What was the end game? What did we think would realistically happen?
My wife and I are both feds, my brother and sister in law too. Several are in danger of losing careers. Just giving context that this is coming from someone who very clearly understands what is ongoing and the massive risk to all governmental establishments. But, what was the end game of a shutdown? Does anyone think the republicans would be the first to blink and end the shutdown? Any pain to the general populace would be blamed on democrats, as opposed to the pain under a funded government which is just about the only hope of actually seeing any sea change in the electorate. Republicans in Congress would be the only ones able to decide to end it, as the majority has the power to bring things to the floor. During a shutdown the president will have the final say on who is essential. Do we really think the president is above something like tapping in the social security fund to pay the military? Any arguments based on “well that’s not legal” can be thrown right out, as the law has demonstrably been ignored thoroughly to date. I would expect any furloughed employees to absolutely NOT get back pay (again, regardless of law) and possibly wouldn’t even ever come back. Why do we think DG started at treasury? You have to assume they have the ability to do whatever they want to with treasury funds. I get wanting to resist, but how is a shutdown actually good for democrats or federal workers? What concessions do we think republicans in congress would actually grant? Especially when they would be handed a scapegoat for any economic damage wrought so far? Is doing “something” worth it when that thing has a very real chance of helping the people trying to dismantle the federal government?