# The official government shutdown "let them eat cake" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 25, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413 "2019-01-25T19:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/21 "2019-01-27T21:17:17Z")
I’ll tell you this: Over the last few weeks, I’ve found out who all the “I’ve got mine, the hell with you” types are among my coworkers. Disappointing, since prior to this, most of them seemed fairly decent sorts. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/22 "2019-01-27T21:38:11Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > I’ll tell you this: Over the last few weeks, I’ve found out who all the “I’ve got mine, the hell with you” types are among my coworkers. Disappointing, since prior to this, most of them seemed fairly decent sorts. The frustrating part is that they _are_ fairly decent sorts. People are terrible. Every single one of us. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/23 "2019-01-27T23:06:09Z")
The secret is not to have expectations. If you expect people to be good, they’ll disappoint you. If you never expect anyone to do the right thing, you’ll often be pleasantly surprised. “Darkly wise and rudely great,” that’s us. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/24 "2019-01-28T14:19:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I really think it’s awfully generous to label Wilbur Ross as “clueless”. What he is, is greedy, mercenary and ethically bankrupt. He’s a BANKER, and the credit union he runs is currently floating emergency bridge loans at 8.99%! He’s not out of touch, he’s touting for his industry generally and his own pocketbook specifically at the expense of the government workers. God, as much as it pains me to say this I have to. The Department of Commerce Credit Union is my credit union. And since that 8.99% loan thing has been floating around, everyone seems to think that’s for the furlough. It’s not, that’s their normal loan for any personal loan. That’s been there for years. Unlike other credit unions they are not offering zero or low interest furlough loans. However, if one logged in to their account you could get differed payments for credit cards, loans, and mortgages. They just don’t put that on the front page for non members to see. I’m not sure why they didn’t offer any kind of furlough loan, maybe because only two offices remained open. That’s not to say Ross isn’t a fucking idiot, because he his. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/25 "2019-01-28T17:07:55Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Larry Kudlow has largely gotten a pass for his own stupid, tone-deaf comments on the shutdown, [but he shouldn’t](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/426851-kudlow-federal-workers-impacted-by-shutdown-are-volunteering-in-part). (The Hill) > > > [@](#): > > > > “They’re volunteering,” Kudlow reportedly said. "But they do it because they believe government service is honorable and they believe in Trump and they’re working as hard as ever.” > > > > A reporter replied by questioning Kudlow’s take on volunteering, saying that it’s “not volunteering if you’re being forced to work without pay.” > > > > Kudlow responded by accusing the journalist of trying to play a “semantic game.” > > > > “I’m not going to even go there. You know what I’m saying,” Kudlow said. > > Hurr durrrrrrrr. Serious question; what did he mean by this? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/26 "2019-01-28T17:14:42Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Serious question; what did he mean by this? As far as I can tell, he was trying to state that all the affected employees were fully willing and happy to work without pay during a shutdown because they believed in Trump personally. Not actually volunteering in the strict sense but at the least willing participants in Trump’s side of the staredown. Yes, it’s still dumb and countered by all available evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413/27 "2019-01-28T17:53:59Z")
So why didn’t the White House staff not show up to “volunteer” to work during those five weeks? It would have avoided the embarrassment of the fast food banquet. I believe the federal employees _cannot_ volunteer. In fact, wasn’t that a plot point in an episode of The West Wing? (Googling, it was a fifth season episode. There’s a government shutdown, Toby and Josh are still working but Josh tells Donna that she has to go home.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-government-shutdown-let-them-eat-cake-thread/828413.md?page=1)