The looming shutdown... result: homelessness.

[thedr9wningman]

This shit is classic.

Republicans and Democrats can't be arsed to agree and are using a government shutdown as a political tool in a game of chicken.  The lack of accountability is atrocious, especially when you see who is affected and who is doing what to avoid the shutdown.

Dems don't want the shutdown because they view government as essentially a service to the population.  Republicans view government as 'service' (in quotes) and a drain on the economy.  These services, under their paradigm, could be served by the private sector.  In my view, that's true, but the private sector would make us pay through the nose for it, would misapply resources, create externalities, and create potential conflicts of interest.  Case in point: bottled water.  That is how the private sector, versus the public sector, deals with the delivery of drinking water.  They reinvent the wheel and create garbage, carbon, and externalities where no externalities need to be made.

I digress.

Here are some choice quotes from NPR's most recent article on this matter:

• The Environmental Protection Agency will stop monitoring pollution and also cease cleanups at toxic waste sites. [Well that fits great in the Republican paradigm, now doesn't it.  Convenient!]
• Men and women in uniform will be expected to serve as usual, but their paychecks would be delayed until the shutdown is over. [Wow, really?  So they're expected to work for free, but not expected to be able to pay for their family's rent, food, or utilities?  Great plan!  I can't wait to see on-duty soldiers begging for change.  It's not just what you're paid, timing is huge for both people and businesses, you know...]
• But the Social Security Administration will not have people available to answer most questions from citizens. New applications for cash benefits - along with disability coverage under Medicaid - would be delayed. [Again, the least of us will suffer the most: this plays into the Republican hand perfectly! Result: homeless.]
• Loan applications will also be slowed or stopped at the Small Business Administration and the Federal Housing Administration. [Note that big-business subsidies, tax breaks, and giveaways will continue.  Additionally, the Republicans will try to get more tax breaks for the wealthy and throw the rest of us under the bus. Result: more homeless]
• Potential homeowners who expect to be closing soon on their home purchases may see a delay. [ [sarcasm]More homelessness!  It will be like Reagan was president again.  Those were the good old days![/sarc]]
• States are nervous that some federal programs they help administer - particularly welfare and food stamps - could run into trouble if a shutdown endures. [see above... oh yeah, and more homelessness.]

You see, it's just a winning scenario for the Right.  They get to continue the longstanding pillaging and fucking of the poor (they're  not really people anyway) and get their ideologies met at the same time. And they get to throw thousands of people onto the street, take their money and give it to the rich.  You know, that evil called wealth distribution: it happens in capitalism too... It's just an upward redistribution.  Of course, they don't want you to see it that way, but that's how the system works.

Wow, this is terrible.