Thankfully the latest government shutdown, and the longest ever, is over, having resulted in around 750,000 federal employees being furloughed, close to 6000 commercial flights cancelled and countless flight delays across America. Its impact was ubiquitous with widespread disruptions to public services and threats to public health and safety. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the shutdown permanently lost some $11 billion in economic activity, making it the most costly shutdown in our history.
It has been noted that while the people suffered, our congress, whose primary job is to keep the country running and safe, continued to draw their full salaries during the 43 day shutdown and didn’t even meet for 54 days.
A shutdown occurs when congress and the president do not agree on appropriations legislation to fund federal government operations and agencies. Its impact on the people and the economy can be significant and much of it irreversible.
Appropriations have become a political game in America – – – a virtual tug of war between the parties.
The first government shutdown occurred in 1981 and to date there has been five major shutdowns. Wouldn’t it be nice if this was the last one. Don’t hold your breath.
So what are the main reasons for government failure to fund the federal government?
– Basic disagreement, conflict and competition between political parties
– Disputes over funding of specific programs
– Controversial social issues
– Objectionable legislative riders.
There was a time when leaders from each party would sit together and work out compromises on all these, perhaps no one getting all they wanted but each getting something they could accept. The driving force for accommodation was always the sanctity and overall best interest of America. Of course, there are consequences to election results. The party in power is rightly the designated hitter, and while all responsible parties should weigh in with their views and needs, they should not stall decisions to the detriment of so many. It didn’t use to be that way. It doesn’t have to be that way now. It seems to me “the greatest country in the world” (I hope) would be able to avoid the drama, the pain and the high cost of partisan, political jockeying. The people deserve better and must hold its representatives accountable for such counterproductive and self inflicted pain.
– – – – Just the view of a common man
Views of a Common Man 