# 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:** 28
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/541 "2013-10-04T10:14:27Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Great. IMO, the longer the government is shut down, the better. This is why it’s laughable to blame anyone but the Republicans for the shutdown. According to statements and memos, they planned for the shutdown for weeks. And now they celebrate the shutdown; and they want us to believe they didn’t want the shutdown? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/542 "2013-10-04T10:18:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is why it’s laughable to blame anyone but the Republicans for the shutdown. According to statements and memos, they planned for the shutdown for weeks. And now they celebrate the shutdown; and they want us to believe they didn’t want the shutdown? They don’t celebrate it, poor child ! They wonder loud and often why the government they’ve worked hard to fuck up is so fucked up right now, and ask what the President has been doing that his government is so fucked up. THE PARKS we didn’t give a flying fuck about, and in fact wanted to give away to Big Mining, two days ago ARE ALL CLOSED FOR SOME REASON, WHAT IS OBAMA DOING WITH THIS COUNTRY WE LOVE **SO MUCH**?!! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/543 "2013-10-04T12:36:05Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > They don’t celebrate it, poor child ! They wonder loud and often why the government they’ve worked hard to fuck up is so fucked up right now, and ask what the President has been doing that his government is so fucked up. THE PARKS we didn’t give a flying fuck about, and in fact wanted to give away to Big Mining, two days ago ARE ALL CLOSED FOR SOME REASON, WHAT IS OBAMA DOING WITH THIS COUNTRY WE LOVE **SO MUCH**?!! For someone living an ocean away (France, IIRC?) you have a remarkably sharp grasp of the political situation here. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/544 "2013-10-04T12:45:44Z")
Well, I do watch Jon Stewart. ETA : Also, motherfuckers are the same all over, nevermind the borders 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/545 "2013-10-04T13:28:26Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Great. IMO, the longer the government is shut down, the better. Consider, if you will, the Social Security disability program. Historically, there have been regular criticisms of decisions taking too long, with deserving claimants dying as they wait for a decision. (As an aside, over the past few years, average wait times have decreased.) SSA judges have been determined to be essential, and continue to hear and decide cases. But the staff who process those decisions are out on furlough. And new requests for hearings are not getting scheduled. And records are not getting developed for cases that are currently scheduled for hearings. At least some district courts have issued blanket stays for pending reviews of adverse disability decisions, because the government lawyers responsible for litigating them are on furlough. This is just a part of the way one tiny aspect of one government program I am somewaht familiar with is being affected by this shutdown. I would agree with anyone who believes the SS disability program needs reform (tho we might well differ on the nature of that reform.) But I’m merely stating a fact that a not insignificant number of truly deserving folk are being significantly harmed by this shutdown. So be happy about the shutdown, and hope that neither you nor anyone you care for becomes disabled. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/546 "2013-10-04T13:38:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is why it’s laughable to blame anyone but the Republicans for the shutdown. According to statements and memos, they planned for the shutdown for weeks. And now they celebrate the shutdown; and they want us to believe they didn’t want the shutdown? No, its pretty clear how much they learned from the Obama sequester. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/547 "2013-10-04T14:20:08Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Remember, the Republican bill would delay it by 1 year. How does one delay an established law that is already in effect? Don’t you need the Supreme Court to pull stunts like that? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/548 "2013-10-04T14:23:26Z")
They have to stop it now, it will be a total disaster and make everybody miserable, but people will like it so much, they won’t be able to get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/549 "2013-10-04T14:37:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is why it’s laughable to blame anyone but the Republicans for the shutdown. According to statements and memos, they planned for the shutdown for weeks. And now they celebrate the shutdown; and they want us to believe they didn’t want the shutdown? I am not a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/550 "2013-10-04T14:39:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How does one delay an established law that is already in effect? Don’t you need the Supreme Court to pull stunts like that? Obama just delayed the employer mandate for one year. republican bill would delay the individual mandate. No Supreme Court needed in either case. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/551 "2013-10-04T14:46:48Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I am not a Republican. Doesn’t change my point one iota- the Republicans are one record having planned for the shutdown, and they’re on record cheering for the shutdown, so it’s ridiculous for them to try and deflect blame to the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/552 "2013-10-04T14:48:24Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I am not a Republican. It’s OK- no one wants to be one these days. All the cool kids are Libertarians now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/553 "2013-10-04T14:52:10Z")
Uh oh. Will fox reports its own polling numbers? "According to the Fox News poll, disapproval of the Republican Party has jumped from 46% in September of 2012 to 59% today. Disapproval of the GOP has climbed from 54% in January to 56% in April to nearing 60% today. Approval of the Republican Party has fallen from 45% to 35%. In contrast, Democratic Party unfavorability has stayed stable in the Fox poll at between 48% and 49% all through 2013. Support for repealing the ACA has dropped from 39% in June to 30% today." ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/554 "2013-10-04T17:00:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How does one delay an established law that is already in effect? Don’t you need the Supreme Court to pull stunts like that? The law can be amended to extend the deadline (currently 12/31/13) by twelve months. That’s trivial. Of greater consequence is the question: if they WERE to extend the deadline to 12/31/14, would the penalties still start at $95 for the first year, or would they skip that one and go straight to $320? Because if they still insist on starting it at $95, then the “argument” (that the penalty is neither a serious disincentive to opting out nor enough of a revenue producer to significantly defray the costs of the law) still has exactly as much validity next year as it does today. Then next October, they’ll make it again. Thanks, but no thanks. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/555 "2013-10-04T17:20:04Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wait, I thought liberals reject the “slippery slope” arguments. Guess I was mistaken. > Great. IMO, the longer the government is shut down, the better. Do you realize how many people are hurting during this stupid shutdown? The company I work for has had to lay off people because one division provides support services for the Department of Defense, and they have no work because the DoD offices are closed. And I work for a pretty small company. Things like that must be happening all over the country. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/556 "2013-10-04T17:27:23Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Do you realize how many people are hurting during this stupid shutdown? The company I work for has had to lay off people because one division provides support services for the Department of Defense, and they have no work because the DoD offices are closed. And I work for a pretty small company. Things like that must be happening all over the country. I do realize that. As I said, I’d prefer the government to be reduced gradually. But even the way it is done now it is good to make people realize that the government’s teat is not bottomless and that government jobs should not be inherently more secure than private sector. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/557 "2013-10-04T17:29:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I do realize that. As I said, I’d prefer the government to be reduced gradually. But even the way it is done now it is good to make people realize that the government’s teat is not bottomless and that government jobs should not be inherently more secure than private sector. The government is defective, and people are going to get that point…even if we have to deliberately fuck it up ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/558 "2013-10-04T17:30:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The government is defective, and people are going to get that point…even if we have to deliberately fuck it up ourselves. Call it a “teachable moment”. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/559 "2013-10-04T17:30:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The government is defective, and people are going to get that point…even if we have to deliberately fuck it up ourselves. Republicans: The party that says government doesn’t work, then proves it when it’s in power. ---
**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 4, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/560 "2013-10-04T17:37:51Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I do realize that. As I said, I’d prefer the government to be reduced gradually. But even the way it is done now it is good to make people realize that the government’s teat is not bottomless and that government jobs should not be inherently more secure than private sector. [Here](http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/federal-shutdown-idles-air-force-expert-honored-for-saving-government-1-billion/2013/10/02/a73a6ece-2b94-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html) is a story about an Air Force civilian who is credited with saving $1 billion for the Pentagon last year. Explain to me how you can use the words “bottomless teat” in relation to his job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=29)