It’s always interesting to hear the reactions around the world when the US government shuts down. People from more statist countries are often shocked at how Americans can close their entire government and not have total chaos or blood in the streets. In some countries the government controls so much of their daily lives that they’ve been conditioned to not being able to live without it. We just kind of shrug it off.
And therein lies the real reason these shutdowns never last long. TPTB are afraid We The People might realize how easily we can get along without them.
Jim BrookDecember 22, 2018 9:36 am
I like the Christmas greetings to a mathematician. The steps are mathematically correct. I plan to give it to somebody tonight, with instructions to solve.
Comrade XDecember 22, 2018 10:27 am
What is it with Chinese food and Jews on Christmas?
I just had a good Jewish friend tell me that is what he will be doing on Christmas.
Dr. Jim, I got a kick out of that one but wasn’t sure whether the math worked out. Thanks.
Ron JohnsonDecember 23, 2018 7:51 am
Since 86% of th Federal budget is on auto-pilot, not subject to regular Congressional approval, and since the Feds spend about 20% of our GDP, that comes to about a 3% shut down of the U.S. economy. No wonder nobody notices.
It’s always interesting to hear the reactions around the world when the US government shuts down. People from more statist countries are often shocked at how Americans can close their entire government and not have total chaos or blood in the streets. In some countries the government controls so much of their daily lives that they’ve been conditioned to not being able to live without it. We just kind of shrug it off.
And therein lies the real reason these shutdowns never last long. TPTB are afraid We The People might realize how easily we can get along without them.
I like the Christmas greetings to a mathematician. The steps are mathematically correct. I plan to give it to somebody tonight, with instructions to solve.
What is it with Chinese food and Jews on Christmas?
I just had a good Jewish friend tell me that is what he will be doing on Christmas.
Those were at one time the only restaurants open on Christmas day in NYC (and presumably other U.S. cities). Thus a tradition was born.
Sounds like a good tradition to me! However, our only Chinese restaurant not only isn’t open; it closed for an entire two weeks for the holidays.
Dr. Jim, I got a kick out of that one but wasn’t sure whether the math worked out. Thanks.
Since 86% of th Federal budget is on auto-pilot, not subject to regular Congressional approval, and since the Feds spend about 20% of our GDP, that comes to about a 3% shut down of the U.S. economy. No wonder nobody notices.