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This could easily circumvented by passing the Stop STUPIDITY Act, which basically says if the government can’t pass a budget or continuing resolution in time, t

This could easily circumvented by passing the Stop STUPIDITY Act, which basically says if the government can’t pass a budget or continuing resolution in time, the government automatically adopts the previous year’s budget and suspends all pay for the legislative and executive branches until a new budget is passed. Instead of using government workers keeping intact our very thin veneer between civilization and barbarity as bargaining chips at best and hostages at worst, the pain would fall squarely on the President and Congress.

jacobr 8y ago
It works sort of like this in Sweden (we just got a proper government after the election in September). It led to interesting things like some extra millions for celebrating Ingmar Bergman's 101 anniversary, carried over from the 100 year anniversary last year. But at least people got their salaries.
scarface74 8y ago
Looking at the net worth of people in Congress, they may be inconvenienced, but they wouldn’t starve if they didn’t receive their pay. https://bigthink.com/news/heres-how-much-senators-and-congress-members-are-worth-compared-with-us-common-people-surprised https://bigthink.com/news/heres-how-much-senators-and-congre...
- criddell 8y ago
  I think the act is more about protecting workers rather than punishing legislators.
- asteli 8y ago
  It'd be better, in my estimation, to adopt the system used by Commonwealth countries (iirc) wherein failing to pass a budget triggers elections for representatives. I'm dead sure if that were the case here we wouldn't have this problem.
  - manicdee 8y ago
    Just be aware that the trigger for double dissolution can be exploited to bolster the government if they feel public sentiment is in their favour for the duration of the shutdown and election.
pacofvf 8y ago
They should be barred from running again for office if a shutdown lasts more than 3 days.
csense 8y ago
> suspends all pay for the legislative and executive branches until a new budget is passed That's a terrible idea. Not all lawmakers are independently wealthy. So the ones who actually need that salary to survive can effectively be told by the President or party leaders -- of either party -- "vote with us, or we have a shutdown and your family starves."

jacobr 8y ago

It works sort of like this in Sweden (we just got a proper government after the election in September). It led to interesting things like some extra millions for celebrating Ingmar Bergman's 101 anniversary, carried over from the 100 year anniversary last year. But at least people got their salaries.

scarface74 8y ago

Looking at the net worth of people in Congress, they may be inconvenienced, but they wouldn’t starve if they didn’t receive their pay. https://bigthink.com/news/heres-how-much-senators-and-congress-members-are-worth-compared-with-us-common-people-surprised https://bigthink.com/news/heres-how-much-senators-and-congre...

criddell 8y ago
I think the act is more about protecting workers rather than punishing legislators.
asteli 8y ago
It'd be better, in my estimation, to adopt the system used by Commonwealth countries (iirc) wherein failing to pass a budget triggers elections for representatives. I'm dead sure if that were the case here we wouldn't have this problem.
- manicdee 8y ago
  Just be aware that the trigger for double dissolution can be exploited to bolster the government if they feel public sentiment is in their favour for the duration of the shutdown and election.

pacofvf 8y ago

They should be barred from running again for office if a shutdown lasts more than 3 days.

csense 8y ago

> suspends all pay for the legislative and executive branches until a new budget is passed That's a terrible idea. Not all lawmakers are independently wealthy. So the ones who actually need that salary to survive can effectively be told by the President or party leaders -- of either party -- "vote with us, or we have a shutdown and your family starves."