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How will the coming Republican government shutdown hurt you?

Republican extremists threaten to shut the government unless Social Security and Medicare are cut.

KEVIN MCCARTHY MUST COMMIT TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER RAISING DEBT CEILING, SAYS FREEDOM CAUCUS HOLDOUT. Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican, said the debt ceiling fight is a “non-negotiable item.” - The Intercept

"What happens if the government shuts down? Many federal government functions are frozen and many federal employees are furloughed. In the 2013 shutdown, 850,000 or about 40% of the workforce were furloughed."

"Republicans began using the debt ceiling as a hostage, threatening to start a crisis unless Democrats accepted spending cuts... Republicans view this as their best model for enacting spending cuts. The Republican fiscal agenda is deeply unpopular, and rather than try to enact it when they win power. Republicans now see Democratic administrations as the best time to advance it. The strategy is that they can force Democrats to accept unpopular spending cuts, thereby relieving Republicans of the backlash." - MSN

How Government shutdowns hurt all Americans

Republican extremists force Government Shutdowns to get their way by holding the country hostage
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Shutdown hurts those in need

Medicare and Social Security Checks. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are mandatory spending, so payments will still be made during a government shutdown. However, other services such as benefit verification and card issuing would stop, according to the CRFB. This could be a problem for some people, as benefit verification can be a requirement when applying for loans or mortgages, as well as services that require proof of income.

Food Stamps Threatened. A government shutdown could affect the 42 million people who receive food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. While funding for SNAP is mandatory, the Department of Agriculture has previously only been authorized to issue food stamps for 30 days in a shutdown. Additionally, stores would not be able to renew their Electronic Benefit Transfer card licenses during a shutdown. If those licenses expire, the stores will not be able to accept SNAP benefits.

Food Inspections Could Cease. During the last government shutdown, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were forced to delay inspections. The postponed EPA inspections included drinking water facilities and hazardous waste sites.

“The military will still go to work; they will not get paid. The border will still be patrolled; they will not get paid. Folks will still be fighting the fires out West; they will not get paid. All of these people will be working for nothing. Which is simply not fair,” said Mick Mulvaney Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2018.

McConnell gives tax cuts to billionaires but cuts benefits for working Americans

Infographic design

How do you explain the widespread harm that's caused by extremists holding the country hostage to get their demands? This infographic was designed with the free Infogram app in a few hours using data from multiple sources. It makes it easy for readers to search for information and understand how they will be hurt without having to search through multiple website. The infographic can be viewed on a phone, tablet or laptop with this link.

  • How a Government Shutdown Could Affect You - Newsweek
  • Imagine Negotiating a Debt-Ceiling Ransom With These Maniacs - Intelligencer
  • Government Shutdown: Definition, Example, Impact on Economy - Investopedia
  • What Is a Government Shutdown? Here's What Happens Now - TIME
  • Shutdown Could Have Long-Term Effects - NPR

Understanding a Government Shutdown

The real effects of a government shutdown are widespread. It may take longer or be impossible to process new loans for homes, businesses, and education. New applications for Social Security benefits and the processing of unemployment insurance will also slow. Death benefits and travel reimbursements will not be paid to the surviving family of service members killed during their military service.

Banks, while not government-controlled, are not able to access the information they need to process loan applications during government shutdowns. For example, banks must be able to verify the income submitted on the applicant's tax records during a loan application process. This can also produce reverberations in the economy as a whole because the fees that banks charge to process loans impact the bank's revenues, and, ultimately, the inability to finance a new home will impact the housing market as a whole.the entire economy may lose money as a result of this disruption in government operations. - Investopedia

TakeAway: Use infographics to help people understand how Republicans taking the government hostage will hurt them.

Deepak
DemLabs

DISCLAIMER: ALTHOUGH THE DATA FOUND IN THIS BLOG AND INFOGRAPHIC HAS BEEN PRODUCED AND PROCESSED FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE, NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CAN BE MADE REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, LEGALITY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION. THIS DISCLAIMER APPLIES TO ANY USES OF THE INFORMATION WHETHER ISOLATED OR AGGREGATE USES THEREOF.

Printable version of infographic

Republicans threaten government shutdown.

Visually speaking

Republicans plan to kill Social Security and Medicare

McConnell gives tax cuts to the rich driving up the deficit

The only power working Americans have is their ability to organize and vote when billionaires have rigged the system and bought political control.

Republicans deny Americans healthcare and keep drug prices high

The super rich dodge their taxes cutting funds available to help the poor

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