SHUTDOWN SHEBANG: Nothing ‘amusing’ about a shutdown

By Mason Bibby​

On March 14, the United States Senate (with more than a few qualms from the Democrats) voted 54-46 to pass a Trump-backed stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown. 
But most Americans have been lost in the legalese of the situation, which has hampered both public trust in the government and the ability of the government to instill that trust back into their voters. 
Thus, we are left with a burning question: what is a government shutdown, what does it entail, and how does a “stopgap bill” like the one passed a few weeks ago affect it?  
For starters, it is important to understand what government shutdowns are predicated on. Imagine the government likened to a massive amusement park (inconceivable, I know, but let’s assume for the sake of an illustration that the Feds can have some fun). This park, we’ll call it Bureaucracy Bonanza, is filled to the brim with rides like Red Tape Rapids, Filibuster Ferris Wheel, and Paperwork Plunge. It also has a wide  array of food and entertainment, like live shows. In order to keep its visitors, or in this case the citizens, happy, every year park management (Congress) agrees to a budget to keep the park running and fun. Let’s say they get into an argument over which rides should get the most attention and funds, and they can’t agree on a budget. Eventually some of these rides, food stands, and live shows—all of which require money for upkeep—eventually start to close and no one can visit. That’s a government shutdown.
Now, to avoid disappointing all the “visitors,” the managers at Bureaucracy Bonanza can choose to use a temporary stash of tickets they’ve been hiding away in order to keep the rides running temporarily. It isn’t a permanent fix, but it will keep things rolling for long enough for the staff to hammer out a deal. This is what we’d call a “stopgap bill.” However, if a deal still isn’t reached, the same issues will crop up again and rides or some staff  (government services) will begin to close or scale back. Some essential ones, such as Red Tape Rapids (the IRS), park security (the military), and the first-aid tent (government-backed healthcare), will remain open, but many others like the visitor center (museums and federal grants) will not.
During this time, the visitors cannot access those parts of the park or receive things from them. To that end, many members of park staff, such as the hot dog stand operator (EPA or other such organizations), are furloughed, meaning they have  to stay home without pay. The park can remain this way for a few days or even months. The last and longest shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019. During that time, airport lines stretched for hours and the DMV worked slower than its already snail’s pace.
It is imperative to avoid shutdowns because they can cause economic disruption, erode public confidence in the government’s ability to manage and govern,  prevent Americans from receiving essential services like welfare, and open windows to national security threats. Shutdowns don’t just stop the rides—they stop the people who keep America running. This isn’t just about “stopping Republican aggression” or “preventing Democratic obstinance,” it’s about keeping the government running and making sure it runs smoothly and efficiently for the whole country. Because in the end, no one wins when the gates to Bureaucracy Bonanza are locked.

---