Washington, D.C. snowstorm
Thanks to the unprecendented snowfall, federal workers in Washington have been given three days off in a row, costing taxpayers an estimated $100 million per day in lost productivity.
It's a good thing Congress didn't decide (back in 1789, or whenever it was) to move the federal capital to Buffalo instead of Washington, because it would have been paralyzed for three or four months every winter.
Or maybe it was a tragic error. Imagine how much less damage Congress could do if it only met eight months out of the year.
In any case, a story in The New York Times reports that our government hasn't really "shut down" in the strictest sense of the phrase. It seems that "essential workers" are still manning the parapets.
If the federal bureaucracy can get by with a skeleton crew to accomplish its "essential" mission, you have to wonder what all the stay-at-homes normally do...hold coats? Make coffee? Run elevators? Polish name plates?
It's mind-boggling to think that as recently as the beginning of WWII, the entire Departments of the Army, Navy and State could still fit into one building.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
Anyone asked Al Gore what he has to say? It looks like all those carbon credits are working.
Posted by: Pointman870 | February 11, 2010 7:38 AM
Chan
It wouldn't surprise me to see some bloggers blame the Washington snow storm on Obama,(as one recently did,regarding Toyota.)
Yes- it's a vast left-wing conspiracy to shut down the government and install a Bolshevik Commie Party..First,they'll get the politicians use to the harsh Siberian winters,and drinking Vodka..Yeah,right.!
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | February 11, 2010 8:06 AM
It's more like a vast, left-wing conspiracy to try and tell us that the earth is warming due to man made pollution. And, I'd say this administration is closer to Fabian Socialists rather than Bolsheviks...
Posted by: Barry O. | February 11, 2010 3:13 PM
Barry O
My favorite sparing partner.If we lived in D C we could build a snowman that looks like Al Gore,and throw snowballs at him...But- he'd melt- just like our ice caps are doing.!
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | February 12, 2010 7:14 AM
Ms. Wagner - I've missed you! Wasn't sure if you'd be back on. Anyway, it becomes harder and harder to believe in, "Global Warming" or, "Climate Change" when the data has been corrupted (see Climategate). And, after just experiencing the coldest winter on record, one has to ask, is the earth warming or cooling?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/20/himalayan-glaciers-melt-claims-false-ipcc
Posted by: Barry O. | February 12, 2010 7:44 AM
Barry O
We'll have to wait and see what happens,regarding climate change..Forgot to mention Socialist--Could use more--like Bernie Sander's (I Vermont)to get the gov.t back on track....can hear you screaming,YECK.!!
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | February 12, 2010 8:55 AM
It is really becoming harder and harder to believe in, "Global Warming" or, "Climate Change" when the data has been corrupted. But we must admit something is wrong, since there are disasters happening all over the world.
Posted by: door name plates | September 24, 2010 5:25 AM