Opinions on the U.S. federal government shutdown

[Kims Robot]

I can't even pretend to know all that this impacts, but one of the biggest thoughts on my mind is how this looks to the world. The USA is relied on for so much around the world, and this makes it look like we can't get our act together, and that is just sad. I get that healthcare is a really controversial issue, but I've always hated the government's ability to tack things onto bills that have absolutely nothing to do with the bill itself. Who came up with that and why is it still allowed? Can't we just debate the issue itself like adults?

And will someone please change the 27th amendment so that when the government shuts down because Congress & the House are bickering, Congress & the House are forced to WORK without pay!! Several good representatives have recognized this and are donating their pay back to the treasury or at least to charity, but it seems dumb that they get paid during this...

Personally I feel bad for all of the people that have no idea when they will be able to return to work. Sure a week off here or there can usually be handled, but many already took paycuts over the summer where they had to take off every other friday, or more. I have a friend who's dream job had been to work for NASA, after 10 years, he finally got the job and started a month ago... and with a new child and a new house, he is now furloughed with no idea of when he will be allowed to return.

My company, as well as all that I have worked for are funded by government procurements and dollars, so while we get to keep our lights on for now, we do have a forced shutdown over the Dec-Jan holidays where we are required to take vacation time or take the time unpaid. If all of this government nonsense keeps up (I read that it was estimated that this shutdown would cost over $2 BILLION dollars), it will likely mean reduced funding for all defense contractors, and likely more cuts/furloughs for my company. We can hope to rely on international or commercial markets, but my group is entirely military/federal in nature. And while no, our products are "not essential" to day to day American lives, tell the families of the thousands of soldiers that have been saved by our robots, or to the families of the bomb squads who used our robots to disarm the remainder of the Boston Marathon bombs that their family members are "non-essential", and the cost of their lives was not worth the expenditure on our robots. Im fairly certain every one of them would have disagreed. The federal workers who manage our contracts and fight to get funding to buy our robots to protect our soldiers and police are currently in the "non-essential" category, thus, while we can still execute on our current contracts, no new ones can come in until they are allowed to return to work.

So while I am fortunate to not be directly impacted, I feel for those who are, and I am already feeling the indirect impacts, and hoping this doesn't create a further slip in our economy.