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After the House and Senate were unable to resolve their differences and pass the government spending budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, the federal government has begun to halt non-essential services (more on that later). A countrywide shutdown sounds like chaos...or Ron Swanson’s dream come true.
The shutdown is basically the government going into anaphylactic shock. The body is shunting blood to only the vital organs. That is, the departments and programs necessary for survival (parks and other recreation won't make the cut). Possible causes: peanuts (silly elephants just making a mess), WASPS, etc. While the effects of the shutdown won’t be immediately felt by most Americans, they will eventuall. You should know what's going on, and What the Government Shutdown Actually Means For You.
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Why Did This Happen Again?
Analagous movie situation: Remember Saving Silverman, where the friends of Jason Biggs (sidebar: that guy sucks) try to keep him from marrying Amanda Peet, even though Peet and Biggs want to get married? It's just like that. Kinda.
The majority of Republicans in Congress didn't want to approve the money for Obamacare, and so they clashed with the Democrats about the 2014 budget. Because they didn't agree on a budget before the deadline, no budget was approved, and since no budget was approved, money can't get to federal employees. Without the money, the government shut down. But only non-essential stuff like the National Zoo. Essential government business will continue in spite of the shutdown (more on essential v. non-essential in a minute).
Why Did It Shut Down Now?
Analagous movie situation: It's like in New Year's Eve, when Hilary Swank has to figure out a way to make the Times Square Ball work again before the countdown. If not, she'll risk ruining the morale of the entire country. That's what we're up against, except there's no romcom ending in sight.
The U.S. government's fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30, is a different way of framing the calendar that allows for better bookkeeping. (Just go with it.) By September 30 of every year, the government has to agree on ways to spend federal funds. If the two parties don't agree on how to distribute the money by October 1, everything comes to a halt.
How Long Is This Gonna Last?
Analagous movie situation: You know House Arrest, where the kids lock their warring parents in a basement until they work out their issues? That, except with the captor being the United States of America.
It lasts as long as it takes for the parties to compromise. When this happend during the Clinton administration, the shutdown lasted for three weeks.
Can I Still Mail Mail?
Analagous movie situation: It's kinda like in The Postman, where most of the world isn't working but Kevin Costner, along with his horse, is still getting some people the mail. In fact, this is just like that.
There is nothing in the United States Postal Service creed that says mail will stop because of a government shutdown. The reason being that the U.S. Postal Service daily operations are funded by stamps and postal fees—not U.S tax dollars. So you breathe easy knowing that Grandma's birthday check and that one Netflix DVD that wasn't available for streaming are on its way.
Mail will continue to be delievered along with unemployment, Social Security, and Medicare benefits, though there may be delays in processing new disability applications. Most major public assistance programs will not be affected, but some like the federal Administration for Children and Families and WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), whose grants are approaching an expiration date, could shut down.
The IRS is suspending all audits (yay?) but shutting down all of its taxpayer services, including toll-free helplines. If you're thinking about taking out a mortgage or small business loan, don't bother—not only is the Federal Housing Administration facing delays, it's also not approving any new loans until the shutdown is over.
On the whole, you can continue your day—eating, sleeping, paying taxes (yes, that is still happening), just don't make any trips to any national parks or monuments. Those are closed, considered non-essential during the shutdown.
Is Obamacare Still Happening?
Analagous movie situation: That scene in A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge peers into the home of a poor family continuing to celebrate Christmas morning, despite having nothing? We are all that family, and Obamacare is our Christmas goose.
Yes. Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, which requires individuals to buy health insurance, has not been affected by the shutdown. You can purchase it at online marketplaces now, like Healthcare.gov. (And really, if you don't have insurance, get on that.)