So what if the government shut down and no one noticed? I mentioned this idea briefly in a previous week. It seems this is happening now in Minnesota. Apparently, someone is going to have to go back on their campaign promises, as the governor promised to raise taxes, and the legislature promised to NOT raise taxes. Since the two sides can’t agree, the government has “shut down.”
Of course, when government “shuts down,” that doesn’t really mean much — because all services deemed “essential” get to keep running. You know, things like prisons, courts, zoos, and other such needed things. Even the zoo is still running. In fact, the biggest worry for the state appears to be that the state-run gambling racetrack is shut down! Oh heavens me, people cannot gamble without the state!
Of course, there is also the devastating news that 20,000 state workers were furloughed. Then again, they’re all going to get unemployment benefits — and every time in the past something like this has happened, 100% of them get all their “back pay” for time not worked during the shutdown.
So the only real effects apparent from this “devastating” government shut down is that the state parks don’t have rangers patrolling and the state-run horse track isn’t open. So tell me again why we need this government?