# Run For the Hills! (Government Shutdown in Effect) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068 "2013-10-01T04:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/201 "2013-10-02T05:30:34Z")
So it’s cool if me and my neighbors could pool resources and hire a meat inspector, right? We can trust some dude off the street to do this? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/202 "2013-10-02T06:10:31Z")
Hey, how hard can it be? Look and sniff, if you gag, don’t eat it! ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/203 "2013-10-02T08:05:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Hey, how hard can it be? Look and sniff, if you gag, don’t eat it! Old Gallagher routine: Now I hear we don’t have any money left to hire Dam Inspectors. Good! I say we don’t **need** no Dam Inspector. If you live within a mile of the dam downstream, your ass ought to be up there checking for cracks! ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/204 "2013-10-02T08:31:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Hey, how hard can it be? Look and sniff, if you gag, don’t eat it! Really? :rolleyes: This isn’t the best example, but just the one that popped up first with a five second google…[Food safety incidents in China - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_safety_incidents_in_China) There are waaayyyyyy more than this that can be used to demonstrate the importance of inspections - not least of which the recent botulism scare from NZ Milk… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/205 "2013-10-02T08:52:35Z")
The CNN website is making much of the fact that [all 533 congressmen and senators _will_ continue to get paid regardless of how long the shutdown lasts](http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/shutdown-congress-staff-paid/index.html?hpt=hp_t1): \*\*"The 27th Amendment to the Constitution restricts any Congress from changing its own pay. The measure was proposed in the first days of the Republic but was not ratified until 1992, after a grass-roots movement promoted the idea and the necessary number of state legislatures approved it. "While many may have wanted to restrain Congress from increasing its pay, the amendment also blocks Congress from freezing or cutting its compensation. “The result? Congress gets paid no matter what.”\*\* ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/206 "2013-10-02T09:33:48Z")
Per [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/01/politics/government-shutdown/index.html?hpt=hp_t1), apparently, the House Republicans tried put up some piecemeal funding (for DC, veterans affairs, and national parks) for votes and got shot down. Their strategy seemed to be to try to force Democrats to vote down funding for really popular stuff and embarrass them. Obama indicated that even if the legislation passed the Senate (highly unlikely), he would veto it. Interesting strategy, but wouldn’t it make sense to try to fund something absolutely necessary and popular instead of something like the parks which may be popular, but certainly isn’t essential at the moment? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/207 "2013-10-02T10:29:52Z")
Actually, no, it doesn’t. The national parks and the Smithsonian are big, obvious tourist magnets. Those being shut down is a highly visible indication of the government shutdown as a whole and affects people who might not otherwise be affected at the moment. For example, I work for a private company, don’t deal with government contracts, don’t have any paperwork going through the federal government at the moment, and so on. But if I wanted to go to one of the shut down areas this weekend it’d be obvious when I couldn’t get in. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/208 "2013-10-02T10:33:52Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > All the people working in industry and mechanical fields that rely on OSHA for safety and instructions. > . When I was running a machine shop I got 2 visits from OSHA inspectors a year [and if there was a variance that needed reinspecting, they would sho up again to make sure the issue was remedied properly] so most businesses can do without OSHA for a month or two without much trouble. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > All the better reason not to pay the Danegeld, lest this become a habit. If the Republicans think they can overturn already established law by shutting down the government they will do it over and over again. There is a way to overturn a law, and this isn’t it. This > [@Debaser](#): > > This doesn’t make sense. Insurance is a type of investment. > " Insurance is actually more like a bet than anything else - I will bet you this reasonably small sum monthly that I will not have my house burn down, or get into an auto accident and total my car, or be sued by smeone for millions of dollars for hitting them and paralyzing them from the waist down. [or whatever you are insuring against] But I agree, I think that every politico who has had a direct part in screwing us, the population of the US by cockblocking the functioning of the government in a petulant hissy fit I wouldn’t let any of my goddaughters get away with should immediately be bounced out of office and not allowed to be elected or nominated for any political posting for the rest of their asinine lives. They do NOT have the best interests of the population in general in mind at all. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/209 "2013-10-02T11:09:02Z")
Gah- this ‘shut down’ is infuriating. I thought the GOP was supposed to be the party of ‘free markets’ and ‘fiscal responsibility.’ This action is roiling the stock markets, causing a decline in the dollar, threatening our credit rating and costing triple-digit millions a day. It took my 401K 2 years to recover last time. And all because the GOP hates health insurance? It’s the law. This is not how one ‘fights’ a law. 3 million people tried to log on the the new ACA websites yesterday. My family needs insurance! I’m really going to have a hard time voting for anyone with an “R” behind their name for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/210 "2013-10-02T11:40:00Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > 3 million people tried to log on the the new ACA websites yesterday. My family needs insurance! The news this morning reports 10 million unique visitors to the websites. Wow! