How's the partial federal government shutdown affecting you?

[Dancind]

Did you know not to eat romaine lettuce recently? Then you used federal services.
Did you trust that the antibiotics and vaccines you or a family member used was safe and effective? Then you used federal services.
Did you look at the weather report any day for any city anywhere in the world? Then you used federal services.
Did you wonder at the amazing images from the universe provided by Hubble, Chandra, Mars Rovers, etc., etc.? Then you used federal services.
Did you breathe relatively clean air? Then you used federal services.

I would add: do you live anywhere near a nuclear power plant or nuclear weapon assembly/storage facility? Then you are relying on the Federal Government oversight to keep you safe. (used to be a fed) Of course, these are probably essential positions.

I'm thinking more long term. The excellent science knowledge that our Federal Government had has been leaving in droves the last couple of years, and now I fear we will have our best managers and technical people doing the same. Private sector is a more stable employer all of the sudden.

 

[kdonnel]

I would add: do you live anywhere near a nuclear power plant or nuclear weapon assembly/storage facility? Then you are relying on the Federal Government oversight to keep you safe. (used to be a fed)

So many of the things listed in this thread can really go on auto pilot for a few weeks, a month, or more.

The average person is not dramatically effected for quite some time during a shutdown.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Personally the shutdown for us has us preparing for a 2008 like recession. The stock market already took a hit, then the shutdown. Come the new year, retail as a whole is going to be hit with massive layoffs/closures.

Are you telling me the stock market is close

 

[kdonnel]

Are you telling me the stock market is close

It is not closed.

 

[tvguy]

National Park Service is the one that a lot of people use. They not closing all sites (like in 2013) but they're not having any trash pickup and their restrooms are closed. It would take longer before federal highway funding becomes an issue.

What is interesting is some National Parks have no staff, but are unlocked because the only access some private property owners have to their homes is through the National park. I think Yosemite is one of those locations.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've owned homes in two different states. In both cases we contracted for trash pickup ourselves and had several choices in providers. The local town/city whatever did not provide that service. I don't think it is all that unusual. Our local landfill is also privately owned and operated.

The recycling pickup is a town service, so that could end. But the recycling center is private and I could take my recycling there myself. Inconvenient, but not life changing.

That’s precisely how it is here.

 

[Christine]

Re: trash pickup.

When I lived in Maryland, our county provided all trash services and ran the landfill.

In the part of Virginia where I live, our trash is done by private companies and the landfill/dumps are all run by the county.

 

[DisneyOma]

So many of the things listed in this thread can really go on auto pilot for a few weeks, a month, or more.

The average person is not dramatically effected for quite some time during a shutdown.

Just wait for tax season, FAFSA season, etc. The essential work that gets done before the filings start should be getting done now.

 

[kdonnel]

Just wait for tax season, FAFSA season, etc. The essential work that gets done before the filings start should be getting done now.

as you said, Just wait.

Like I said, the average person feels no effect for weeks, if not months during a federal government shutdown.

As to your other points, I plan my taxes so I owe, no need to give an interest free loan and I filled out the 2019-2020 FAFSA last month.

 

[DisneyOma]

as you said, Just wait.

Like I said, the average person feels no effect for weeks, if not months during a federal government shutdown.

As to your other points, I plan my taxes so I owe, no need to give an interest free loan and I filled out the 2019-2020 FAFSA last month.

You filled it out, did you get it accepted and fully processed?

The tax issue is going to be the biggest mess, IMO. It's new this year, right? So it's going to be a mess with that, and then the shutdown on top, with no one even in office to deal with the mess. People can file soon, and that will start a backlog.

 

[bcla]

What is interesting is some National Parks have no staff, but are unlocked because the only access some private property owners have to their homes is through the National park. I think Yosemite is one of those locations.

I’ve heard most parks are staying open without normal services, but where some trail entrances have been closed. But the concessioners are still operating.

I mentioned those communities in Yosemite. Foresta and Wawona (same name as the park area) are inholdings. Yosemite West is an exclave. The other one I’ve heard of is Wilsonia within Kings Canyon NP.

 

[kdonnel]

You filled it out, did you get it accepted and fully processed?

Just checked and the status is Processed Successfully, submitted November 15th, processed November 16th.

Now it is up to the school to determine and award aid.

The FAFSA application opens October 1st for the following Fall semester.

 

[kdonnel]

I’ve heard most parks are staying open without normal services, but where some trail entrances have been closed. But the concessioners are still operating.

I mentioned those communities in Yosemite. Foresta and Wawona (same name as the park area) are inholdings. Yosemite West is an exclave. The other one I’ve heard of is Wilsonia within Kings Canyon NP.

I kinda see a point in closing the parks since there will be no one there to collect the trash but I don't understand why government web pages that present static data are purposefully turned off during shutdowns. The only reason to do that is to try and make the shutdown more painful for the tax payers. Seems contrary to the government serving the citizens.

 

[luvsJack]

Just checked and the status is Processed Successfully, submitted November 15th, processed November 16th.

Now it is up to the school to determine and award aid.

The FAFSA application opens October 1st for the following Fall semester.

It will take a long while for it to affect FAFSA since we are heading into the spring semester, which, for most is already processed.

If it was to stay shut down for months it could have a slow down affect on the next one. The school determines the award but there is more that goes on between the school and the fed gov than just receiving the FAFSA. But it would take many months for that to happen.

 

[kdonnel]

It will take a long while for it to affect FAFSA since we are heading into the spring semester, which, for most is already processed.

If it was to stay shut down for months it could have a slow down affect on the next one. The school determines the award but there is more that goes on between the school and the fed gov than just receiving the FAFSA. But it would take many months for that to happen.

Belgium went 589 days without a government. They just kinda kept everything in place and crossed their fingers.

If we go 589 days we will potentially have bigger problems then if FAFSA applications have fully processed.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Looks like a lot of jobs affected are people that may not necessarily have a lot of extra money to live on and that's sad. Just bc some of us don't feel it immediately it is disturbing the games that are being played posturing to their peeps and those people that are being affected. Hopefully we think about them. If it goes on long enough eventually we all may feel it.

 

[Christine]

Looks like a lot of jobs affected are people that may not necessarily have a lot of extra money to live on and that's sad. Just bc some of us don't feel it immediately it is disturbing the games that are being played posturing to their peeps and those people that are being affected. Hopefully we think about them. If it goes on long enough eventually we all may feel it.

Here in the DC area, most of the museums are set to close on Wednesday. Already people are scrambling to get in what they want to see; however, I guess that will all stop next week. This basically hurts the smaller businesses that serve the tourists.

 

[Floridaman999]

I said earlier that I haven't been affected but I have to change that answer. I was going to go to D.C. for a few days in January but I've postponed that trip until things are operational again.

 

[luvsJack]

Belgium went 589 days without a government. They just kinda kept everything in place and crossed their fingers.

If we go 589 days we will potentially have bigger problems then if FAFSA applications have fully processed.

Well I am sure we would.

Now it could possibly affect student awards in the spring semester. Just depends on how the money is handled. Some schools give the money upfront and get paid back from the government. Some wait for payment from the government. If the shutdown was to last oh, say 90 days , the students that attend schools that do the latter, may have to wait for their money. But it wouldn’t keep them out of school or anything.

But that isn’t likely to happen.

A shut down that lasts too long has the potential to affect many of us that think we won’t be affected. The economy in some areas, for instance, could be impacted.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Being from the DC area, I'm expecting noticeably lighter traffic come Wednesday morning.