Government shutdown

[Rogar]

Incorrect. Forest Service, BLM, National Grasslands (part of USDA) are all closed.

Those campground run by concessionaires, some are still open.

Nope, there are not as many places to hunt now, not legally.

...

LJ, I'm not sure of your source, but the National Forests and BLM lands are still open for recreation, even though their offices are closed.

"National Forest and BLM lands, he says, "would nearly be impossible to close because there are so many access points. Secondly, those lands are open to a wide range of public activities."
http://www.npr.org/2013/10/03/228719...ands-stay-open

"U.S. Forest Service stations, information offices and programs are closed, but recreation (such as hiking) on the forests remains open. Many of the campgrounds were closed for the season prior to the government shutdown. Many of the other campgrounds that stay open during hunting season are still open, if they are operated by concessionaire. Campgrounds without a gate would remain available for use."

http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/ind...ional_par.html

[flowerseverywhere]

Yes, living in fear of not having the ability to provide for one's basic human needs is immoral.

I thought about this statement and I am not sure I agree with you 100%. People work hard to be able to own a nice house in a good neighborhood, buy good food, and save for a rainy day. Others show less personal responsibility. What I find so crazy about all of this is many who complain think nothing of going out to eat a few times a week, drive nicer cars than I ever did, drink alcohol etc. yet don't want to pay for healthcare. It is a service, with many people who work hard to provide it. There is a huge spectrum of people in all kinds of circumstances so broad generalizations don't fit, and many people have tried to do the right thing and in the old insurance world were priced out or were denied insurance altogether no matter how hard they were willing to work. the basic problem I think with healthcare and many things are all the middlemen. If you could go to the md and pay for a visit with cash, it would remove all the people in between that need to be paid. Insurance companies have to support huge buildings full of workers with telephones, computers etc. MD offices have staff specifically to deal with insurance companies, and much time is spent figuring out what is covered, complex billing and referrals. It is all just so complicated. Although I disagree with many of the positions and tactics of the tea party, I can at least understand the basic premise that a system cannot give everything to everybody. One only need to look at some of the European countries to see their budget woes and realize that most systems have some flaws that are causing countries to have severe financial woes. All of this posturing is hiding the really big problem, we have to get our financial houses in order, from the citizens house to the county, state, up to the White House. I don't think this is the way to do it, but we at least have to face up to the reality that living on borrowed money is not very smart.

[peggy]

Posted by Alan:

"The republicans, being reasonable kidnappers, offered to only cut off 4 fingers and a foot of the hostage if the democrats give in to their ransom demands. Said Alan, What do the democrats want? The whole hostage? Without giving us anything? We offered not to stomp on the dead body and drag it though the streets? The fact that the hostage has been 'damaged' was the democrats fault cause...cause...they should have paid us some ransom! Gee...it's sooo unfair that people blame us!"

[Alan]

Posted by Alan:

"The republicans, being reasonable kidnappers, offered to only cut off 4 fingers and a foot of the hostage if the democrats give in to their ransom demands. Said Alan, What do the democrats want? The whole hostage? Without giving us anything? We offered not to stomp on the dead body and drag it though the streets? The fact that the hostage has been 'damaged' was the democrats fault cause...cause...they should have paid us some ransom! Gee...it's sooo unfair that people blame us!"

LOL Peg, I've always admired your ability to bypass reason, no matter how pervasive, and entertain us with outrageous, oftentimes hilarious hyperbole (or is it satire? I often can't tell).
Good job!

[ljevtich]

Incorrect. NPR is wrong: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans When you look at the contingency plans, most of the BLM folks are furloughed. All visitor centers within BLM are closed as of today. Forest Service lands are closed. If you go on them you are doing so illegally.

From the USDA Forest Service Site:

Due to the lapse in agency funding, the sale of all types of permits (i.e., recreation, firewood, forest products, mineral materials for example) are suspended, recreation.gov reservations are suspended, and all federally owned recreation sites are closed. All offices are closed. These services will be available once funding is restored.

Law enforcement, fire suppression, and other essential services will continue without interruption.

This web site will remain available for public safety announcements and updates such as for wildfire, floods, and so forth. We will attempt to make timely updates about public health and safety on these web pages as appropriate. We sincerely regret this inconvenience.

[ljevtich]

And I would not want to be hiking in the forests right now anyway. TOO many near misses from hunters even when you wear bright orange and talk loudly. No thanks. Give me trails in the urban areas right now (except everything is a soppy mess as we have had rain for a week. Can't wait for the sun. It was only out for a couple hours today.

[dmc]

So, the government has been shut down?

I haven't noticed.

[flowerseverywhere]

So, the government has been shut down?

I haven't noticed.

. Lucky you. I have a son furloughed out of work and a brother in law working at a VA serving veterans who don't know when their next paycheck will come.

[gimmethesimplelife]

. Lucky you. I have a son furloughed out of work and a brother in law working at a VA serving veterans who don't know when their next paycheck will come.

And I know a lot of folks out of work now, too. It is not just federal government workers and contractors. Also due to the National Parks being closed, the concessionaire employees - the front desk clerks, restaurant employees, housekeepers, etc. are all out of work now, too. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

Unfortunately I've had to go to work. I could have really used a good furlough, alas I don't work for the government.