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Federal Government Shutdown?

April 6, 2011 By 3 Comments
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The last time that this happened was 1995 and to be honest I was not at all effected!  I was graduating High School that year and then off to college. The Federal Government Shutdown was not a concern!  Making sure that I had gotten into college, Prom, the school play and my boyfriend were all I was really concerned about!

Fast forward 16 years and a Federal Government Shutdown will have vast impacts that I am concerned about.  The list of federal jobs, perks, and services that will be effected is long and far reaching.

  1. There is sure to be an economic downside to the federal government shutdown.
  2. Government parks and federal museums would most likely close until a budget could be reached.
  3. The IRS could hold all pending refund checks (luckily I filed early and have already spent my refund)
  4. Border Patrol Agents in Afghanistan may be ordered to return to stateside.
  5. Closure of the national zoo.  Although the animals will be fed they oo will not remain operational.
  6. Nonessential Federal employees may be “laid off” because during a shutdown there is no access to the money that pays them.
  7. Government smart phones that are nonessential will be shut off.
  8. Debate over whether or not government websites will continue to operate.
  9. Delay is passport processing.

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Now I will be honest… most of the items have minimal impact on my personal life.   But there are of course a few things that I am very concerned about.  I have planned a trip to my parents house in Chincoteague, VA for next week.  The only beach there is would be Assateague National Seashore.  I am only assuming that the Beach and the park would be closed to visitors!  Without the beach and wildlife trails I am unsure of what I should do.  Do I stay home and let the Federal Government ruin my vacation or do I go and hope that there is a resolution in time.

I am also sitting here wondering if the Federal Government is willing to refund me the cost of my trip?   They are not providing a service that I have paid for.  I thought that this is against the law.  Oh yeah… the laws do not apply here!

The other thing that has me concerned over the impending Federal Government Shutdown is stalling of passport processing.  Rob and I have been saving for years for passports.  It was a goal for us to get our passports this year.  So about a month ago we went to the passport office with our $300 and applies for passports.  Now I would like to be clear here.  We have no plans to travel right now.  The trouble is that this is a goal we have had and we spent a lot of money for this “product”.  Should we really have to wait?  Will we get a refund for the delay?

All in all I would have to say that the federal government shutdown is our fault!  We never should have planned to vacation near a federal park and applied for passports all in the same year!  I just wanted to have a vacation before the baby comes.  I just wanted to be able to escape for an international trip once he comes.  I guess that I was asking a lot!

Becca

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Big Brother: Lojacking the Kids?

April 20, 2009 By 7 Comments
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I was out at garage sales this weekend and over heard the oddest conversation.  I did not chime in at the time because it was not my conversation but as I walked away I was appalled!  There were two women at this garage sale who were discussing lo-jacking their kids in case anyone took them.  I could not believe what I was hearing.  Were they kidding me?  Since when do we keep our children “safe” by taking their rights away?  Since when do we treat our kids the same way we treat criminals.  I just could not believe it.

The first thing that came to my mind is that most of the time kids are taken by people they know.  It is not as common that a person drives by and offers them candy.  Most of the time it is a neighbor, a friend or a parent whom you are acquainted.

Another thing that popped in my mind was that cell phones, which a lot of kids have, contain GPS.  This means that as long as they are out and about with their phone they would be findable.

I just think that we have all become far too paranoid.  Why is it that we as Americans have let fear take over.  Why is it that we no longer think that anything is safe?  I just think that kids should be kids.  How would you have reacted if your mother and father sat you down and lo-jacked you?  I am not sure that any of us would be happy.  Perhaps they should have a leash.  Perhaps we should microchip them like we do our pets.  Perhaps they should have a bar code installed at birth. When is it too much?  When will we as Americans stop giving up our freedoms in order to feel safer?

I do not know about you but I ould never lo-jack my kids.  I will let my kids play outside because as I said in “outside will get you” kids are better off playing without me breathing down their necks.  I will never have my kids be able to be tracked that easy.  I want you all to take a few moments to look back at how you grew up.  Now look at what we as a generation have let the fear driven country do to the quality of our children’s lives.  I think that we have to loose the fear and live a little.  Most of all I think that we have to stop letting fear take the place of our rights as Americans.  Over the past 10 years we have lost a lot of our freedom in the name of terrorism.  Not for nothing but I am pretty sure that the terrorists are not going to come and take my kids.  I am pretty sure that they will not bomb my house and I am pretty sure that if they did they would bring Abigail back right away!  She would fight them and be too much of a problem.  At what point is enough enough?

Becca

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