1969Larson

That is actually an excellent example... especially since the building codes you refer to are adopted by each State or municipality and it is up to them to decide what version of the code to adopt, weather or not to amend it, and when to enforce it. It actually works pretty well this way, managed by the States. If the Federal Government were to create a Federal Mechanical Code, then every job you work on would have the type of requirements that VA Hospitals do. As to your last sentence, you couldn't be further from the truth. I just hate to see our healthcare go down the road of the USPS and Social Security. A law for "affordable healthcare?" I'd rather support a national law for "affordable new trucks." There is a nice Super Duty out there I would love to have. Wouldn't cheaper trucks or boats or houses, or whatever mean we have more money for our healthcare? Surely somebody can spin that into a law.

Well, the job the military does is the ONLY one that I can't do for myself. Sure, the military budget needs to be revisited like everything else, but if it were to abruptly lose all funding it would be catastrophic, unlike other programs which at the worst would be inconvenient. I and my family depend on the military and we do not depend on anything else the Federal Government provides.

No program besides our military should get a single dollar until we have a balanced budget. Ya know why? WE DON'T HAVE IT! Seriously, cutbacks hurt, but it is time - way past. Do you really think we can right this ship without feeling it? It is going to hurt. If it doesn't, we're not doing enough.

Indeed. Nice recovery!

I stand corrected. There is one.

There are a very great number of things that are no-brainers that both sides would agree to fund. Start there. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Why is this complicated? It doesn't have to be. Even if you like the IDEA of the government being involved in healthcare why in the world would you EVER think they could be successful at it. Name a program that the federal government hasn't run into the ground. Social Security? Nope - about to run out. Postal Service? Loses over a billion dollars a year. ($4 billion loss this year) Oh, yeah and there's that $16,000,000,000,000 mismanagement of funds we are forgetting. Now trust them with my healthcare? You kidding me?

I agree 100%. Vote to turn the lights back on, restore benefits one by one. Nobody is happy about this complete shutdown. I do find it interesting how much effort has gone in to shutting down things that are noticeable in an attempt to make us "feel" this shutdown. Every item that requires funding should be addressed individually without packaging up these huge bills full of riders. Vote on restoring services and funding them one at a time. Each item that my money goes to fund should stand on its own merit and find some support from all parties. If it can't, give me my money back!

Wrong. The powers of each branch of the Legislature are explicitly stated in The Constitution. If you don't think that the House withholding funding is part of the system of checks and balances, why do you think our founding fathers set it up exactly this way? To jog your memory, do you recall what effectively... Ended the Vietnam War? Ended the Conflict in Lebanon? Established a national drinking age of 21? That's right.. withholding funding (ended military funding for South Vietnam, limits on military funding, and a withholding of state highway funds). So don't tell me that this isn't checks and balances. The Constitution is an easy read. I highly recommend it.

By the way, have you read the United States Constitution? I have a copy in my hand. It is not a big document. The copy I have is 68 pages including the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, and all amendments. Very easy reading too. Before you can present you opinion on things our Senate has done, you should be required to read this. (Article 2 on the Legislative Branch is just a couple of pages.) Nothing wrong with wanting or supporting socialism or single-payer healthcare. As mentioned, there are countries that operate that way. Maybe you could look into them. But before you pack up and move there, you might want to ask how many medicines they have developed, or what medical technology has started there. I'll bet you it all came from the US of A. Also ask how often families bribe doctors for good care. Go to a hospital and ask how many patients would like to come to the US for their care.

Regardless of if you like the ACA or not... It doesn't matter if the President likes it and it doesn't matter if the Senate likes it and it doesn't matter if the House likes it. It also doesn't matter who won or LOST. There is a system of checks and balances. Maybe those who wrote this law and passed it without a single republican vote in the middle of the night should have considered getting more "buy-in" from the other side. Had those in favor of a healthcare law done a better job of writing it and getting a balance of support they wouldn't be getting checked right now. The House's constitutional authority to control the pursestrings is intentionally there for exactly such a time as THIS.

Puppies better buy their own rabies shots! I'm out!

It is easy to get frustrated and tune out. I don't blame you. However, this is a very big deal - way more important than a political party issue.

