# Trump's Shutdown **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 11, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577 "2019-01-11T06:18:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/361 "2019-01-24T14:25:01Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I just used [Military.com](http://Military.com)’s pay calculator to figure out the pay for a married member of the military pay grade E1, less than two years service for pay purposes, living off base in Monterey, California (ZIP 93940). Here’s the breakdown of the monthly pay: > > Basic pay: $1,681 > Housing allowance (with dependents): $2,421 > Subsistence allowance (for military member who does not subsist (normally get meals) at the military dining facility/mess hall): $368 > TOTAL: $4,470 > > You may have noticed that Monterey, California is not a cheap area in which to live. You may also notice on that calculator site that Monterey is not a CONUS COLA (Continental US Cost of Living Allowance) area. A further thing you may have noticed is there is no additional housing allowance: the rate is “without dependents” or “with dependents”. And that housing allowance is greater than the monthly pay. Finally, there are Californians who are stationed there, some of them are even E-1, and some of them have no choice but to also pay state tax on their military income. No, it’s not cheap at all to live in that area. [It got so bad for one soldier’s family, that one son killed himself, citing “one less mouth to feed”](https://people.com/archive/a-soldiers-teenage-son-kills-himself-so-his-mom-will-have-one-less-mouth-to-feed-vol-22-no-12/). Of course nobody can ever truly know why someone has killed himself, but this is some damning stuff. I’m not sure I understand this tangent but $53,600 a year isn’t that bad for someone with a high school diploma, presumably stationed in Monterey at DLA getting trained at the government’s expense. The median household income there is only $68k. I’m sure there are junior enlisted struggling for various reasons, but they have to be the exceptions. AIUI the 80’s and 90’s were a bit rough for military pay but since I’ve been in I think it’s actually been fairly generous. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/362 "2019-01-24T14:38:56Z")
> When told that some federal workers were getting food from food banks and shelters, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says “I don’t really quite understand why”. And then says they should get loans or something to tide them over. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/363 "2019-01-24T14:44:33Z")
hijack Thanks, CalMeachem — well put. And Peter Schickele is the comedic (and sometimes serious) composer behind “P.D.Q. Bach,” a parody character whose oeuvre includes _Sumer is a Cumin Seed_, similar to that bastard Pound’s poem. /hijack ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/364 "2019-01-24T14:56:16Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > > [@The\_Tooth](#): > > > > “My dog has no nose.” > > “How does he smell?” Okay, I’ll … um … bite: TERRIBLE! We now return you to the previously scheduled discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/365 "2019-01-24T15:34:53Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [It’s being reported that Secret Service personnel](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/23/politics/challenge-coins-secret-service-government-shutdown/index.html) have been creating and distributing challenge coins for working without pay - on their own dime. > Geez, morale must be down through the floor. “2018-2019” That’s cute, but I don’t understand their optimism. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/366 "2019-01-24T16:46:01Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Okay, I’ll … um … bite: I thought you said your dog doesn’t bite! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/367 "2019-01-24T16:57:01Z")
That’s not his dog. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/368 "2019-01-24T16:58:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I thought you said your dog doesn’t bite! :mad: That’s not my dog. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/369 "2019-01-24T17:17:17Z")
It’s an entirely different dog altogether. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/370 "2019-01-24T17:36:16Z")
“And now for somedog completely different…” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/371 "2019-01-24T17:57:52Z")
This topic needs to be put down like a dog! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/372 "2019-01-24T18:31:53Z")
Well, dog gone… ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/373 "2019-01-24T18:39:09Z")
Something something Old Yeller ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/374 "2019-01-24T18:50:33Z")
Well, it has been an Incredible Journey… > **[The Incredible Journey (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Journey_(film))** > > The Incredible Journey is a 1963 adventure film directed by Fletcher Markle and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Scottish writer Sheila Burnford, the film follows the adventure of Luath the Labrador Retriever, Bodger the Bull Terrier, and Tao the Siamese cat as they journey 300 miles (480 km) through the Canadian wilderness to return to their home. The film's human cast consists of Émile Genest, John Drainie, Tommy Tweed, and Sandra Scott, with R Re... ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/375 "2019-01-24T18:53:02Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > [https://twitter.com/carlquintanilla/status/1088441963572006912](https://twitter.com/carlquintanilla/status/1088441963572006912) > > When told that some federal workers were getting food from food banks and shelters, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says “I don’t really quite understand why”. And then says they should get loans or something to tide them over. I don’t even understand why these people would need to get loans. Can’t they just get some money from daddy? Or maybe they could sell one of their holiday houses. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/376 "2019-01-24T18:58:40Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Something something Old Yeller But that’s a dog of different color. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/377 "2019-01-24T18:59:58Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I don’t even understand why these people would need to get loans. Can’t they just get some money from daddy? Or maybe they could sell one of their holiday houses. “Good to hear from you, Mr Ross! By they way, about that Cyprus Bank…” ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/378 "2019-01-24T19:19:56Z")
Ross mentioned that the are ads for loans for these people. Has anyone else seen any in the wild? I wouldn’t be surprised if they start showing up, but they’re secretly being offered by him. 1. Shut down government. 2. Stop paying workers. 3. Offer payday loans to these workers at usurious rates. 4. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/379 "2019-01-24T20:18:38Z")
Call me jaded, but McConnell and Coulter may end up being the unintended heroes for the salvation of our democratic republic. Their harsh, unreasonable and frankly inexplicable positions are driving Trump supporters to peel off faster than anything else we’ve seen to date. If their insistence that Trump cling to his vanity wall project continues to have this effect, I’m all for it. Personally, I think Trump grasps that he is in a no-win situation. Abandon the shut down, lose the base. Stay the course with the shut down, lose everyone else _plus_ a percentage of the base. Either way, he can’t win in 2020 – and I think he’s aware of this. So at this point, what purpose does the shut down serve? Well, it weakens our whole society. It weakens our safety nets, our institutions, law enforcement, our economy. Soon there will be protests, marches, other angry responses. Maybe there will be an “incident” – terrorist (domestic or otherwise, doesn’t matter), air crash, massive cyber attack… what better time to declare martial law, name oneself as President for Life, go full-on Putin? I don’t think Trump any longer gives a shit about the wall. I think he’s attempting to set up an environment where he can shift into Autocrat Mode. The best thing that can happen right now is for him to continue his unpopular trajectory. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577/380 "2019-01-24T20:22:35Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > So at this point, what purpose does the shut down serve? Well, it weakens our whole society. It weakens our safety nets, our institutions, law enforcement, our economy. This is what Putin wants, and Trump serves Putin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-shutdown/827577.md?page=20)