U.S Government shut down.

**Cujo** · 21-01-2018, 11:26 AM

Symbols of American promise have become emblems of dysfunction as the impact of a US Government shutdown forces scores of landmarks, agencies and outposts to close their doors.

Key points:
Almost half of the 2 million civilian workers are barred from doing their jobs
Government shutdown causes popular American landmarks to close
The Defence Department and its combat operations in Afghanistan will continue
Republicans and Democrats appear no closer to settling their differences over immigration policy and striking an agreement to fund the Government and end the shutdown.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island turned away visitors in New York on Saturday (local time) due to what the National Park Service described as "a lapse in appropriations". That's a bureaucratic term for a lack of money.

"To get this close where you can see them, and the government shuts them down — that's very, very frustrating," said Dan O'Meara, a firefighter from California.

"But now, we're not allowed to go out there and see it."

In Philadelphia, crowds of tourists can't get in to see the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.

Playing politics with funding deal

The shutdown is delicious timing for the Democrats, but the Republicans too are playing politics, and the approach of both parties will be viewed cynically by voters, writes Zoe Daniel.
The shuttered icons were some of the easiest-to-spot impacts of the partial Government closure.

Funds ran out at midnight on Friday, leaving 48 hours before the most dramatic effect — the furloughing of nearly a million federal employees — goes into effect.

As in shutdowns past, federal services were carved into two categories — essential and non-essential — with the former set to carry on as normal. In that category, the mail will be delivered and Social Security cheques still go out, the air traffic control system stays up and running, as do the FBI, Customs and Border Protection and veterans' hospitals.

President Donald Trump's administration also said it planned to keep national parks open with rangers and security guards on duty.

The parks were closed during the last shutdown in 2013, which upset many tourists and resulted in the loss of $625 million in visitor spending in areas around the parks and at the Smithsonian museums.

Still, there were plenty of inconveniences to irk American taxpayers.

The State Department warned that it could have problems processing passports.

A partial shutdown of the US Government has begun. Here's what will remain open and the people it will affect most.
While active-duty troops will stay at their posts, people stationed overseas were touched by the political fallout almost immediately. The American Forces Network, which broadcasts American radio and television programming in Europe and other locations outside the US, put a message on its Facebook page that said its services would not be available "due to the government shutdown".

The notice sparked a series of angry reactions from viewers, with several noting that the timing couldn't have been worse: The NFL conference championships will be played on Sunday.

Without a quick deal, most day-to-day operations in the US Government will be disrupted.

Government employees will be put on temporary unpaid leave, and almost half of the 2 million civilian workers will be barred from doing their jobs, including many of the White House's 1,700 workers.

If the shutdown lasts just days or even a couple of weeks, the robust stock market that Mr Trump has boasted about probably will emerge unscathed.

But economists say a longer impasse could rattle consumer and investor confidence, pulling stocks lower and dragging down the economy.

Democrats insist that any spending bill include protections for some 700,000 younger immigrants facing deportation. Known as "Dreamers", their right to remain in the US is due to be revoked in early March.

But Mr Trump has taken a tough stance on negotiations to end the shutdown, which coincided with the beginning of his second year in office.

"The President will not negotiate on immigration reform until Democrats stop playing games and reopen the Government," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sander.

Her message was echoed by Republicans in Congress, leading to speculation that Washington could be in for a prolonged battle.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer gave a stinging portrayal of Mr Trump as an unreliable negotiating partner, saying the two sides came close to an agreement several times
only to have Mr Trump back out at the urging of anti-immigration conservatives.

"Negotiating with President Trump is like negotiating with Jell-O," he said.

"It's impossible to negotiate with a constantly moving target."

The Government had been running on three consecutive temporary funding bills since the new fiscal year began in October.

Democrats claim they have been pleading with Republicans for months to approve the immigration measure as a stand-alone bill and were rebuffed.

US Government shutdown sees landmarks close as Donald Trump starts second year in office - Donald Trump's America - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

**harrybarracuda** · 21-01-2018, 03:49 PM

Way to negotiate orange cunto. Say you'll sign a Bipartisan bill then refuse when it lands on your desk.

Fucking cockhead.

**pseudolus** · 21-01-2018, 03:51 PM

Stupid country.

**Maanaam** · 21-01-2018, 04:14 PM

The next presidential candidate should campaign on a policy of when a funding crisis likes this occurs, senators and congressmen should be the first to have their pay suspended and be forced to continue working unpaid.

**Dragonfly** · 21-01-2018, 04:29 PM

of course you can't negotiate with Trump, he is unpredictable, that's part of his charm

**DrB0b** · 21-01-2018, 04:32 PM

And just listen to the republicans whine. They thought shutting down the government over obamacare was a wonderful thing but now it's being done to them they consider it treason. Fools and hypocrites.

Not that it's a big deal anyway, the US has had more government shutdowns in the last 40 years than Thailand has had coups. It's a big-sounding name for something not very important.

**pseudolus** · 21-01-2018, 04:39 PM

America might be best served chucking away the last vestiges of the illusion that they have a government, and instead select a benevolent dictator instead. They are en masse too dumb to vote for a president (a clinton or trump ffs) so best if they gave up on the idea. I think the UK should send the royals over. THey can have them running the show.