$300 aspirin don't bakrupt people, but cancer and a few other very expensive conditions sometimes DO. These are called catostrauphic events. There has always been insurance to cover this type of scenario and it is very affordable. Priorities, man.

Right on. And the only problem with socialism is... Eventually you run out of other people's money.

'Cause competition makes us all better. If you haven't noticed, with very few exceptions, we develop the medicines and technology the entire world enjoys. Chocolate chip, please.

Prairie Creek is for sale... http://fayar.craigslist.org/reb/4108230668.html

Our founding fathers would love (not being sarcastic) to see what is happening right now. It is exactly what they designed to happen. This is why they set up a system of checks and balances. Something is getting checked right now.

I don't think anyone is "bashing" federally-paid workers. Just making observations... Most of which have been pretty accurate. I hate to ask the tough questions, but in case you haven't noticed, WE ARE BROKE!!! Worse than broke. Regardless of how hard you work or what time you get up or whatever, the money spent on these programs, essential or not, is borrowed. I have compassion. I feel for you, but emotions aside, this is a real big problem and we can't go on the same way. The worst part is this isn't new. Who didn't see this coming? But let's just stay focused on the important issues like marijuana and gay marriage.

Oh, and no resumes yet.

And work ethic. And priorities. And balls.

For the record, anytime anybody gets laid off, they are essentially, not-essential. It doesn't matter if their employer is a private company or the Federal Government. And anytime anyone gets laid off, it is a slap in the face. Federal workers are not unique in either of those areas. It is not disrespectful to question anyone's career choices. Hard work and dedication are admirable, but it does matter what you are dedicating yourself to and working for. If a small airport in SW Missouri doesn't have much air traffic, doesn't really need a control tower, ends up closing, and an FAA agent gets laid off, am I supposed to feel badly for him or her? Is it disrespectful for me to say they should have seen it coming? I value hard work, but shouldn't a federal employee be thanking ME? I'm the one paying their salary. Our senators work for me. I pay them and I am the boss of them. The firing process needs to be streamlined, but that is the fact. Any furloughed federal employee reading this who is concerned and actively looking for a new employer and is truly facing a tough time financially (this means you have cancelled your smart phone, hundreds of cable channels, and all your flat screen TV's, boat and spare truck are all on Craigslist) contact me and we'll talk about how soon you can start at my company. I'm always looking for people like you. Hard work does pay off. If you don't believe that you should go and try it some time.

I must say that if my employer couldn't balance his books, ran a deficit year after year, and continually requested an increased line of credit just to pay me, I would update my resume. Don't take this as an insult as I don't know you and I have all the faith in the world that you are a hard worker and do great work at whatever you do. If I met you personally I would be the first to thank you for it, respect you and your hard work and pride and we would probably be fishing buddies. That said, it is not MY money you take home each paycheck... no it is worse than that. It is BORROWED money. I merely pay back the interest on it out of each of my paychecks. Food off of MY TABLE. I'm curious why anyone would try for many years to get a job for someone 16 TRILLION DOLLARS in debt. And you are surprised you miss a paycheck?

Maybe this is a good starting over point.. Can the Federal Government please just do for me the things I can't do for myself. I think that only means keep me safe from other countries will bad intentions. The rest I can handle better, more efficiently privately and on my own. I can't however organize an armed forces capable of keeping this great country safe against the threats we face today. So fund that... modernize it while you're at it... and anything else add in as funds allow.. and only after approval by the people who are represented by regular folks, not career politicians. That was the original intent and we are so far from that today it it isn't funny.

I used to agree... thinking that they couldn't get anything done in 1 term. NOW i don't want them to get anything done! Haven't liked much of anything they've "accomplished." These several thousand page bills are absolutely ludicrous. If you can't get it summarized on one 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, the government has no business in it! No riders, etc. One page, one bill, vote it up or down and go home back to your real job. OK, no more politics from me... back to wishin' I was fishin'!

Never been for term limits before in my life but I am now. One term. In and out. Back to work. Lobbyists have no audience. Mechanics, engineers, electricians, landscapers, business owners large and small, housewives, the gal stocking shelves, and the guy cleaning teeth... One term, back home. REPRESENTing was cool a long time ago. Davy Crockett was a congressman! Get your name on the ballot.