We at TPOL are fond of reminding people that this “government shutdown” is not just bogus in many ways (only some of the FedGov is shut down) but not the worst example of Congress refusing to pass a budget and authorize spending.
The worst example? Back in 1876 (yep, the same year as the Black Hills War and the 7th Cavalry lost 262 dead at the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn). Congress failed to pass the appropriations bill for the US Army (the Department of War) for six months. Soldiers did not get paid for six months. Contractors supplying food (including food on the hoof!) to military posts did not get paid. Officers often paid for food for their troops out of their own pockets – those officers who had savings or other sources of income. Hunting, foraging, and growing their own crops let some troops in various posts survive. Other troops were supported by local civilians, even in the South. (The former Confederate States were still under occupation in the “Reconstruction” in 1876, before the compromise to elect a president ended the occupation.) Or so our publisher was taught by his historian father.
So things like this just don’t seem all that horrific!
Regarding Big Bend and others: Keeping the tourists out of many national parks means that the rangers and other staff are not nearly so important: after all, these areas survived without much human care for thousands of years. Most of what NPS staff have to maintain (and clean up) is due to the tourists and the facilities coddling them.
Congress continues to be a welcome stumbling block for government, even if everything is really not shut down. Mark Twain’s famous quotes about Congress are again proven true:
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Day 34: Are we dead yet?
We at TPOL are fond of reminding people that this “government shutdown” is not just bogus in many ways (only some of the FedGov is shut down) but not the worst example of Congress refusing to pass a budget and authorize spending.
The worst example? Back in 1876 (yep, the same year as the Black Hills War and the 7th Cavalry lost 262 dead at the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn). Congress failed to pass the appropriations bill for the US Army (the Department of War) for six months. Soldiers did not get paid for six months. Contractors supplying food (including food on the hoof!) to military posts did not get paid. Officers often paid for food for their troops out of their own pockets – those officers who had savings or other sources of income. Hunting, foraging, and growing their own crops let some troops in various posts survive. Other troops were supported by local civilians, even in the South. (The former Confederate States were still under occupation in the “Reconstruction” in 1876, before the compromise to elect a president ended the occupation.) Or so our publisher was taught by his historian father.
So things like this just don’t seem all that horrific!
Regarding Big Bend and others: Keeping the tourists out of many national parks means that the rangers and other staff are not nearly so important: after all, these areas survived without much human care for thousands of years. Most of what NPS staff have to maintain (and clean up) is due to the tourists and the facilities coddling them.
Congress continues to be a welcome stumbling block for government, even if everything is really not shut down. Mark Twain’s famous quotes about Congress are again proven true:
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.