/67 "2019-01-24T16:07:23Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Pelosi (may) have nothing to lose but members of her caucus might. She only serves at their pleasure. Same with McConnell in the senate. > > All I am saying here is Pelosi/McConnell still have people to answer to even if they, personally, could not give a shit. Sure, but the Democrats have a cause now- many of them got elected specifically to resist Trump and the GOP shenanigans. The Republicans don’t quite have that level of ideological drive this time around from what I can tell; they’re just relying on party discipline more than any deep-seated ideological need for this wall. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@songsearch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/68 "2019-01-24T17:12:06Z")
Trump is carrying out one of his campaign promises, ‘draining the swamp’. Just not the way we expected it to happen. The surprising thing is how little things have been affected by the shutdown (so far), except for 800,000 paychecks, if that’s the correct number. This may be an indication of how much bloat exists in our gov’t. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/69 "2019-01-24T17:30:29Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > The surprising thing is how little things have been affected by the shutdown (so far), except for 800,000 paychecks, if that’s the correct number. This may be an indication of how much bloat exists in our gov’t. The impact has been small because **people are working without pay**. The country would grind to a complete halt if every unpaid “essential” worker refused to work. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@songsearch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/70 "2019-01-24T17:58:58Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > The impact has been small because **people are working without pay**. The country would grind to a complete halt if every unpaid “essential” worker refused to work. I think what’s going to happen over time is that the really essential positions will be funded as the obvious need for them arises. When it becomes apparent which jobs are non-essential, those people will be not be returning. This may be the best outcome that can be expected. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/71 "2019-01-24T18:11:22Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > Trump is carrying out one of his campaign promises, ‘draining the swamp’. Just not the way we expected it to happen. The surprising thing is how little things have been affected by the shutdown (so far), except for 800,000 paychecks, if that’s the correct number. This may be an indication of how much bloat exists in our gov’t. I have yet to hear one person say with a straight face that Trump has made any progress regarding his promise to “drain the swamp.” We’re deeper, by far, in the swamp then we’ve ever been. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/72 "2019-01-24T18:14:02Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > I think what’s going to happen over time is that the really essential positions will be funded as the obvious need for them arises. When it becomes apparent which jobs are non-essential, those people will be not be returning. This may be the best outcome that can be expected. If you Republicans thought all those government workers were so non-essential, why didn’t you cut their jobs two years ago? Again, we’re not going to save money by not paying the government workers. We’re still going to have to pay them, only we won’t have the work they would have done. Or do you expect we’ll be able to hire people to work for us, and when they’ve done the work refuse to pay them? Yeah, Trump does it all the time. You wanna be like Donald Trump when you grow up? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/73 "2019-01-24T18:16:45Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > I think what’s going to happen over time is that the really essential positions will be funded as the obvious need for them arises. When it becomes apparent which jobs are non-essential, those people will be not be returning. This may be the best outcome that can be expected. I don’t think it’s as easy as looking at a job and drawing a clear, bright line between “essential” and “non-essential,” especially when there’s disagreement on what those terms actually mean. So I’m skeptical that this will happen. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/74 "2019-01-24T18:21:28Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > You do realize that the Federal employees are going to get paid, right? And that we’ll have to pay them their back salary even though they weren’t working, right? > > This is like saving money by refusing to pay your credit card bill. Yeah, but as the shut down drag on and on, some of those federal workers are going to find other jobs, and not come back to work for the government. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/75 "2019-01-24T18:22:58Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > Trump is carrying out one of his campaign promises, ‘draining the swamp’. Just not the way we expected it to happen. The surprising thing is how little things have been affected by the shutdown (so far), except for 800,000 paychecks, if that’s the correct number. This may be an indication of how much bloat exists in our gov’t. I suggest that the fact that you personally have not perceived much change may not be the best indicator whether “things have been affected.” I am all for the intelligent and rational identification and elimination of unnecessary government programs and staff, but this approach is neither intelligent nor rational. I’ll also offer my impression that when gov’t staff positions are eliminated, those duties are quite often assigned to contractors. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/76 "2019-01-24T18:23:53Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So you’re wishing for airplane collisions and/or food poisoning? Nice. :rolleyes: I’m not WISHING for it. I’m saying only that amount of tragedy would get enough republicans on the side of ending the shutdown. That’s why it should happen in Oklahoma – if it happens in California they’ll say God is punishing them, we shouldn’t interfere. ---
**Author:** ![songsearch1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@songsearch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/songsearch1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/77 "2019-01-24T18:46:57Z")
> [@](#): > > I am all for the intelligent and rational identification and elimination of unnecessary government programs and staff, but this approach is neither intelligent nor rational. I’ll also offer my impression that when gov’t staff positions are eliminated, those duties are quite often assigned to contractors. “intelligent and rational identification”. Seems to never happen. All Congress does is grow the government, and in many cases, positions are created to compensate people who provided support for the congressperson at election time. The ‘duties’, if there are any, are only contracted out to pay off, you guessed it, people who provided support for the congressperson at election time. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/78 "2019-01-24T18:52:15Z")
Not seeing any ill effects from one month out is no way to determine if someone is redundant or not. For all we know some of the people working might not be needed, and some who are not might be needed in the medium to long term – the slam dunk example for this is auditors, who might not catch something in a month but most certainly are worth it to have so we know where the money is even going. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/79 "2019-01-24T19:01:25Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > Trump is carrying out one of his campaign promises, ‘draining the swamp’. Just not the way we expected it to happen. \*\*The surprising thing is how little things have been affected by the shutdown (so far), \*\*except for 800,000 paychecks, if that’s the correct number. This may be an indication of how much bloat exists in our gov’t. Bullshit. Just one example. [Garbage, feces take toll on national parks amid shutdown](https://www.apnews.com/e28b313197bb46bebef0faca24b333ed) > [@](#): > > Human feces, overflowing garbage, illegal off-roading and other damaging behavior in fragile areas were beginning to overwhelm some of the West’s iconic national parks, as a partial government shutdown left the areas open to visitors but with little staff on duty. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215/80 "2019-01-24T19:06:24Z")
> [@songsearch1](#): > > “intelligent and rational identification”. Seems to never happen. All Congress does is grow the government, and in many cases, positions are created to compensate people who provided support for the congressperson at election time. The ‘duties’, if there are any, are only contracted out to pay off, you guessed it, people who provided support for the congressperson at election time. Cite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/realistic-ways-that-the-shutdown-could-end/828215.md?page=5)