The Government shut down for over a month in 2018

[berniesandersmittens]

What is different this time? We didnt have the numbers then either, but we shut it down.

Didnt drumpf threaten to use emergency powers then too? I understand that the stakes are extremely higher now, but how in the world did we not come up with a plan in case it happened again?

Trying to make some sense of all this.


Edit to add a wikipedia excerpt

On December 11, President Trump held a televised meeting with Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office and asked them to support an appropriation of $5.7 billion for funding of a border wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico. They refused, resulting in an argument between Trump and both Congressional leaders. During the contentious discussion, Trump remarked, "I am proud to shut down the government for border security ... I will be the one to shut [the government] down. I'm not going to blame you for it ... I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down." Schumer replied, "We shouldn't shut down the government over a dispute."[29] Ten days later, Trump blamed Democrats for the impending shutdown.[30]

Is this crap just repeating itself?
2018

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of the President, drew outrage after an interview in which she stated that while "It's not fair to you..." the shutdown was "...a little bit of pain, but it's going to be for the future of our country, and their children and their grandchildren and generations after them will thank them for their sacrifice right now."[277] Her comments drew criticism by politicians, celebrities, and the general public who felt the advisor and spokeswoman for the Trump 2020 campaign was out of touch, however Lara Trump later claimed the comments were taken out of context.[278]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018%E2%80%932019_United_States_federal_government_shutdown

[bigtree]

1. we had the senate then

...we have zero power to legislatively influence the consequences of a shutdown, especially the interests of furloughed, almost certainly indefinitely released workers as Trump/Musk effectively dismantles and materially shuts their agencies down without any obstacle like a pesky CR or a budget.

[berniesandersmittens]

2. I think we had the House, but not the Senate at that point

Yeah, i forgot about having the house then. Thank you

It's just a nightmare situation.

[LeftInTX]

9. We did not have the House or the Senate. We had just won the House, but it was about 10 days before swearing in.

[Freethinker65]

3. Yep.

And those required to work got back pay. Still, it was a very difficult time.

I remember some Federal workers coming to our food pantry feeling ashamed they needed our services to get by and/or provide a cushion in their finances should the shutdown last for very long. We explained we supported them, as all of our clients, and there was absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. They were very gracious and grateful and many made donations to the pantry once the shutdown ended and they began receiving their paychecks again.

[leftstreet]

4. People ran out of food in a month? Wow n/t

[Luz]

5. Most people live paycheck to paycheck. With no

income for a month, I could live for maybe a month, but month 2 would be impossible.

[leftstreet]

6. Clearly then, federal workers are underpaid n/t

[Luz]

7. Its not just govt workers, we're ALL underpaid.

[Freethinker65]

8. Nope. Not everyone. Some yes.

You would be surprised how many American workers live hand to mouth. Yes, even some Federal workers.
One could argue they should have some savings for emergencies, but lecturing is not the purpose of our food pantry.

For some, the bag of groceries they left with supplemented what they already had on hand, or would be buying, for themselves and families. We distribute fresh and frozen meat, fresh produce, fresh baked goods, along with typical shelf stable pantry goods.

For others, like newly relocated FBI agents, they were currently cash poor from rent and rent deposits, car payments, loans, and required to work without pay. They came in after a week or so, totally ashamed. They also gave us a hefty donation once they received their back pay. They volunteered their info, it was not required.

Workers then didn't know how long the furloughs would last, so saving where you could became more important as time went on. It is hard financially, but also psychologically, when the paycheck you have been relying on suddenly stops coming (I have just learned that myself from a recent retirement, and yes, I have savings).

I will say, after the furlough was over, we did see a drop off in clients attributed to those that returned to work not continuing to use our services (though we would not have denied them).