One of the privileges of living in this country is being able to enjoy at close range the greatest spectator event in the world. If one can resist getting too caught up in the heat of the stagnation, watching government do nothing can be very amusing and entertaining.
Many of us understand that there are 535 (some would argue 537) do-nothings occupying space in our capital. The term do-nothing may be a little harsh since they have actually done two things recently. First, they created thousands of additional do-nothings by allowing a large portion of the government to shut down. Second, they stopped their war dance long enough to agree to pay the newly ordained do-nothings, but not right now. Then they took the rest of the weekend off.
As amusing as the circus is, it's kind of confusing too. If you are in agreement that the employees will be paid, what's the point in preventing them from showing up? Besides, they may have been promised eventual paychecks, but what about those two daily coffee breaks and one lunch break? Something is wrong.
Something else is wrong. Many of us have clients who are looking for a place to live and, due to the shut down, are no longer able to get USDA guaranteed loans. That part of government is now doing nothing. Many of them have leases set to end in the next one to one and a half months, and no place to live after that. The lucky ones will be able to extend their leases, but some will have to leave if their place is already rented to new tenants. Short term living arrangements and a double move could deplete the funds they were counting on to make their home purchase possible. Does anyone in Washington care? Who knows? We could wait until Monday night when most of them get back to doing what they pretend to be work, and then ask them. No need, I think I know their answer now. "It's the other guys' fault."
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