John Stossel Smacks Down Idea That Shutdown Is A ‘Crisis’
Patrick Howley
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Journalist John Stossel laid out an accurate case for why the federal government shutdown is not a “crisis” for the country, echoing the sentiments of many independent-minded people who feel that this shutdown could be an opportunity for President Trump to finally make sizable gains against the government bureaucracy that keeps Democrats in office.
“Life goes on. Pundits speak as though government is the most important part of America. But it isn’t…Most of life, the best of life, goes on without government. Much of it in spite of government,” Stossel said.
Watch his compelling case:
President Donald Trump could pay for his entire southern border wall with change to spare if he chooses not to sign a bill guaranteeing back pay for furloughed government workers. It would only take three pay periods over six weeks for the government to save more than $6 billion, more than the $5.7 billion Trump is asking for to build the Wall.
The mainstream media is reporting that Trump is prepared to sign the back-pay bill that went to his desk days ago, but Trump has not signed anything, and to do so would knock out some of his leverage over Schumer and Pelosi — which does not seem like it would be in line with “Art of the Deal” policy.
The shutdown — in which 800,000 workers are not working– is saving taxpayers more than two billion dollars for every two-week pay period, but the savings will only count if Trump chooses not to give them back pay.
Here is a chart on the savings, courtesy of the Center for American Progress:
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