<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp634d0d23yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.21in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; widows: 2;"><font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">This is just a strange thought that came to me this morning as I was listening to news reports of the many Federal workers who are lining up at food banks, etc. in anticipation of not receiving their paychecks tomorrow. Why are they (and the rest of us) paying for the "government shut down"?</font></font></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.21in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; widows: 2;"><font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><br></font></font></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.21in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; widows: 2;"><font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"> ACCORDING
TO GOOGLE: Congress's main role is to make laws, control taxing
and spending, and provide a system of checks and balances within the
U.S. government. The Constitution grants it powers such as declaring
war, regulating commerce, coining money, and overseeing the executive
branch through hearings and an oversight function. The legislative
process involves both the House of Representatives and the Senate,
with specific powers, like the Senate's "advice and consent"
for presidential appointments and treaties,. </font></font></font></div>
<p style="margin-top: 0.21in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 0.29in; orphans: 2; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; widows: 2;">
<span style="display: inline-block; border: none; padding: 0in"><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="4" style="font-size: 15pt">Core
functions of Congress</font></font></font></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in">
<strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><b>Lawmaking:</b></span></span></font></font></font></span></strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> To
make laws that affect all Americans, based on debate and the
legislative process involving both the House and Senate.</span></span></span></font></font></font></span></p></li>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in">
<strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><b>Financial
control:</b></span></span></font></font></font></span></strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> To
raise revenue through taxes, approve the federal budget, and coin
money.</span></span></span></font></font></font></span></p></li>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in">
<strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><b>War
declaration:</b></span></span></font></font></font></span></strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> To
have the sole authority to declare war.</span></span></span></font></font></font></span></p></li>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in">
<strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><b>Oversight:</b></span></span></font></font></font></span></strong><span><font color="#001d35" style="background-color: inherit;"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="letter-spacing: normal"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> To
oversee the executive branch and ensure that laws are administered
according to congressional intent through hearings and
investigations. </span></span></span></font></font></font></span></p></li>
</ul>
<p style="letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">
<font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">We
elect 535 people to Congress. They have not done their job – WORK
TOGETHER to, in this instance, approve the federal budget (in a
timely manner). Federal workers who are furloughed or not being paid
are paying the price for their paralysis. More and more, we the
people are also paying the price, and the nation as a whole as others
look at us with increasing disdain. Why are the REST OF US paying
the price for the DECISION of those 535 members to not do their job??</font></font></font></p>
<p style="letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">
<font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">I
was thinking about the Roman church and the recent necessity to name
a new Pope. (also the movie, was it "Conclave"? The people responsible for that decision were
sequestered in a room with no contact outside until they came to a
decision. No time off, no “man-splaining”, no tweets, no press
conferences. Just one thing – come to a decision they will all
live with. And stay there til you do. Hence the white smoke.</font></font></font></p>
<p style="letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.13in; line-height: 0.25in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; border: none; padding: 0in; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">
<font color="#001d35"><font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">Maybe
we should try this. Sequester all 535 till they come to the decision
they are charged with making on our behalf. Then let us know and we
move on. Perhaps a fine for each day they are interrupting our lives
by their incapacity to do their job. Or perhaps a % reduction in
their salaries, expenses, benefits and retirement each day for the trouble
they are causing the rest of us by their choosing not to do the job
we elected them to. </font></font></font>
</p></div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="ydp634d0d23signature"><div style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><a href="http://partnersinparticipation.com/james-wiegel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jim Wiegel </a> <br><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;" dir="ltr" class="ydpa512fec3MsoNormal"> </p><div> <span><p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;" class="ydp209e23c4MsoNormal"><span>The
unknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody
scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, all
that. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plain
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