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Shuitdown Issues For Travellers
Topic Started: Oct 12 2013, 08:23 AM (465 Views)
Tipacanoe
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We are scheduled to go south to SC next weekend and are beginning to worry about the impact of the US government shutdown on such things as:

- border crossings - potential delays and issues
- health care - availability of emergency hospital and medical care
- security - will some state and local police be affected etc.
- availability of essentials such as gasoline, supermarket stuff etc
- potential for military coups - common in other republics around the world.

We wonder whether any members can point us to reliable prognosticators or whether the topic may have already been covered somewhere here.

Cheers! :-)

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Bitsy
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Tipacanoe
Oct 12 2013, 08:23 AM
We are scheduled to go south to SC next weekend and are beginning to worry about the impact of the US government shutdown on such things as:

- border crossings - potential delays and issues
- health care - availability of emergency hospital and medical care
- security - will some state and local police be affected etc.
- availability of essentials such as gasoline, supermarket stuff etc
- potential for military coups - common in other republics around the world.

We wonder whether any members can point us to reliable prognosticators or whether the topic may have already been covered somewhere here.

Cheers! :-)

I can't answer about border crossings but I see no problem with your other concerns; actually, the service establishments need tourists since many of government employees are laid off and have no money to spend. Hospitals, doctors, medical clinics, law enforcement are not affected by the government shutdown. I would think gasoline, food supplies would be in abundance because of people not traveling or commuting to work; same with food supplies. Military coups, no; terrorist attack, never any guarantees about that, government shutdown or not.

Have a great trip, enjoy.
Edited by Bitsy, Oct 12 2013, 08:40 AM.
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Kahu
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Sooty's had a few problems with National Parks etc closed which is a real downer when you have to pay through the nose to visit and tour North America. See her post at ... http://s7.zetaboards.com/Worldwide_Seniors/topic/8829225/2/

Sooty
 
It is snowing in west Yellowstone. I am from an area in aust that does not have snow so it is fun. However the us govt in their wisdom have closed all national parks so we have missed Yellowstone. The IMAX film is not the same. The tour has 6 more parks including the Grand Canyon so it is true to say that I am pissed off with this decision. So too are all the rangers, guides and small businesses that rely on tourism.
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Dana
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WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire
There was one news story that mentioned food safety is a real concern as food inspectors are also off work. I suppose that best before date is now meaningless as stale food may be safer because it has been inspected? Food inspection is not considered to be an essential service during the shut down.

http://economyincrisis.org/content/food-borne-illness-outbreaks-amid-government-shutdown
Four days ago, the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture announced that “an estimated 278 illnesses … reported in 18 states” have been caused by chicken contaminated with Salmonella , possibly produced by the firm Foster Farms.

With the temper tantrum in Washington having sent many food-safety personnel and disease detectives home, it’s only natural that the outbreak is projected to continue."
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goldengal
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Mistress, House of Dogs
My daughter and other family members headed for New Orleans yesterday, and I knew they had delays, but just found out it was due to fog.

I had asked my daughter about border delays, and she said "I didn't find any delays at the boarder either this week or last week when I drove across. I think they should be ok."

Incidentally, they went on one of the food walking tours which we have found and enjoy so much, and said it was fabulous and they are stuffed.

Take care,
Pat
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Tipacanoe
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Thanks folks. You are reassuring.
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Tipacanoe
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But I'm still left wondering - especially after reading Krugman et al - would hospitals, for example, continue to function w/o medicare & medicaid money? And wouldn't the various payment defaults snowball and cause massive disruptions in pretty much every aspect of the economy? The numbers and the goverrnment's involvement in life are so huge!
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Bitsy
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Tipacanoe
Oct 12 2013, 01:21 PM
But I'm still left wondering - especially after reading Krugman et al - would hospitals, for example, continue to function w/o medicare & medicaid money? And wouldn't the various payment defaults snowball and cause massive disruptions in pretty much every aspect of the economy? The numbers and the goverrnment's involvement in life are so huge!
Tip, I am not sure what Krugman article you are referencing but we have two different things happening here. The government shutdown does not affect Medicare or Medicaid payments to hospitals or doctors . Where these programs might possibly be affected is if the House does not agree to lift the debt ceiling but that is several days away But even if the debt ceiling is not resolved immediately, I do not see medical care as being a problem since most doctors and hospitals payments are from private insurers, not the federal government as in Canada.
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Tipacanoe
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Thanks, Bitsy.

Lonely Planet too only points to disruptions at parks etc.

Whew!

Hope you guys can resolve these issues soon - as do you I'm sure! :-)
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friendshipgal
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Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians
The borders are open as they are considered an essential service, you should be good to go.
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Bitsy
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Tipacanoe
Oct 13 2013, 07:14 AM
Thanks, Bitsy.

Lonely Planet too only points to disruptions at parks etc.

Looks like some of the national parks will reopen; some states are willing to pay for their parks to reopen and the Obama Administration has agreed with their plan.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/national-parks-government-shutdown_n_4079019.html
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Trotsky
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Big City Boy
I think very little has actually been "shut down"...all a lot of political noise.
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