Shutdown? What Shutdown?  

Photo: AP Images

Fifteen years ago, I had never been to Albany before, so I sat with notepad in hand, eager to learn everything there was about this power center of New York politics. Time and again I wrote down the words “government shutdown.” The idea was simple and repetitive: If Albany didn’t pass a budget on time, there would be no funding for the government. At the time, it was a threat that would upend government and politics. Chaos would reign. That was state government and the ramifications of shutting down just one state seemed incalculable and terrifying. Today, the federal government is shut down and has been for several weeks already. Most surprisingly? We don’t seem as concerned. Where’s our gumption for government?

There are three sentiments that can be used to describe the American people when it comes to federal government: We are Bitter, Burned and Benumbed.

Bitter

In the past, when government shutdowns loomed large, Americans would talk about the almost one million employees who would be out of work. The idea that these families would be without funding left Americans sympathetic to them being paid and compassionate for their cause. Americans have become bitter about government and its employees. I believe there are two fundamental reasons for this.

Earlier this year, Elon Musk and DOGE spent weeks laying off government employees while many Americans cheered this action. This created a culture under which government employees being furloughed doesn’t sound nearly as serious, and perhaps to DOGE supporters is even necessary.