There’s A Government Shutdown. Will Anyone Notice?

Once again, we are being treated to a fusillade of stories astir nan horrors of a authorities shutdown. But we induce readers to see this: Roughly two-thirds of authorities spending will proceed contempt nan “shutdown.”

In different words, location is perfectly nary logic for Republicans to cave connected Democratic demands that Medicaid benefits for illegals and Obamacare subsidies for higher-income families beryllium restored.

The longer nan national authorities remains unopen down, nan much group will recognize really meaningless it is, and nan little leverage Democrats will have.

First point to understand is that 70% of what nan national authorities does is immune to a shutdown. That’s because 70% of what nan authorities does is constitute checks to individuals – checks that spell retired no matter what.

These are called “direct payments for individuals,” and this class unsocial will costs $4.8 trillion – astir 66% of each national spending and much than 15% of nan nation’s gross home product.

Notably, this class does not see wages paid to national workers (who will spot their salary suspended during a shutdown).

This is money sent to seniors successful nan shape of Social Security checks, money to salary bills for Medicare and Medicaid, nutrient stamps, veterans’ benefits, and nan upland of different “entitlement” programs that person consumed nan national budget.

None of it gets appropriated by Congress each year. It’s each “mandatory” spending.

Next, see nan database of things that won’t beryllium unopen down during nan “shutdown” (a database compiled by USA Today):

• U.S. Postal Service
• Medicare
• Social Security payments
• Air-traffic control
• Banks
• Courts (local, state, and federal)
• Border security
• Disaster aid
• Federal rule enforcement agencies, including nan FBI, DEA, situation staff, Secret Service, and Coast Guard.
• The military

Now look astatine what mightiness beryllium closed:

• National parks 
• Visitor centers and tours of national authorities buildings
• Smithsonian museums 

Democrats declare that a shutdown is devastating to nan system arsenic well, but that’s only because they judge that authorities spending is an motor of economical growth. But nan only existent harm – speech from nan truth that it reveals nan dysfunction of Congress – is that it usually ends up costing taxpayers successful backpay, added administrative costs, etc.  

Our proposal to Republicans: guidelines your ground. Then support cutting spending.

— Written by the I&I Editorial Board

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