Forty-one and Done

As many of you who have been keeping up with politics know, the government has been shut down. The month-long shutdown has been the longest in U.S. history. There have been many consequences of the shutdown, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being on hold in November of this year. SNAP benefits are funds for low income families to buy groceries. Many families rely on this to support their children and partners, and without this many had difficulty getting the food they need. According to the White House, around 900 workers have lost their jobs, and 55,000 federal workers are working without pay. If you take a look at the White House’s website, they claim that the Democrats have shut down the government on the top of the screen. They also claim that “The Shutdown is 100% on Democrats, whose radical agenda is poisoning our politics and punishing our people,” later adding that “President Trump and Republicans will not be held hostage by the shameful political games of the Democrats.”  Democrats were pushing for a extension of expiring healthcare subsidies. Recently the shutdown has been said to be ending, which was announced on day 41 of the shutdown. Palisade social studies teacher Alex Smith states, “I believe that the government shutdown displays just how disconnected some of our leaders in Washington D.C. from the reality and well-being of the average American. If their priorities were to serve the best interests, that funding bill would have passed, and there would be no shutdown.” The government shutdown was voted to end on a 222-209 vote.  President Trump is going to be signing a bill soon that will declare that the shutdown will be over, and everything should go back to normal.