**Dragonfly** · 21-01-2018, 04:40 PM

it's a silly legal game, they have plenty of cash, it's just their silly laws that force them not to spend money not approved by Congress

highly ridiculous,

in normal countries, it's negotiated on the next budget, it's that easy

**fiddler** · 21-01-2018, 04:47 PM

Hopefully the Bangkok consulate is going to stay open.
I have to go there on Tuesday.

**Jools** · 21-01-2018, 04:50 PM

The whole "illegal immigration" debate is a huge scam because ALL immigrants (legal and otherwise) BENEFIT the economy. If they are illegal, they pay all sorts of taxes and usually contribute to a Social Security system that they cannot access until they become citizens. They take only the jobs that are difficult to fill because of low wages, difficult work and lack of benefits. They do not qualify for welfare or any other government service if they are illegal. You cannot tell this to a Trump supporter because they keep repeating the mantra that illegals are "bankrupting" the country. Never in American history has such a bogus platform spun off into such a fascist movement. Most Republicans understand that the issue is completely false, but it gets votes and support, so it continues to be perpetuated.

**pseudolus** · 21-01-2018, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jools

The whole "illegal immigration" debate is a huge scam

There will not be one single politician in the USA from a rich family who does not owe their wealth in part to exploiting illegal immigrants - dirt cheap expendable labour. It's what their fortunes were built in, and it continues today. Hypocrisy 101.

**DrB0b** · 21-01-2018, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by fiddler

Hopefully the Bangkok consulate is going to stay open.
I have to go there on Tuesday.

Nobody seems to know. Some consulates are open, some are closed. The State Dept is giving contradictory info. Phone them before going on what may be a wasted trip.

**SKkin** · 21-01-2018, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jools

They take only the jobs that are difficult to fill because of low wages, difficult work and lack of benefits.

It couldn't possibly be that those jobs are low wages and no benefits because of the amount of illegal immigrants available to fill them...right?

**HuangLao** · 21-01-2018, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by pseudolus

America might be best served chucking away the last vestiges of the illusion that they have a government, and instead select a benevolent dictator instead. They are en masse too dumb to vote for a president (a clinton or trump ffs) so best if they gave up on the idea. I think the UK should send the royals over. THey can have them running the show.

An empire that serves solely for the corpocracy and oligarchical few.
The hypnotic burden becomes the bane for the numbed population.

**Klondyke** · 21-01-2018, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by pseudolus

illusion that they have a government, and instead select a benevolent dictator instead.

Why not to do it in the same way as in Thailand? Or don't they have it already so?

**DrB0b** · 21-01-2018, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by pseudolus

and instead select a benevolent dictator instead. They are en masse too dumb to vote for a president

Too dumb to vote for a president but smart enough to select a dictator? Something wrong with the logic there.

**pseudolus** · 21-01-2018, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Why not to do it in the same way as in Thailand? Or don't they have it already so?

Already done - the congress is an illusion. Nothing more or less.#

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Too dumb to vote for a president but smart enough to select a dictator? Something wrong with the logic there.

Not the people, but the owners. Select a dictator and be done with it. The people would accept it sooner or later. Below the dictator all they would need to do is have some blue or red flags to wave and they would be happy.

**DrB0b** · 21-01-2018, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by HuangLao

An empire that serves solely for the corpocracy and oligarchical few.
The hypnotic burden becomes the bane for the numbed population.

Hexagram 1439, "The Opening of the Sphincter" from the Book of Jeff, right?

When the lame tiger walks in the sun, simply walks in the sun
Then the benevolent man changes his socks
It is time to pass the great water - fried egg and a slice

"Trigram 93 - Bob's Book of Breakfasts"

**SKkin** · 21-01-2018, 05:40 PM

We already have a dictator.

There is our master...plain and simple.

**Maanaam** · 21-01-2018, 05:45 PM

Bob. You great googler you! And pretending you recalled it.

**DrB0b** · 21-01-2018, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Bob. You great googler you! And pretending you recalled it.

Eh? Are you getting high on your own supply again? What are you talking about? Recalled what?

**harrybarracuda** · 21-01-2018, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by SKkin

It couldn't possibly be that those jobs are low wages and no benefits because of the amount of illegal immigrants available to fill them...right?

Send them all home. Watch the price of everything from fruit to restaurant food go through the roof.

Listen to the little trumpanzees complaining about it and laugh.

**SKkin** · 21-01-2018, 05:58 PM

^I'll go back to this...if it's ok for some to ignore our immigration laws, which set of laws can I as a tax paying US subject choose to ignore?

Only fair, no?

"rule of law"

**harrybarracuda** · 21-01-2018, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by SKkin

^I'll go back to this...if it's ok for some to ignore our immigration laws, which set of laws can I as a tax paying US subject choose to ignore?

Only fair, no?

"rule of law"

Because various administrations, starting with Reagan, have kicked this can down the road, you now have the situation where adults that have never known a foreign country are being put in an awful position of being sent to one

There was a Bipartisan immigration bill under Obama that Boehner refused to put to a vote.

It's not too much to ask for a little humanity is it?

I always thought that was something of which America could be proud.

Frankly, at the moment, it looks rather shabby and mean spirited.

Added: I have no problem with America bringing in merit-based immigration, nor kicking out those who try to get in in future.

But you have to have some consideration for the fact that politicians have deliberately avoided the problem and in doing so created new ones.

**pseudolus** · 21-01-2018, 06:56 PM

All part of the game. Only idiots fall for it.

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