By Paul Hamby
The federal government shut down last week because Team R and Team D could not agree on the terms of how much more money they should give away than the federal government had as income.
Since 1990, federal funding gaps lasting longer than a few hours have led to 11 shutdowns of non essential federal government offices and programs causing some workers to be furloughed for a few days.
In 1995, a 21-day shutdown occurred during the Bill Clinton administration over opposition to Newt Gingrich major spending cuts. In 2013, during the Barack Obama administration, we experienced a 16 day shutdown caused by a dispute over implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Spineless Republicans caved and Obamacare became policy causing chaos and higher prices in the health insurance industry.
The longest shutdown occurred in December 2018 during Trump’s first term. That one lasted 35 days.
Very few Missouri residents are affected by the current interruption of non essential government services. The vast majority of us noticed nothing different in our daily lives. A few people had an inconvenience of an appointment cancelled or delayed for consulting with a government agent about their favorite federal hand out.
Federal “Essential Services” continued as if nothing happened.
That should be the bar for keeping a federal program. If it shuts down during a budget standoff, then it needs to be eliminated.
Where is Elon Musk when we need him the most?
You know what did not change?
Taxes.
Payroll Deduction taking 25-35% of most Missouri citizens’s paycheck.
(Plus the hidden 7.25% employers have to match but is not shown on your paystub)
I propose that the penalty for congress not passing a balanced budget should be mediation between Team R and Team D.
Dr. Ron Paul should be the mediator and get to decide what gets cut if no agreement is reached.
Less Government = More Individual Liberty