If the US Government shuts down, what do you think will happen? Rioting in the streets? Dancing in the streets? Nothing?

In one of our many private political discussions, one former member of this site once told me that she figured within 40 years the United States of America would no longer exist. She saw too large of a gap in ideologies, and economic power. She figured it would separate in to smaller countries, she had 5, but I don't remember them all. I do remember the northeast, the south, and the midwest, but I don't remember how the rest broke down in her mind, or where the lines were drawn. But every time news like this comes along I think about that prediction, and wonder if she just might end up being right.

Check out a book by Robert Heinlein called "Friday". Written back in the eighties, it describes the Americas and Canada dividing up just as you've described as corporations gain more power and become de-facto governments. Parts of it are quite chilling, when you think about how prophetic they are.

Friday

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I find it curious that extremes were automatically assumed. The US splits because of a government shutdown? Really? How short our attention span is that we forget about the government shutdown during the Clinton years.

US politics have always been polarized, from day one. The only difference is now we have the Internet to share ideas. The Federalist/Anti-Federalist debates of the 1780's were also touted as causing potential division of the Union. That same debate rages on today in the form of states rights.

FYI, an agreement was made and a shutdown of the US federal government is avoided. All catastrophes are hereby canceled and the USA can remain a single nation; for now.

I'm reading this on forums all over the net...but, being a UK Citizen and a bear of very little brain, does somebody have the time to explain to me what's going on, in simple terms?

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Me like Mina Miranda, dont live in the US and cant completely understand whats happening, but from what i have been reading i dont really see whats the big deal is not the end of the world. I have read different opinions but i came across to this list of things of horrible consequences and for me they were a joke:

1. That CRS report documented another impact for human health — during the last shutdown, the National Institutes of Health had to stop answering hotlines devoted to diseases. (Yes thats bad for people with diseases but not that horrible to cause chaos on the streets)

2. Delinquent child-support cases were delayed during the last shutdown. (one more time yes, sucks for those moms but, hey i live in a country were child support never goes to trial because no one really pays them, so nobody is gonna die for that)

3. Parks and federal tourist destinations closed during the last shutdown, and they undoubtedly would this time around as well. (Oh no!! how horrible situation,how the poor americans are gonna survive)

4. Benefits decisions for veterans could similarly be delayed. During the November 1995 shutdown, The Washington Post (which has collected online some earlier shutdown articles from its archives) reported on an injured veteran who had waited years for an appointment with the Board of Veterans Appeals, only to have it canceled in the shutdown. (Really ok yes if you risk your life at war you shoud have privilage for it, but really is this why theres gonna be chaos there?)

5. Hundreds of thousands of visa and passport applications went unprocessed as some passport agencies shut down while others operated with minimal staff. (The shutdown wouldnt be for ever just a few days so i guess people can wait for that)

Maybe im just not reading the right information and thats why i dont understand the big deal, but what i see is once again Americans complaining like little babies for a little rough time. No i dont hate America or have an anti America Agenda, i love going there i have family living there and i think if they stop whining for little things and focus on changing the important matters that are making America on the edge of falling down they would get more done.

but thats just my

Sarah Palin will run Bartertown.

These 'elected and selected' fuckers don't give a shit, one way or another. Once elected to the status that they've reached, they have pensions for life and health care for themselves and their dependents which are fairly well unrivaled anywhere in the world.

They don't feel anyone's pain, let alone any which may land at their doorsteps (for very long) and they propose no 'fix' for the unwashed masses who take up their sides in their campaigns and then attempt to 'vote them' into office.

We're the pigs led to slaughter, and we fall for their oration every election cycle. Seemingly we all develop mass amnesia and forget that these fuckers have been fucking us for the last several election cycles...and we allow ourselves to swallow their spewed bullshit, every 2 to four years.

This guy used to write Bush II's speeches, he gets it. He finally woke up, a few years ago.

We live in a Matrix and as long as we can have our cake with some tasty frosting occasionally, we don't really seem to care too much. Til someone pushes one of our hot buttons.

Shutdown the Government? LMAO, they can shut it down, still get paid and still receive their health care. What do they care, they already are on vacation 90% of the time, anyway. The other 10% of the time, they are actively working in collusion to fuck the rest of us to early graves.

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The best thing you can do for your fellow,
next to rousing his conscience, is - not to give him things
to think about, but to wake things up that are in him...
to make him think things for himself - George MacDonald