by BB CURTIS

Government shutdowns, according to Marjorie Taylor Greene: ” . . . the people affected are federal government employees, but the American people don’t miss a beat in their jobs. That’s the reality.” She is wrong! There are always ripple effects. The last government shutdown, thanks to DJT, closed national parks. The impacts were real and devastating to many outside the federal government. I live in Las Vegas and used to be in the tourism industry (over 20 years). Tour companies that take people to the parks, ticket brokers that sell tickets for the tours, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, concierge departments and companies, rental car/bus/limo companies, and food supply services that provide breakfasts and lunches for tourists on those tours were all negatively impacted. That covers the basics in Las Vegas proper.

At and near the national parks, impacts were more intense: gift shops closed, restaurants might have been open for locals only, convenience stores were open for locals only, gas stations were open for locals only, janitorial services that clean facilities at the parks had no work, private vendors at the parks are out of work, nearby hotels had no business, private security jobs halted, and all retail outlets and services for locals slowed since locals live there only because they work at the park or things related to the park and are not getting paid. These providers live in these remote, small towns because the parks are remote, and they don’t gain income from people NOT visiting the parks, which have been closed. These listed occupations are not government jobs. These businesses are not supported or owned by the government. They will never see compensation for these losses.

This is just one industry grouping!

MGT is a fool and an idiot. She apparently doesn’t know dick about reality. Someone who can’t see this bigger picture has no business running an outhouse let alone a large country.

NOTE: I did not include the companies that are suppliers to the company types listed here, but their sales dropped as well. Think of all the office supplies, janitorial supplies, linen cleaning, gas for the gas stations, etc., not purchased because of the closure. They also felt ripples from the shutdown pebble in the pond. I also didn’t include the other drops in business caused by people who were planning trips who canceled all their travel plans because much of what they were coming to Vegas to do was closed. There’s more to Vegas than gambling, drinking, and strip shows.

You can play the full video here. MTG’s comment that I’m addressing is about 49 seconds into the video.

© 2023, Bobbi Bartsch Curtis, All Rights Reserved.