Unless our executive and legislative branches come to an agreement, 800,000 government workers will be furloughed. Museums and parks will close, Washington D.C. will be without basic services. Guess what will start to pile up on the sidewalks.
There is a way to avoid a national budget crisis in the future.
A proposed constitutional amendment: if no new budget is passed, the old one would automatically stay in place another year. For obvious reasons, maintaining things as they are is anathema to elected officials. The amendment would supply the missing incentive they need to pass a new budget.
Don't tell me the idea is not workable. Maintaining existing appropriation levels happens frequently; in fact, it is being done right now under a Continuing Resolution passed by the House and Senate. However, the time line is limited for such resolutions -- in this case, April 8. For a copy of the resolution currently in effect, go here: