# You don't know anything! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674 "2011-04-08T15:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/41 "2011-04-09T00:44:42Z")
I don’t use PubMed, I use CAS. The PubMed hits are just annoying duplications. But I agree, that’s another example of just how dumb this whole thing is. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/42 "2011-04-09T01:20:07Z")
Private sector here. My company needs action from a government agency before the end of May. If the agency doesn’t act, agencies of other governments can’t do what they need to do, and banks and boards and partners won’t do what we need them to do. This could be very, very, very bad for a small company. Take heart, federal employees, you will probably still have a job when this is over. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/43 "2011-04-09T01:22:44Z")
> [@mischievous](#): > > EVERYBODY PLEASE SHUT UP ABOUT THIS. WE ARE NOT LEARNING ANYTHING NEW. THE POWERS THAT BE ARE NOT GOING TO ISSUE ANY GODDAMN GUIDELINES UNTIL MONDAY. I know that we’re all stressed and wondering what to do **BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION AND THERE WON’T BE UNTIL MONDAY**. [From OPM issued this afternoon](http://www.opm.gov/furlough/): > [@](#): > > If the current continuing resolution expires at 12:01 a.m. on April 9, 2011 without passage of an FY 2011 appropriations bill or a further continuing resolution, Federal departments and agencies will be required to execute contingency plans for a lapse in appropriations (more commonly referred to as a “shutdown”). These contingency plans detail which agency activities are allowed by law to continue to operate, and which activities must stop. Employees whose salaries are funded through annual appropriations will not be able to work and will be furloughed, unless their duties qualify under the law as “excepted” to continue to work during periods of lapsed appropriations. During a shutdown, non-excepted employees are not permitted to work as unpaid volunteers for the government. Any paid leave (annual, sick, court, etc.) approved for use during the furlough period must be cancelled. An excepted employee who is absent from duty during the shutdown must be furloughed during such an absence. > > Federal agencies do not have the authority to pay their employees during a shutdown, regardless of whether the employees are working as “excepted” or furloughed as “non-excepted”. “Excepted” employees will receive pay for hours worked when the Congress passes and the President signs a new appropriation or continuing resolution. Congress will also determine whether “non-excepted” employees will receive pay for the furlough period. > > Federal employees’ health benefits continue during a period of lapsed appropriations lasting less than 365 days, regardless of the “excepted” or “non-excepted” status of the employee. Federal Employees Group Life Insurance coverage continues for up to 12 consecutive months while in a non-pay status without cost to the employee or the agency. Both Federal Long Term Care (LTC) and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP) deductions will cease for “non-excepted” employees. Some guidelines are out there already, subject to change this weekend. Different agencies have different plans. We are **already ordered** not to use any government equipment if there is a shutdown (vehicles, computers, Blackberries, cell phones, etc.) as all will be monitored for any use during a shutdown. Any use during a shutdown may involve disciplinary action, including termination as a possible consequence. Oh, yeah. You need to get a grip. **mischievous** , you have a job. You’re just being told not to report to work and you will not be paid while furloughed (with no guarantee that you will be paid after the fact once this mess is cleaned up). It’s highly possible that many of the 20 million federal contractors may be out of a job as well on Monday. Since their salaries come from tax dollars they, too, will have no money coming in and have a greater potential than you they cannot recoup any income losses while in a non-work status. There are many Dopers who are unemployed, have been for a while and really hurting. So quit your whining. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/44 "2011-04-09T01:27:08Z")
> [@mischievous](#): > > And, to add to the joy, the NIH is going to shut down Pubmed.:eek: :eek::eek::eek: What, am I supposed to depend on my BRAIN for information now?! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/45 "2011-04-09T02:34:32Z")
Well, you voted for them :d&r: ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/46 "2011-04-09T02:57:41Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Oh, yeah. You need to get a grip. **mischievous** , you have a job. You’re just being told not to report to work and you will not be paid while furloughed (with no guarantee that you will be paid after the fact once this mess is cleaned up). It’s highly possible that many of the 20 million federal contractors may be out of a job as well on Monday. Since their salaries come from tax dollars they, too, will have no money coming in and have a greater potential than you they cannot recoup any income losses while in a non-work status. > > There are many Dopers who are unemployed, have been for a while and really hurting. > > So quit your whining. Actually, (at least to start with), **mischievous** was pitting the people at her workplace who are whining. (And running around in circles, screaming and shouting, and lighting their hair on fire.) ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/47 "2011-04-09T05:58:32Z")
