So What if D.C. Shuts Down?

I started working full-time and contributing to the Social Security Trust Fund in 1971. I stopped making Social Security payments in 2014. Over those 43 years I estimate that I paid around $175,000 into Social Security from whatever I earned.

I started collecting Social Security payments in 2011 when I was 67 years old, so between then and now the government has sent me 144 monthly checks. I figure they have sent me around $400,000 and change. In other words, when it comes to money in versus money out, I’m way ahead of the game.

I don’t use Medicare because my wife is still working and one of her bennies is a medical plan. I renewed my passport a few years ago and other than my yearly tax return, that’s it when it comes to anything between me and the feds.

I suspect I’m fairly typical for how much the average adult in this country has any connection to the federal government. When I was in financial services, we needed to follow certain rules and regulations laid down by the SEC, but our computers basically did that work for us. I also owned federally licensed gun shops in three states and was inspected by the ATF exactly once.

What would happen to me if the government shut down on Friday? Not a goddamn thing. My social security check would still be issued, and I could still use my passport as a form of ID. As for all…