Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Less to gov't "shutdown" than meets the eye

Red Dirt Liberty Report: Shut It All Down! - Being Libertarian - Danny Chabino:

January 23, 2018 - "Unless you’re an American under total mental lockdown, you are aware that there was yet another government shutdown recently. It seems it’s a common occurrence, if only for a few days, every time there is a budget that needs to be passed....

As a libertarian thinker, it’s easy to cheer on the thought of a government shutdown ...  a respite from 'big brother' and the overreaching arm of illegitimate control over individual liberty.... However, this really isn’t that at all. This sort of government shutdown usually means 'non-essential' personnel go home, while many others are forced to continue working without pay until government is in full operation again. Then, everyone receives their full pay that was missed. Contractors who were blocked out can return to their contracts as well. In the meantime, we’ve spent no less money, government hasn’t stopped enforcing debilitating laws and regulations, and liberty really hasn’t changed at all.

"In the US, all that changes under a government shutdown is that people who were hired to do a job and depend on their paycheck like everyone else, have to figure out some way to get by with no pay for a while. One could argue that maybe government employees should go into these jobs fully aware of this risk (especially given that it seems to be an almost permanent threat every time it’s time to fight over the budget), but let’s be realistic. Only a very small portion of Americans have enough savings set aside for unexpected and immediate loss of income. Not to mention, these employees are essentially under a contract – a legal promise to pay for work. They haven’t been fired, and they are not under breach. Instead, the government is under breach and is not holding up its end of the deal. One could also call into question why the government continues to employ anyone who is “non-essential.” However, if you suddenly stop paying someone an amount you agreed, unless they are fired or let go, then the promise is broken, and the employer is in breach.

"A government shutdown, at least of most government functions, would be both a wondrous and glorious thing. It’s what I would love to see, and I’m positive most libertarians would as well. But, that would require actually shutting down those parts of government – ending funding for them and closing them for good. There would be no expectation of future work for employees, just as there is none when a private business closes.... We want to stop having to pay for things that shouldn’t be necessary. We want to end overreach, not just pretend to suspend it (even though it hasn’t been suspended in the slightest). The laws and regulations are still there, and they will be enforced, either now or when work resumes, retroactively."

Read more: https://beinglibertarian.com/red-dirt-liberty-report-shut/
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