Good morning from sunny, crisp Asti!

I was just trundling through the news when I came across one of my favorite terms: shutdown. As in, government shutdown.

I can’t think of a more helpful thing a government can do, especially a Western government. (Even Belgium’s economy registered growth during their myriad shutdowns.)

Not only do the usual government shutdowns not matter, this one is especially ridiculous.

Kevin McCarthy, the House Speaker, who continually proves himself to be about as useful as nuts on a Catholic priest, has decided not to stop Ukraine’s funding during the shutdown.

So, Johnny Foreigner gets his wedge while Americans must dutifully wait for their share of the spoils. Their spoils.

The question isn’t how it took McCarthy fifteen votes to get confirmed as Speaker; it’s how he got confirmed at all!

Let’s poke fun at the whole ridiculous thing on this autumnal Tuesday.

It’s Shutdown Time!

Ah, yes, the time-honored American tradition is upon us once again. No, I'm not talking about Thanksgiving or the Super Bowl. I'm referring to the ever-so-dramatic, always entertaining, and utterly pointless spectacle known as the "government shutdown."

You see, folks, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, there’s this peculiar ritual where elected officials—those paragons of virtue and wisdom—can't agree on how to spend the money they've already taken from you.

So, what's the logical solution? Shut it all down, of course!

Of Course, It’s All Trump’s Fault

From the AP:

A government shutdown would disrupt the U.S. economy and the lives of millions of Americans who work for the government or rely on federal services — from air traffic controllers who would be asked to work without pay to some 7 million people in the Women, Infants, and Children program, including half the babies born in the U.S., who could lose access to nutritional benefits, according to the White House.

It comes against the backdrop of the 2024 elections as Donald Trump, the leading Republican to challenge Biden, is egging on the Republicans in Congress to “shut it down” and undo the deal McCarthy made with Biden.

Republicans are also being encouraged by former Trump officials, including those who are preparing to slash government and the federal workforce if the former president retakes the White House in the 2024 election. With five days to go before Saturday’s deadline, the turmoil is unfolding as House Republicans hold their first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing this week probing the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden.

“Unless you get everything, shut it down!” Trump wrote in all capital letters on social media. “It’s time Republicans learned how to fight!”

The Blame Game

Now, let's not kid ourselves. The blame game is the main event here. Democrats will point fingers at Republicans. Republicans will point right back.

And the media? Oh, they'll have a field day, churning out headlines faster than the Federal Reserve prints money.

But let's be honest: this is a bipartisan failure. It's like watching two kids fight over a toy, except the toy is a multi-trillion-dollar budget, and the kids are supposed to be adults.

Essential vs. Non-Essential

During a shutdown, we're often reminded of the terms "essential" and "non-essential" government services. It's a fascinating exercise in discovering just how much of the government is, in fact, non-essential.

Here’s a quick clue: Ukraine is essential. You are not. Nor are Maui residents. Or East Palestine residents.

Do you mean to tell me we can survive without every federal agency operating at full capacity? Shocking, I know.

The Market's Reaction

Ah, the markets. Those jittery, emotional beasts that react to every headline and tweet. You'd think Wall Street would panic over a government shutdown, right?

Wrong.

The market has seen this circus before, and it's unimpressed. In fact, some traders might even see it as a buying opportunity. Less government meddling could be a good thing, couldn't it?

Right now, the markets are far more worried about how high and how long Jay Powell will take interest rates.

Although this would be interesting, from Reuters:

The publication of major U.S. economic data, including employment and inflation reports of critical importance to policymakers and investors, will be suspended indefinitely should the federal government shut down at the end of this week because of a lack of funding, a government official said.

The suspension of the reports would occur across all government agencies such as the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Commerce Department's Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and leave policymakers at the Federal Reserve, investors, businesses, and ordinary Americans in the dark as they make key decisions.

The Real Victims

Let's not forget the real victims here: the American taxpayers. While politicians engage in their theatrical disputes, it's the average Joe and Jane who bear the brunt.

Whether it's delayed tax returns, closed national parks, or just the general sense of dysfunction, the people are the ones who suffer.

But hey, at least we get some comedic relief from watching our leaders make fools of themselves on the national stage.

The Silver Lining

If there's a silver lining to all this, it's that government shutdowns expose the inefficiencies and absurdities of a bloated federal system.

It's a wake-up call, a chance for you to question why the country needs such a cumbersome, intrusive government in the first place.

Maybe, just maybe, it's time to consider a more streamlined, less paternalistic approach.

But who am I kidding? This is Washington we're talking about.

Unless 45 becomes 47, that is. I bet he’d like to take a machete to the government after stupidly keeping employed a bunch of Democrats who consciously worked against him.

Wrap Up

So, grab your popcorn and settle in for another round of shutdown theater. It will be a wild ride, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. And when it's all over, we'll be right back where we started, waiting for the next act in this never-ending drama.

Until then, keep your wallets close and your liberties closer. Because if there's one thing a government shutdown proves, it's that the only thing we can truly rely on is ourselves.

Have a great day!