Wednesday morning I got up, got dressed and headed out the door for work. I got in my car, started the engine, backed out of the driveway, drove in heavy traffic and noticed that every strop light was working very well. The police were out in force, keeping the peace, the garbage trucks were out trying their best to block as much traffic as they could, and the planes flew their landing patterns right over my head.
I go to work, and the phones worked, the calls came in, I answered them and the people on the other end of the line spoke with me about their need for a doctor. Every doctor's office I called was open and patients were being treated for whatever ailed them.
I ate lunch in the break room and watched through the great big picture windows as the roads were packed with cars trying to out smart each other to the next intersection. I finished work, took the elevator to the first floor, got in my car and drove home.
On the way home I called my buddy, Jeff, who was in the waiting room at the VA waiting to see which VA doctor wanted to do the surgery to correct the ankle the last VA doctor had put on crooked. He reported that they were only running two hours behind instead of the usual three and a half because so many veterans had stayed home thinking they would not get service.
I got home and at my supper, got ready for bed and fell asleep, secure in the knowledge that I was safe and sound because my government had shut down and for now were probably not going to bother anybody.
Our local "National Park," the "Ding Darling Wildlife Sanctuary" was reportedly closed for most of the day, but re-opened in the late afternoon.While it was closed, people continued to stroll the boardwalk without the services of the park rangers who usually sat in the office drinking coffee and collecting fees for the park use. The strollers got to use the park for free!
I watched the news on ABC, CBS and NBC. Not a one of them mentioned that Congress had begun passing legislation that would keep the military, the VA and the regular essential government services open, but that's exactly what happened. All we heard from the media was interviews with businessmen who complained that they might have to shut down. In the background you could see the workers slaving away at making whatever they were making. It looked like business as usual to me.
I kinda like having the government "shut down." It means that congress won't be wasting time making laws against cheating, lying, stealing and killing, most of which we already have laws against. How many laws do you need to say, "Don't kill people?"
Sequester was a total dud, despite the outcry that it would cripple the country, and so is the government shut down.
By the way, I selected the stupid picture above because liberty has nothing to do with the government shut down...absolutely nothing. The government does not promote liberty, it limits it.
I say the more government shut down the merrier.
