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]

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.