If you were planning on visiting some of America’s finest monuments, parks or museums, you should change your plans.
The Lincoln Memorial, the Statue of Liberty and the Smithsonian Museum are just a few of the major attractions that have officially shutdown as of Oct. 1.
This is the first major federal government shutdown in 17 years.
Republicans and Democrats alike were unable to break a gridlock on Sept. 30 ultimately closing many government entities.
The shutdown has occurred because republicans and democrats cannot come to an agreement on a spending plan for the fiscal year, largely due to Obama’s healthcare reform, ObamaCare.
Days later, the government has still not reconvened and does not appear to be ending their disputes anytime soon.
However, this government shutdown is doing more than inconveniencing your plans to see famous American monuments.
The shutdown has sent more than 800,000 Americans home to their couches on ‘furlough’. Furlough is when you force an employee to go home immediately and dock his or her pay accordingly.
While our soldiers are still fighting, the president is still presiding and the mail is still being placed in our mailboxes, some of this shutdown will directly affect us.
According to CNN.com, if you need a federal loan to purchase a house, one will not be granted at this time; nor will your gun permit be approved or your passport be processed.
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services sent 52 percent of its 78,000 plus employees home on furlough, which includes all of their food inspectors. Yes, the food inspectors.
The Center for Disease Control sent home 18 percent of their employees. Doing so means that the CDC will not be able to produce the weekly map that tracks the flu outbreaks state by state. The flu season began last month, so this information is imperative.
Moreover, the director of the CDC, Dr. Thomas Friedan is worried. “I usually don’t lose sleep despite the many threats that we face, but I am losing sleep because we don’t know what we will be able to find and stop things that might kill people,” said Friedan.
Eighty one percent of the 73,000 employees of the Department of the Interior have been sent home. This department includes those who work for a national park. So for those who wanted to visit a park, you can’t because these employees are not working.
Continuing, 33 percent of the 55,000 plus employees of the Department of Transportation have too been sent home on furlough. Air traffic control and the TSA are still employed, as they are considered to be essential.
Lastly, the Department of Defense has sent home 50 percent of its 800,000 employees. The military is still being funded, however. Thank goodness.
If this shutdown continues, it could have dire effects on the economy and the American people. According to CNN.com, if the shutdown lasts three- to four- weeks, it could cost upwards of $55 billion, says Brian Kessler, economist with Moody’s Analytics.
While the shutdown may seem like it is something beyond our control, so we don’t necessarily care. Well, we really should care because this shutdown has the ability to affect each and every one of us.
