government shutdown

Opinion: The impact of a shutdown depends on whether employees are paid their foregone wages after it ends—and how long it lasts

There is a lot of misdirected rage in America, but the politics of anger works. And we’re starting to see it in Canada.

Short-term deal leaves GOP internally divided, externally damaged

There is a tendency to assume that any negative public backlash against the government shutdown, to the extent that it hurts Republicans politically, would serve as a comeuppance for the hard-line Tea Party wing that has driven the effort to repeal Obama’s health care legislation at any cost.

Unless it’s a pox on both their houses

Debt ceiling crisis could be far worse than a shutdown

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the government shutdown over a law that was passed in 2010 was that many Republican lawmakers — including most likely House Speaker John Boehner — did not want it. Boehner is not an ideological bomb-thrower in the mold of Newt Gingrich, gleefully leading his troops into battle. It’s been clear all along that he is enabling the antics of the hard-right faction of his caucus somewhat reluctantly.

… what happens to Canada’s economy?

Legislative insanity is bad, but chaos has its advantages

Sure, the U.S. government shutdown means 800,000 federal workers are off the job and thousands of parks and tourist sites across the country are shuttered, potentially costing the U.S. economy $300 million each day.

But one of the real let downs is the National Zoo’s Panda Cam, which has gone dark as a result of the shutdown.

The live video, run by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, was focused on giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and an unnamed female cub. Mei Xiang gave birth to her baby in August. Since then, the Panda Cam has been a daily highlight for many a cubical dweller needing the kind of pick-me-up that only a baby panda can deliver.

Alas, it has been turned off as the Smithsonian, like all government institutions, is forced to close all non-essential government operations.

However, the pandas will still be fed and cared for, reports CNN.

The shutdown has prompted mass mourning on Twitter.

National Zoo panda cam will be turned off, along with our happiness. #governmentshutdown

The big news: Few outlets really explain how Canadians are affected

It would be nice if it were