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Psst. No shutdown during a 'government shutdown'
AP via Yahoo! News ^ | February 24, 2011 | By ANDREW TAYLOR

Posted on 02/24/2011 2:22:50 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON – Social Security checks would still go out. Troops would remain at their posts. Furloughed federal workers probably would get paid, though not until later. And virtually every essential government agency, like the FBI, the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, would remain open.

That's the little-known truth about a government shutdown. The government doesn't shut down.

The rules for who works and who doesn't date back to the early 1980s and haven't been significantly modified since. The Obama administration hasn't issued new guidance.

The air traffic control system, food inspection, Medicare, veterans' health care and many other essential government programs would run as usual. The Social Security Administration would not only send out benefits but would continue to take applications. The Postal Service, which is self-funded, would keep delivering the mail. Federal courts would remain open.

The cherry blossoms in Washington would bloom as usual, and visitors to the city would be able to park and see them in all their glory around the Tidal Basin.

But they wouldn't be able to take the elevator up the Washington Monument, visit museums along the National Mall or take a White House tour. National parks would be closed to visitors, a loss often emphasized in shutdown discussions.

The Capitol would remain open, however. Congress is deemed essential, despite its abysmal poll ratings.

The IRS wouldn't answer its taxpayer hotline — at the height of tax-filing season. Under IRS precedents, the agency would process tax returns that contain payments. But people getting refunds would have to wait.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: broke; debt; deficit; election2010; shutdown

1 posted on 02/24/2011 2:22:54 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Taxes will still come out of your paychecks. Just like the last time.


2 posted on 02/24/2011 2:23:54 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Bring it on.


3 posted on 02/24/2011 2:29:34 PM PST by sanjuanbob
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“National parks would be closed to visitors”

Something about this puzzles me. Can’t quite put my finger on it. Closing off thousands of square miles of otherwise open public land with a few locks seems...ludicrous.


4 posted on 02/24/2011 2:31:24 PM PST by ctdonath2 (Great children's books - http://www.UsborneBooksGA.com)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

so....it just goes on spending money forever on autopilot?


5 posted on 02/24/2011 2:34:07 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Air Force One will be unable to fly, Obama has not paid the fuel bill so Andrews AFB has put wheel locks on the wheels! ( I only can hope)


6 posted on 02/24/2011 2:43:41 PM PST by hondact200 (Candor dat viribos alas (sincerity gives wings to strength) and Nil desperandum (never despair))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What happens is that only the “non-essential” parts of government close down, and only “non-essential” personnel don’t have to show up for work.

“NON-ESSENTIAL.”

Let’s think about that one for a few moments, shall we? As in, “Gee, if they’re so non-essential, why the #@&* are they we paying them to harass us in the first place?”

Maybe that question should be the topic for a few of the Sunday morning shows this week and next, hmmm?


7 posted on 02/24/2011 2:55:36 PM PST by Ancesthntr (Tyrant: "Spartans, lay down your weapons." Free man: "Persian, come and get them!")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What? The government doing only what it is supposed to do? Can we get the republicans to stall and keep it shut down in perpetuity?


8 posted on 02/24/2011 3:36:50 PM PST by Boiling point (Beck / Palin 2012)
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To: Boiling point
Can we get the republicans to stall and keep it shut down in perpetuity?

Only if we ship 'em some neuticles first.

9 posted on 02/24/2011 3:39:05 PM PST by mewzilla (Hey, Schumer, your Lockerbie report left quite a bit out.)
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To: mewzilla

BTTT.


10 posted on 02/25/2011 6:16:13 AM PST by mewzilla (Hey, Schumer, your Lockerbie report left quite a bit out.)
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To: mewzilla

BTTT.


11 posted on 02/27/2011 6:13:41 AM PST by mewzilla (Hey, Schumer, your Lockerbie report left quite a bit out.)
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To: mewzilla

LOL


12 posted on 02/27/2011 6:17:28 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: mewzilla

BTTT.


13 posted on 03/15/2011 6:11:49 AM PDT by mewzilla (Were members of both political parties in on the Lockerbie bomber deal?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Sooooo, how much money is saved during a shutdown then?


14 posted on 03/29/2011 2:12:02 PM PDT by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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