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/211 "2013-10-02T13:12:45Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Really? :rolleyes: > > This isn’t the best example, but just the one that popped up first with a five second google…[Food safety incidents in China - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_safety_incidents_in_China) > > There are waaayyyyyy more than this that can be used to demonstrate the importance of inspections - not least of which the recent botulism scare from NZ Milk… A noble effort, but I’m afraid you’ve been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/212 "2013-10-02T13:27:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The CNN website is making much of the fact that [all 533 congressmen and senators _will_ continue to get paid regardless of how long the shutdown lasts](http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/shutdown-congress-staff-paid/index.html?hpt=hp_t1): > > \*\*"The 27th Amendment to the Constitution restricts any Congress from changing its own pay. The measure was proposed in the first days of the Republic but was not ratified until 1992, after a grass-roots movement promoted the idea and the necessary number of state legislatures approved it. > > "While many may have wanted to restrain Congress from increasing its pay, the amendment also blocks Congress from freezing or cutting its compensation. > > “The result? Congress gets paid no matter what.”\*\* Quite a few congresscritters have pledged to[return or donate their salaries during the shutdown](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/01/which-lawmakers-will-refuse-their-pay-during-the-shutdown/). Of course, if they never actually do it we probably won’t know about it. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/213 "2013-10-02T13:38:02Z")
If anyone thinks that food inspections for non-meat products are not important, I wonder if they remember a restaurant chain called Chi Chi’s? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/214 "2013-10-02T13:40:05Z")
Of course not. Everyone who ate there is dead. It’s a self-correcting problem. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/215 "2013-10-02T13:50:24Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > If anyone thinks that food inspections for non-meat products are not important, I wonder if they remember a restaurant chain called Chi Chi’s? I do. Assuming you’re discussing the Hep A outbreak, IIRC that was traced to green onions. The FDA has a series of recommendations to avoid such contamination, including such things as proper sanitary facilities for farm field workers, use of water with tested quality, properly treated manure or biosolid fertilizer, and generally ensuring worker health. But since the onions in question were grown in Mexico, and the ordinary inspection procedures for produce were followed upon their import, and such inspection is not useful to detect contamination at the farm – which was in Mexico – I am not sure this example shows how food inspections for non-meat products would have changed the outcome. But maybe I’m missing something in the story, which is admittedly long enough ago that I don’t recall all the details. So no snark, serious question: was this a claim that procedures on our side of the border failed somehow, or was it more a general statement that produce, just like meat, can be deadly? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/216 "2013-10-02T14:01:19Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I don’t think this misrepresents the thinking of many conservatives. Some of them literally do say things like keep government out of my Medicare, or I was on food stamps and nobody helped me! I am dubious of this claim. Do you have a cite for conservatives saying these things? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/217 "2013-10-02T14:09:10Z")
Here’s a Weekly Standard column which attempts to explain that the people who say “Keep the government out of Medicare” aren’t actually stupid. [http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/hands\_off\_my\_medicare\_1.asp](http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/hands_off_my_medicare_1.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/218 "2013-10-02T14:14:03Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I do. > > Assuming you’re discussing the Hep A outbreak, IIRC that was traced to green onions. The FDA has a series of recommendations to avoid such contamination, including such things as proper sanitary facilities for farm field workers, use of water with tested quality, properly treated manure or biosolid fertilizer, and generally ensuring worker health. > > But since the onions in question were grown in Mexico, and the ordinary inspection procedures for produce were followed upon their import, and such inspection is not useful to detect contamination at the farm – which was in Mexico – I am not sure this example shows how food inspections for non-meat products would have changed the outcome. > > But maybe I’m missing something in the story, which is admittedly long enough ago that I don’t recall all the details. So no snark, serious question: was this a claim that procedures on our side of the border failed somehow, or was it more a general statement that produce, just like meat, can be deadly? I’m not sure what was confusing about my statement. It was pretty straightforward, and I’m hard pressed as to how it could have been clearer. Yes, testing non-meat products is also important, because deadly outbreaks can arise from them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/219 "2013-10-02T14:20:16Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I am dubious of this claim. Do you have a cite for conservatives saying these things? The latter comment refers to an infamously stupid comment made by Craig T. Nelson on Fox News: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yTwpBLzxe4U/hqdefault.jpg "Craig T. Nelson on Government Aid") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTwpBLzxe4U) ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/220 "2013-10-02T14:21:00Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Here’s a Weekly Standard column which attempts to explain that the people who say “Keep the government out of Medicare” aren’t actually stupid. > > [http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/hands\_off\_my\_medicare\_1.asp](http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/hands_off_my_medicare_1.asp) So in that article we’ve got Paul Krugman, Robert Inglis and Barack Obama all referencing people saying “keep the government out of medicare”, but no first hand accounts. It’s a meme that Liberals love to repeat. But does it ever actually happen? If it’s so common, surely someone can come up with a cite of a conservative actually saying it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=12)