The make-believe “news” media — along with C-SPAN — is awash with cries that, unless a budget agreement is reached, the federal government will “close down” on Friday. That is good news, indeed. This means that all of the troops will have to be brought home from Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and other outlands; the military will have to stop using its bombs, rockets, bullets, etc. (perhaps it can get a refund from the manufacturers!); the prisons will have to close down and release prisoners — particularly those convicted of victimless crimes; shut down the DEA, TSA, CPA, FDA, et al.; the IRS will no longer be able to accept tax returns; etc., etc.
This is what will happen, right? Or will the picture look more like what state and local governments in California did on the day following voter approval of Prop. 13: they cut back on library and park hours of operation, and the few governmental services many people actually wanted. No cut-back in police, prisons, courts, zoning enforcers, and other intrusive functions.
1:56 pm on April 5, 2011
