Republican chaos fuels threat of government shutdown

Unless warring factions of Republicans in the House of Representatives can come to their senses, the United States government will shut down next Sunday.

- Jesse Jackson

Some may not notice – we tend to rely on government only when we are in need. But the impact – and the hurt – will be immediate – and will grow over time. Nearly a million federal employees will be furloughed and sent home without pay until there is a resolution.

Everything we rely on from the government will slow down or be halted. Home mortgage and loan applications will be delayed. The inability to get government permits will impede everything from commercial fishing to health research to visas and passports. National parks will struggle to stay open; but they will overflow with human waste. Health and scientific research will be disrupted. As we continue to get hit with extreme weather, the emergency help provided by the government will start to run out.

Some vital services will continue. The military will stay on the job – although civilian defense workers will either be sent home or work without pay. Social Security and Medicare checks will go out – but the newly retired are likely to find their applications delayed.