US SHUTDOWN: Federal Offices Fall Silent as Social Media Shouts

As the first US government shutdown in 17 years goes into its second week, millions of affected Americans remain in a state of financial limbo as Democrats and Republicans lock horns over proposed funding for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Obamacare , as it is often referred to, was signed into law in 2010 but it is the responsibility of Congress not the President to pass the country’s budget. The disagreement stems from the amount that should be spent on Obamacare. On October 1st Congress failed to agree on a budget for federal services and the result was a government shutdown of federal services ranging from park services to NASA.

The standoff between the Republican dominated House of Representatives and the Democrat controlled Senate over the funding for Obamacare has shone an unwelcome spotlight on the democratic system of the world’s biggest economy.

Public Response

As “ non-essential ” federal employees are sent home without…