American Government to Close

I apologise for this being slightly late, but I am honestly quite glad that I delayed as long as I did as a rather shocking piece of news, and even though it may not affect us directly, I think that it is important that everyone knows about this.

The US government is facing shutdown unless they can agree on a new funding plan by October the first. This is pretty obviously a bad thing, but what exactly will the effects of it be? Among other things:

• 700,000 workers will be sent home without pay
• All national parks will close (no statue of liberty, no alcatraz, etc)
• All passport offices will close (no travelling abroad)
• 19 museums and galleries, and a national zoo will also be shut in Washington (thankfully the animals will still be fed)
• Rubbish collection services in Washington will be cancelled

A bill has been passed by the senate that will fund the government until the 15th of November, but the republican party (who currently hold a majority in the house of representatives) refuse to approve the bill without a provision to strip funding from obamacare. Unfortunately the senate had no choice but to pass this bill in order to prevent the shutdown. The house of representatives will address it this weekend, and if they cannot come to an agreement, then the shutdown will go ahead.

Even when faced with disaster their government still finds time for a power struggle.

Isn't democracy wonderful!