You know, far be it for me to criticize, being from Canada and not really understanding what’s going on and all, but… A system that allows the entire government to be shut down while waiting for waring sides to suddenly get along strikes me as being quite crack-a-lack, if ya know what I mean. I’m really not sure how this plays out in Canada - I believe if the budget fails to pass (generally) there’s a non-confidence motion, we go to the polls, and we keep using the old budget until a new government is elected. Is that (i.e. using the old budget till a new one can be hammered out) not doable in the US for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/48 "2011-04-09T06:53:32Z")
[Shutdown averted](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown). Looks like my NIH grant will be reviewed next week after all. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/49 "2011-04-09T10:14:52Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > [Shutdown averted](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown). > > Looks like my NIH grant will be reviewed next week after all. That’s what I’m talking about! The Dems compromised, but then held firm on the compromise until the Pubbies had to agree to it. Or, at least, that’s how it seems based on that article. I sure hope my interpretation’s right. And, while we’re at it, any chance these departments will get together and figure out an actual plan on how to handle something like this instead of each apparently handling it themselves? Unless, of course, the lack of knowledge was part of the plan to create more chaos and make the Pubbies have to sign. If so, I welcome our new Demmies with actual balls. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/50 "2011-04-09T17:50:56Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > You know, far be it for me to criticize, being from Canada and not really understanding what’s going on and all, but… > > A system that allows the entire government to be shut down while waiting for waring sides to suddenly get along strikes me as being quite crack-a-lack, if ya know what I mean. > > I’m really not sure how this plays out in Canada - I believe if the budget fails to pass (generally) there’s a non-confidence motion, we go to the polls, and we keep using the old budget until a new government is elected. Is that (i.e. using the old budget till a new one can be hammered out) not doable in the US for some reason? I don’t know if I’d use our system as a shining example at this point, what with four elections in seven years. Good thing they’re all free and don’t cost the taxpayers anything! Oh, wait… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/51 "2011-04-10T04:20:37Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > You know, far be it for me to criticize, being from Canada and not really understanding what’s going on and all, but… > > A system that allows the entire government to be shut down while waiting for waring sides to suddenly get along strikes me as being quite crack-a-lack, if ya know what I mean. > > I’m really not sure how this plays out in Canada - I believe if the budget fails to pass (generally) there’s a non-confidence motion, we go to the polls, and we keep using the old budget until a new government is elected. Is that (i.e. using the old budget till a new one can be hammered out) not doable in the US for some reason? In Canada a [Governor General’s Warrant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_General%27s_Warrant) is used for funding during periods when Parliament is not sitting (including during election campaigns). When it’s sitting and still arguing over the budget details (i.e. the government hasn’t fallen because the budget was rejected outright), a preliminary “interim supply” bill that provides 3 month’s financing for most departments, and more for various critical areas is passed before the debate begins. The budget process in Westminster parliaments is significantly different from the US system, as the government would have fallen and an election been called long before they reached the stage the US Congress was at. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/52 "2011-04-10T18:36:19Z")
Just checking back in to say thanks to all who offered sympathy, and mixed relief and exasperation that the whole mess was in vain anyway. Cheers, mischievous ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/53 "2011-04-11T00:24:27Z")
See you in two years. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/54 "2011-04-11T00:45:23Z")
> [@j66](#): > > See you in two years. Or Friday. The only bill that was actually passed and signed was to extend funding to the 15th. It is claimed that an agreement has been reached for the budget year (which we’re already halfway through) and that that will be passed and signed in the coming week, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/55 "2011-04-11T01:29:31Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Or Friday. Partyin’ partyin’ yeah! ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674/56 "2011-04-11T04:15:54Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Or Friday. The only bill that was actually passed and signed was to extend funding to the 15th. It is claimed that an agreement has been reached for the budget year (which we’re already halfway through) and that that will be passed and signed in the coming week, but we’ll see. There’s also going to be the fight over raising the debt limit in a couple months. But there are all sorts of other options the government has there before it shuts down. Incidentally, is there any other country that has anything similar when it comes to passing a budget? This whole situation is pretty ridiculous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-know-anything-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/577674.md?page=2)