Puerto Rico Runs Out of Money!?

POSTED BY: Zisker
UPDATED: Tuesday, May 2, 2006 00:54
VIEWED: 1319
PAGE 1 of 1

ZISKER

Monday, May 1, 2006 5:41 PM

Has anyone else read this: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/05/01/puerto.rico.shutdown.ap/i
ndex.html

I won't even get into the fact that it's the same day as all the Immigration marches - but how the heck can the government be so uncompromising to the point where it results in schools and government offices shutting down? Not only do you have to deal with 100,000 unemployed and half a million children out of school (God help their parents), but when 200,000 employees are about to go unpaid . . .oy. I can see that getting ugly. What the heck have they been doing with the budget? (Really, does anyone know?)

The population is estimated at 4 million and 600,000 are just cooling their heels right now.

Any thoughts? Comments? People you know down there who have something to say on the situation?

One day.
One plan.
One army of Browncoats.

On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
http://www.serenityday.org/

Little or no free time, but want to help?
Help Spread the Signal: http://www.geocities.com/browncoatsignalcorps

SASSALICIOUS

Monday, May 1, 2006 8:17 PM

All hell is probably going to break loose.

GEEZER

Monday, May 1, 2006 10:00 PM

The U.S. Federal government has often been close to this, and has actually sent non-essential workers home for a day. This usually happens on or near October 1 (the first day of the Government's fiscal year) when operating budgets haven't been passed and some congressional group blocks temporary funding to make a point about something.

Some years, particularly right before a major election, a good bit of the September load of administative staff work in Federal agencies is determining what work is "essential", who the "essential" personnel needed to do this work are, how to notify folks as to whether they are "essential" or not, etc. If the shutdown actually happens, It's usually only for a day or so, and then all the congresspeople make their speaches and vote in a continuing resolution for funding until the budget passes.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

ZISKER

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 12:54 AM

Yes, but not to this scale with no end in sight. And the schools is what really gets to me - then again, I suppose the multitude of American districts spread across the country isn't comperable to an island. I suppose they don't break down the school tax-base on a neighborhood scale.

One day.
One plan.
One army of Browncoats.

On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
http://www.serenityday.org/

Little or no free time, but want to help?
Help Spread the Signal: http://www.geocities.com/browncoatsignalcorps