The US federal government might shutdown Friday. WTF?

[J T]

Am I the only one just hearing about this now?

This is pretty scary. If congress can't come to an agreement about the budget in the next few days they will temporarily shut down all "nonessential" government programs. This is crazy shit!

Story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 3439.story

The effects:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/us/po ... ss&emc=rss

[BoringSupreez]

I don't think it will be a big deal. All state level governments will continue to function, after all. The government shut down in 1995, and we lived through that. And yes, you are the only one just hearing about this, a looming government shutdown has been in the news for months now.

[MrPopo]

This isn't the first time in recent memory this has come up. Unless that was an episode of the West Wing.

[YoshiEgg25]

I came into this thread hoping you meant the song.

[MrPopo]

Yeah, the more I think about it, it was an episode of the West Wing. So we need to go get Martin Sheen; he'll fix it.

[jfrost]

That's awesome, let's celebrate. Maybe get them to shut it down today?

[Betamax001]

So like...3 day weekend for government people? I'm confused. It sounds like we are kinda if not already broke.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1389/saturday ... -buy-stuff

Perhaps the government should have gotten this advice a long time ago.

[t0yrobo]

Yeah, the more I think about it, it was an episode of the West Wing. So we need to go get Martin Sheen; he'll fix it.

Martin Sheen/Bill Pullman 2012, lets make it happen.

[o.pwuaioc]

I came into this thread hoping you meant the song.

[J T]

And yes, you are the only one just hearing about this, a looming government shutdown has been in the news for months now.

Damn. I've really been under a rock about politics lately. I used to get all up in arms about politics all of the time, then I just kind of stopped devoting so much time to keeping informed because I wasn't doing much to help other than getting mad on the internet, and maybe attending the occassional political rally. It seems like a really important time to be politically educated and active. I feel guilty for not being more involved.