Government Shutdown: Eight Days Away

Remember the last government shutdown? Maybe you do, it was only two years ago - supporters rallied in Washington to re-open the WWII Memorial and other national parks. Well, guess what? This sideshow COULD happen again:

National Parks
Last time the government shutdown in 2013, the Glacier and Yellowstone gateway communities lost $18 million.

Food
According to the USDA, if Congress does not avoid a shutdown the USDA will be forced to stop providing benefits - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka Food Stamps) would shut down. (Didn't we just learn Tuesday that two tons of foodstuffs are provided DAILY by the Gallatin Valley Food Bank?)

Schools
The last time the government shut down, 22 schools with urgent early payment requests were left unanswered.  Over 100 schools have applied for early funding this year.

Timber
During the 2013 government shutdown, 1,200 active timber sales were halted, according to testimony from the Federal Forest Resource Coalition.

Agriculture
Most local Farm Service Agent (FSA) Offices were closed during the 2013 shutdown, denying farmers and ranchers access to technical assistance.

Does it really matter who is responsible for the shutdown? Why should we endure this stupidity every few years? I guess it comes to cheap political points and the odd photo-op.