I got an invitation toLog In. The petition says the last 'government-shutdown' cost citizens billions of dollars, but doesn't tell us HOW! What's the loss? Maybe the government SHOULD 'shut down' every Saturday, and start back up every Sunday! What's the deal? Why are we said to 'lose' money every time the government shuts down? Is it like when they say that game-show contestants 'lost' money when it's money that they never really "gained"?
A government shutdown is when the funds for keeping everything running haven't been made available yet so it brings every state-run service to a grinding halt, releasing every non-essential personnel, keeping only the bare minimums and emergency staff I think. It costs us money because things like taxes, permits, etc are a valued source of income for the state and those stop as well.
Basically as the previous user said, the government runs out of money to pay for the services they offer, and they have to shut down everything and kick (temporarily or permanently) all unnecessary employees to save money. In a country such as America where there isn't too many services provided directly from the government, it'll affect life but not too much for the average citizen. If you live in a more socialist (ie. Government service oriented) country such as Sweden, you'll probably see it effect your life more. In any case it's a very bad thing.
The government shuts down every weekend and things seem to go fine. I don't think we'd be at a big loss if the government would shut down for an extended period of time. It would save the taxpayers a decent chunk of change, though. Government does too many things these days and it definitely needs to be cut down in size and strength as it is involved in way too many areas of our day to day lives.
This is not just a matter of "closing" for a day or so. It involves paying out social security and disability benefits, pension payments, food stamps, medicare and other programs. If you shut the government down today, the work the employs need to do tomorrow will be doubled. People who do not work for the government have no idea of just how much it affects. The government does not close over the weekend, no more than the United States Postal Service does. Tens of thousands of workers comprise a network that runs everyday, all year around. It took me six years to get Christmas Day off, and even after fifteen years, I am still forced in on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years, etc. Imagine having had worked for the government for forty years, then the government shuts down and your pension is not available. Contrary to popular belief, government employees (Civil Service Retirement) are not entitled to collect their spouse's social security benefits. This is utterly ridiculous. A government shut down also affects our armed forces. Our government needs to stop sending foreign aid all over the world and start taking care of our own people.
[ A government shut down also affects our armed forces. Our government needs to stop sending foreign aid all over the world and start taking care of our own people.[/QUOTE] That's what worries me! It affects the soldiers and their families. They are fighting for our freedom, putting their lives on the line, and then the entity that is supposed to support them shuts down? That's so wrong.
