The Us Government Shutdown

[hc4361]

Can somebody explain what this means - why it has happened, what will happen and the consequences?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42757091

[Islay]

2nd time in about 4 years they cannot agree a budget with the senators so all but essential services shuts down staff can be furloughed if the budget is not agreed next week

[Buenchico]

From a link in your own post:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39698546

[hc4361]

Thanks, Islay.

[hc4361]

I read it Buenchico but I still can't grasp the significance of it.

[Buenchico]

Did you read the link-from-the-link (about the effects of a similar shutdown in 2013)?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24357415

[hc4361]

Could such a thing happen in the UK?

[Togo]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/us-government-shuts-down-after-senate-fails-to-approve-spending-bill/ar-AAuVbfC?li=BBoPWjQ

Good synopsis on this site. Second time in 5 years. The last time the Government was shut down for 16 days and thousands of workers told to stay home. Essential services are kept running. I think we are probably panicking more than the Americans.

[Togo]

Sorry to divert hc. But have you and Buen seen the earlybird thread and my posts at the end?

[Islay]

Your welcome HC - my friend was doing a driving holiday in the USA last time this happened, basically no National parks or monuments open!
Madame Secretary covered this about 3 or 4 episodes ago - it was a real eye opener that the government can be held hostage by the senators.

[Gromit]

// "The problems start from the top and have to get solved from the top," he said. "The president is the leader, and he's got to get everybody in a room and he's got to lead." //

So said Trump during the 2013 shutdown. I wonder if he will practice what he preached.

[jim360]

This cannot happen in the UK, as it arises from a quirk of the US Constitution relating to how the budget works. In this case I think it arises from the last budget lasting only up until yesterday, whereas here we tend to set budgets lasting years in advance (and then, each year, revise it). There are other reasons why it can pretty much only happen in the US, but that's certainly one of them.

[mikey4444]

HC...to answer your question.....no, I don't think it could.

This kind of thing happens in America, mainly because of the inherent problems with a confederate system of Government.

But I shall probably get flamed for suggesting that, if recent debates on here are any indication.

[mikey4444]

Gromit (10:46)....He will have to get his head out of his behind first though, won't he ?

[jim360]

In this case you'd be correct to say "only in America", although whether it should be a criticism or not is another matter.

The fact is that shutdowns are almost implicitly designed to be a part of the US system, and in theory the threat of such a funding crisis should prompt everyone to cooperate to avoid it whilst simultaneously ensuring that no one branch of government holds all the cards. (This is also the reason that the Senate couldn't pass the budget even with a 50-49 majority in the final vote; the threshold of 60 is deliberate to ensure compromise and agreement, even with opponents, so that a party can't force through major changes on just a slim majority.)

But then, systems designed to encourage compromise don't work if both sides are moving further apart on key policy points, rather than closer together.

[hc4361]

Thanks all, it's somewhat clearer now. I can't be the only person that has problems understanding certain things (I hope) and for me discussion about the topic helps.

No togo, I never delve in to the 'early birds' thread.

[Mamyalynne]

You aren't the only one to struggle to comprehend some of these things, I do too.

It all sounds rather drastic but seems they've been through similar before.

[chrissie1212]

US Goverment Shutdown. Yes. I agree with a lot of you. I had to google it after the person in US sending me something in the UK said post might be affected. So any of you expecting mail from the US, rest assured. Postal services from US wont be affected because the US Postal System is not funded by taxes. Effectively, only services funded by US taxes will be affected by the shutdown. Hope this helps.

[Mamyalynne]

Helpful info Chrissie.