Federal Shutdown Effects Military Tremendously

It is now the ninth day of the federal government shutdown. People may question why there is a shutdown and what this means for us.

Why? Republicans are angry over President Obama’s healthcare law. They refuse to continue on until Democrats agree to block money for Obama Care. Democrats will not agree to this. Therefore, there is no appropriation law in place and under federal law an agency can’t spend money so it has to close.

Without realizing it the government shutting down has a big impact on us. Many veterans and military families are really feeling the effects more than others. If the shutdown continues the VA (Veterans Affairs Department) won’t be able to send out checks to the 5.18 million beneficiaries. 5 servicemen were killed in Afghanistan this past weekend. Their families have been notified that they will not be receiving any benefits from these loved ones. Senator John McCain said, "Shouldn't we as a body -- Republican, Democrat, no matter who we are -- shouldn't we be embarrassed about this? Shouldn't we be ashamed? What do the American people think when they see that death benefit for those who served and sacrificed in the most honorable way are not, their families are not even eligible for death benefits." This could not be said any better. Men and women give their lives for our country every day and this is very disrespectful to them and their families. The family of the people who gave their lives would usually receive a $100,000 check. This money is for the family to spend on plane tickets to go and meet their loved ones coffins as well as money for a funeral.
It is clear that this shutdown has already gone on far too long. People who gave their lives for us are not even getting enough respect from the government to have a funeral and their families being there as the bodies return home. Washington may be shut down but it is still asking men and women to go to war. But when it comes to a loss of one of them they don’t care. The federal government needs to pull itself together for the people giving the ultimate sacrifice.