Joseph, the furloughed are not legally entitled to collect unemployment. If you have a job you cannot collect unemployment. That’s why a change in the law is necessary. So what these people and others will get paid in the end. Many will have lost their medical benefits, some their homes or living spaces, some their vehicles. Some won’t be able to pay for medicines that are critically needed for their children or spouses. Naturally since SNAP is out of money applying will do little to help them. Food banks are getting maxed out.
In the meantime there are no USDA food inspections, the mechanics and technicians who certify that a plane is safe enough to fly are off the job. Critical medical research programs will be out of money. Some small towns are looking at thousands of people without income and that trickle down hurts businesses.
It will be interesting to hear what’s actually happening in towns like Lkwd and Palm Tree where there is a large population of people dependant on federal programs who have run out of money.
So who is benefitting?
“I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. … I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.”