Government Shutdown

[fabrisse]

The District will close down too. No street sweepers or trash pick-up or libraries. I'm still waiting to hear about my agency.

*sigh*

Just for the record, it is Federal law that provides that we shut down. We aren't even allowed to spend our own money -- DC Taxes -- during the period. Moreover, if the current budget proposal by the GOP passes, we will not be allowed to spend our own tax money to fund abortions or for needle exchange programs. This in a city where 5% of the population tests HIV positive.

Oh, and for a good part of today, the largest headline at The Washington Post was about what impact a shutdown would have on tourists. It's nearly impossible to find anything on its impact on District residents at the Post or The Washington Times.

Comments

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Yeepers. I have been following with increasing dismay. Also, the grant to conserve a big sculpture that desperately needs it rests on a budget coming through...I may have to find alternate funding sources to help the poor thing before it rusts away.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

My city is a football whose name is used by those in other states as a swear-word. We're told we can't govern ourselves (and while I don't like our current mayor, he's not even the most corrupt in the country) even as we pay more in Federal taxes than the four least populous states (Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota) combined.

I hope your statue finds funding.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I was never a DC resident, but I worked there for many years and it was always "home base" no matter where else we lived in the world, due to my father's job. So I'm definitely aware of the issues plaguing the city, even though I'm far away from it now. DC is what gave me my love of art and led me into my current profession.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

And arrrgh, I just realized in the middle of the grocery store that I never did what I was supposed to do in my second comment - apologize to you for how insensitive the first comment was. The looming shutdown means several things to me...potential loss of my husband's newly-acquired disability among them...and I'm not certain why my first comment, which was meant to commiserate, turned into an anecdote about my sculpture, which has been on my mind but can hardly be expected to be the worst thing about this shutdown, which is what it looked like I was implying. I'm sorry for being such an idiot twice over, and can only plead that I've been a scattered mess for most of the day, and scattered myself insensitively all over your journal.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

You weren't insensitive. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's disability problems.

I hear so many people complain about government and then they wonder what's happening or why things get worse.

Government workers often provide services, but we're treated like we're lazy and incompetent. The comments of people at The Post about how good it will be without us doing our jobs because government is too big are so frustrating. So many people are going to be hurting, and my city gets to bear the brunt because we have no representation.

I hope it goes well for you. And that you never get so desperate that you have to eat what's in your icon. *G*

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

The commenters on Post articles are some of the most pig-ignorant folk I have ever seen gathered together in one location.

And as for my icon, why how dare you defame the Monterey Souffle, with it's delectable combination of lemon Jello, tuna, and pimento? Why, them's fighting words.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

It winked at me. *shudders*

And the internet is a great leveller.

[siderea]

Oh, no! :(

BTW, I saw a DC "Taxation Without Representation" plate up here on Sunday.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

*G* Well, at least we get around.

[eanja]

My sister works for the EPA, so she's waiting to see what happens with this as well- as she mentioned in her recent lj, it's not even that they won't get paid, but they legally aren't allowed to work, so any time sensitive thing must get done by Thursday, or it gets dropped, even if people would be willing to come in and finish it unpaid.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the whole "not allowed to work" is also an issue with the furloughs.

I'm sorry your sister is effected, too. Let's hope the officials see the light by Friday midnight.

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

That's dreadful :o( I haven't been following the story so can't comment on the reasons behind it (I'll go take a look in a min) but that is probably going to impact most on those most vulnerable. As usual. I hope it's resolved asap and that DC residents don't suffer too much.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Partisan politics are the main reasons behind it. It's definitely a no-win situation. Among other things, our soldiers won't get paid. Imagine being in Afghanistan and having to wonder whether your spouse will be able to swing the mortgage payment or new shoes for the kids without your paycheck.

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

That's horrendous. A Democrat White House and a Republican House. It's a wonder they can get anything done at all. It's scary to think of the deals that must be being made on the Hill every day to actually make the country function. They all need to get their heads out of their backsides. Why do all politicians seem to be the same? They come at a question from different standpoints, but the stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise seems to be the same no matter what colour their political clothing.

[snopes-faith.livejournal.com]

I'm crossing all my fingers for your agency. That's very shocking to read for the people of DC.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm getting used to being a political football. (The analogy works no matter how you define football, too. *G*)

[moria923.livejournal.com]

I wonder what DC schoolteachers tell the kids when it's time to teach about the Revolution starting because of "taxation without representation".

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

An interesting question indeed!