What’s the likely outcome of the government shutdown fight?
Well, in my libertarian fantasy world, we leave it closed. Or at least we never bother to reopen counterproductive bureaucracies such as the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, etc, etc.
In my realistic/optimistic world, the federal Leviathan remains, but we get some sort of delay for parts of Obamacare.
In my realistic/pessimistic world, the media and the left work together to not only protect Obamacare, but they also get additional spending to circumvent the sequester.
For what it’s worth, I think the final outcome will be somewhere between optimism and pessimism. The government will be funded, including Obamacare, but at lest we protect the sequestration, which was the biggest victory for taxpayers this century.
I’d like to be more hopeful, but Republicans are probably too divided to prevail in this battle.
Which is a shame, because when they had more unity during the 1995 shutdown fight, they won a very important victory. Here’s what I wrote about that battle.
…they succeeded in dramatically reducing the growth of federal spending. They did not get everything they wanted, to be sure, but government spending grew by just 2.9 percent during the first four years of GOP control, helping to turn a $164 billion deficit in 1995 into a $126 billion surplus in 1999. And they enacted a big tax cut in 1997.
So let’s cross our fingers and hope for the best. But we’re relying on politicians, so prepare for the worst.
Per tradition, let’s try to close with a laugh. I’ve already shared my collection of government shutdown humor (here, here, and here), but I did get this amusing image in my inbox yesterday, so there’s something new to laugh – or cry – about.
Now there’s an argument for a shutdown! Imagine, no IRS to make our lives miserable. Though let’s not jump to conclusions. Knowing Obama, he’s probably declared that all IRS bureaucrats are “essential personnel.”
[…] can see other examples of shutdown satire by clicking here, here, here, […]
[…] column reminds me of a piece I wrote back in […]
[…] column reminds me of a piece I wrote back in […]
[…] can see other examples of shutdown satire by clicking here, here, here, […]
[…] policy). If we kept parts of the government shut down for a long period of time, maybe people would notice that nothing bad happened and then conclude that it would be a good idea to never let those departments and agencies […]
[…] to a couple of prior examples of shutdown humor. You can enjoy other editions by clicking here, here, and […]
Very nice article and right to the point. I am not sure if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to hire some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
[…] good spending numbers during the Obama years were because of policies – sequestration, shutdowns, etc – he […]
[…] during the Clinton years, a near-shutdown fight in 2011, and then another major shutdown fight in 2013, as well as rumors of possible shutdown fights in 2012 and 2014. And Republicans ostensibly were […]
[…] during the Clinton years, a near-shutdown fight in 2011, and then another major shutdown fight in 2013 (as well as rumors of possible shutdown fights in 2012 and 2014). And Republicans ostensibly were […]
[…] we should be happy with a re-opened government is right on the mark. I was only half-joking when I suggested we should just leave it […]
[…] we should be happy with a re-opened government is right on the mark. I was only half-joking when I suggested we should just leave it […]
the tree fell in the forest, and nobody was there to hear it. However, the press reported that not only did it make an enormous noise, but that it was none oter than Ted Cruz who chopped it down.
[…] Heck, maybe in this year’s fight we can even keep the government shut down long enough that people realize that we can do without much of the Washington bureaucracy. […]
[…] Heck, maybe in this year’s fight we can even keep the government shut down long enough that people realize that we can do without much of the Washington bureaucracy. […]
[…] What if We Had a Government Shutdown and Nobody Noticed or Cared? | International Liberty. […]
[…] also pointed out that the shutdown fight in the mid-1990s resulted in a very important victory for advocates of smaller […]
[…] « What if We Had a Government Shutdown and Nobody Noticed or Cared? […]
[…] What if We Had a Government Shutdown and Nobody Noticed or Cared? (danieljmitchell.wordpress.com) […]
Non-essential workers should not receive compensation for layoffs during a government shutdown. No one does in private industry. Shutdowns should not become bonus holidays. Another example of special treatment for insiders.
Reblogged this on Awakestate and commented:
About time! Now, if it would just never re-open.
Concerning services for Americans abroad, it looks like State (the U.S. consulates) is 100% operational for the time being. They do warn that passport services might also be shut down in some places. Here is their note which I personally found rather funny. They are calling this a “Lapse in Appropriations.” 🙂
http://www.state.gov/m/rls/2013/214880.htm
And “It could probably be shown in facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.” — Mark Twain
To paraphrase American humorist Will Rogers, we will be safe until they decide to return. http://coldwarwarrior.com/