Why is Congress like television’s most inept Dad, Homer Simpson? Answer in a moment, but first this:

Would you like a couple of days, maybe up to two weeks off in October? At no charge to your annual leave.  What’s not to like?

You could lounge around the house, head for the beach or the mountains.  Or like Homer, do nothing.  The best part:

You don’t have to enter to win!  Or buy magazines, soap or use a certain brand of brake fluid.  And this is totally on the up and up.  Backed by the U.S. government (White House and congressional branches). All they have to do is not get along, and then you may get a bonus vacation.

Just working for the government, in a job designated as a “non-emergency” position qualifies you for an October time out aka a government shutdown.

In 2013, tens of thousands of federal workers were furloughed.  They didn’t get paid, because the alleged point was to save money.  Later on that year there was a shutdown involving a much larger number of federal workers. They were locked out, told to stay home but got paid anyhow.

After the 2013 shutdown, which the White House and Congress initially said they would never let happen, many politicians had second thoughts. They said never again.  And it didn’t last year!  But never is a long time.

Congress, and to a lesser extent the White House, took heat from the media and Congress, especially over the shutdown.  Some snippy voters dared ask what was the point of stopping or curtailing vital services, closing national parks and yet paying federal workers not to work?

In the Homer Simpson world of Washington politics (hit self in head with hammer, groan, repeat,) logic doesn’t always win out.  Promises not to repeat stupid moves, like a paid shutdown, don’t last long with politicians who (if they are true statesmen) have attention spans that last about two years.  And that 2-year old “never again” shutdown promise is about to hit its political expiration date.

If there is a shutdown, it could occur for half a dozen reasons.  Bottom line is the inability of the GOP-controlled Congress to work with the Democratic-operated White House.  And vice versa. It takes two to tango and two to produce a nationwide government shutdown.

Both sides have been (again) on extended vacations. Probably for much longer, and at much nicer places than you can afford.  So they may return to D.C., tanned, rested and ready to govern.  Or not.  In which case, the shutdown nobody wants may not happen. But just in case …

Hold off a little while before you store, to chuck, the sun block or put away the hiking boots.  At least until Oct. 1.  Who knows, you may have time to clean the gutters you planned to tackle during the 2013 shutdown.

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

Muddy Mae Suggins is one of the aliases Mona Simpson — Homer Simspon’s mother — employed when she was on the lam from the law on “The Simpsons” TV show.

Source: SimpsonsWiki

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.