Day 33. I have survived several government shutdowns before, but never have I seen it get to day 33. I am appalled by my elected officials. I am frustrated that I am expected to continue to show up to work without pay while my President and Congress drag their feet on this. 33 days?! My double income household went to a zero income household. I have been forced to stretch my paycheck beyond double what I normally have to. I have been using a charge card for bills and necessities to keep as much cash in the bank as possible in case something happens. I can afford interest more than I can afford an overdraft and all the fees and penalties that go with it.
People keep reminding me that I will eventually be paid. Yes, yes I will. That doesn’t make it any easier. Take your monthly wage, cut it in half and live off of that for 33 days. Just try to do it on paper. Some of you might still be okay. I hope that you are. Add to that unforeseen financial obligations: a flat tire, a broken arm, a car accident (you are at least responsible for a deductible), a Vet visit. Subtract roughly $700 for that unforeseen obligation. Subtract gas money. Subtract money for groceries. Subtract money for anything you like to do outside of basic survival. We are people trying to maintain a lifestyle that 32 days ago we were able to afford, but now cannot. I have co-workers trying to find part-time jobs to make money on their days off. I have had co-workers miss work because they can’t afford childcare. I have co-workers with very low to negative bank account balances. 33 days. I am willing to bet what’s left in my bank account that we see day 34 of this shutdown.
This staring contest, game of chicken, power play of a shutdown is still going strong. No one wants to be seen as weak. THIS IS WEAKNESS! I do not care who blinks, hell, both sides, avert your gaze from your opponent’s long enough to see what you are doing to your country. You are going to lose the people that you need on the frontlines because they cannot afford to work for you without compensation. Of all the departments to partially shutdown… The Department of Homeland Security is the one you chose because they have no legal rights to strike or act against you (Yeah, the wall is part of this, I’ll get to that later). You are leaving them vulnerable, but expecting them to keep you safe. That is sound and logical. Continue with your shutdown. It makes complete sense. We are honored to serve you without pay. Thanks for valuing the service we provide. I have worked more than 200 hours in the past 33 days. Can you really say you’ve done the same?
Why is there anything else going on with our government right now? Why are there other bills being drafted and worked on? Why aren’t the people responsible for this federal budget locked in a room right now? Why did Speaker Pelosi think that galavanting across the globe during this shutdown was a good use of her time? Why does President Trump think it’s a good idea to have unpaid men protecting him as he goes to give his State of the Union speech? This is how monarchs have been overthrown. The unpaid royal guard no longer cares if the King lives or dies because the King refuses to pay them. Not saying that it will happen, not even trying to put an idea in anyone’s head. Just remembering some general history. Also now a historic thing… 33 days is the longest the government has ever been shutdown. Wahoo! Way to go! Longest shutdown in history! Let’s not stop at 33. Let’s make it harder for the next guy to get there, we gotta get to 35 or maybe even 40.
The Wall of Contention… There are so many arguments for and against this wall. The wall has already been built in a few small areas in the Southwest. It was built based on the prototypes that CBP decided met their requirements. This project was started based upon President Trump’s Executive Order on January 25th, 2017. He’s not asking for permission to build it, he’s asking for money to build it. Do I want the wall…? Nah, I want the 5.2 Billion deposited into my bank account so that I never have to work again for the rest of my life. I could travel and write. I wouldn’t have to worry about the government withholding what they owe me for 33 days.
769 hours and 45 minutes have come and gone since the government was fully functional. In that 769 +hours I bet I have come up with better compromises than my elected leaders.
1. Build a symbolic wall. Interpret this as you will.
2. Annex Mexico, use it, fix it, then use the Panama Canal as a natural southern border. Also Annex Panama.
3. Put the funding for the wall on another bill not tied to anyone’s paycheck so that you can debate it until the end of the earth.
4. Use all the confiscated drug money from the cartels to build the wall so that you don’t have to ask the American taxpayers to pony up for it.
Ultimately I feel that the officials elected to govern forgot that they were elected as law makers to run a country. GOVERN! Political posturing is for elections. It’s time to take care of the people that are paying you to be there. What is actually the best possible outcome for the country? Is it a wall? Is it wide open borders? Is it pizza and tacos for all? (I’m all for the latter, It might help some of my coworkers.) I know one thing… it isn’t 34 days of a shutdown. Lock yourselves in a room and figure this out. It should have been done 34 days ago.
The Katie Chronicles 