No quick answer to government shutdown likely

The sun came up this morning and the electricity still works, but that doesn't mean the overnight shutdown of the federal government won't be felt in McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

We don't have any federal parks nearby, like the Scottsbluff National Monument, Niobrara Scenic River or Homestead National Monument -- those will be shut down -- but we do have the Nebraska National Guard, which planned to furlough about 560 full-time technicians, including vehicle and aircraft maintenance workers, and about 70 state employees whose salaries are partially or entirely paid by the federal government.

Payments on farm programs may delayed, as 72 Farm Service Agency offices around the state shut down, including one on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, which planned to close by noon.

Mail service by the independent U.S. Postal Service should continue, as will Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid services, border patrol, meat inspection and air traffic control, but the clock is ticking.

It's probably appropriate that the shutdown, triggered by Republican opposition the Obamacare, occurred on the same day state health insurance exchanges were scheduled to open for business.

A Washington Post blog about previous government shutdowns should provide perspective on the current impasse.

They included 10 days in 1976 over funding for the department of Health, Education and Welfare, one 10-day and two 8-day shutdowns in 1977 over abortion, another of 18 days in 1978 over funding for an aircraft carrier, 11 days in 1979 over congressional and civil service pay and abortion, two days in 1981 over spending cuts, one day in 1982 because of funding delays, three days in 1982 over funding for jobs and the MX missile, three days in 1983 over education and foreign aid, two days in 1984 over a crime bill, water projects and civil rights and another one-day shutdown for the same reasons, one day in 1986 over labor contracts, oil rig spending and welfare, one day in 1987 over Nicaraguan Contra funding and the FCC Fairness Doctrine, three days in 1990 over deficit reduction, five days in 1995 over Medicare premiums, a balanced budget requirement and environmental regulations and 21 days in 1995-96 over a balanced budget.

All of the issues were important enough, in their own way, to shut down the government for a short time. Few however, involved reasons as sweeping and divisive as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.

The president and congressressional Republicans each have too much at stake to compromise easily. Obamacare is perhaps the president's most important achievement. Opposing mandated coverage is perhaps the Republicans' most important position if they wish to gain support in the next election.

We will be surprised if the shutdown is resolved, in a meaningful way, any time soon.

Read the Washington Post blog here: http://wapo.st/1fZSYmR