Here are estimates of the economic costs of the banana republican government shut-down.
A shutdown that lasted between three and four week could cost the economy about $55 billion, by the estimate of Moody’s Analytics economist Brian Kessler.
Washington, DC, would lose $200 million a day on lost wages and lost spending by those who get furloughed. That estimate doesn’t include tourism, and the huge losses DC will feel from the museums and national mall being closed.
The shutdown would “reduce federal spending” by about $8 billion, which could reduce GDP growth by .8 percent annualized, according to a report released Monday by Goldman Sachs.
Moody’s Analytics’ Mark Zandi pegs the amount lost in economic growth in the fourth quarter at as much as 1.4 percent.
One billion dollars a week from the pay of the roughly 800,000 federal employees will be lost from the U.S. economy.
The personal costs to people who won't get paid, who will be laid off from ancillary businesses, who won't get veterans services, who can't get a passport, who won't be able to sign up for social security...much higher. Bottom line, millions of people will be hurt by the intransigence of the banana republicans in the house.
We can't hold them accountable because the rightest of the right wingers gerrymandered themselves into safe districts. What we can do is hold our fellow citizens accountable, for voting for these yutzes in the first place.
Do you know a voter who voted for one of these banana republicans in the last election? Hold him accountable. Get in his face. Tell him his behavior is not acceptable, that is has been hurting his family, friends and community. Refuse to listen to right wing talking points. Tell him that he clings to them because his denial is so strong. Tell him that his problem is not just personal but is causing widespread harm, and that this is no longer going to be tolerated any longer. Let him know that unless he changes his voting behavior, he will face scorn, ridicule and ostracism from those who care about the well being of our communities and polity.
Let's show at least as much contempt and condemnation toward republican voters as we do toward smokers.
Cross-posted at possible experience.