What students need to know about the government shutdown
On Oct. 1, the federal government shut down after failure to pass a bill funding government services. Under the U.S. system, all branches of government must agree on spending plans before they become law. In instances where failure to do so occurs, a government shutdown takes place.
This year, Republicans hold the majority in both chambers of Congress but are short 60 votes in the Senate needed to pass the spending bill. On Sept. 30, Senate Democrats rejected a bill that would extend federal funding into November in a 55-45 vote. Republicans were just short of the 60 votes required to pass this bill.
The consequences of a federal shutdown can be found in government activity, federal funding and loans, and federal workers, many of whom have since been furloughed, or temporarily suspended from returning to work.
On Oct. 2, Boise State gave a notice about the shutdown and its possible effects to the university. With little to no impact on grants and federal appointments and contracts only facing possible impacts on a case-by-case basis, the university expects minimal effects during the shutdown.
Although this shutdown has had little to no impact on higher education, professors at Boise State note there are a few aspects of the shutdown students should be aware of.
“A government shutdown really illustrates some of the challenges our country’s experiencing due to partisan polarization,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Jaclyn Kettler. “That’s where we can see the ideological differences between the parties and the challenges in bipartisan compromise.”
Kettler highlighted this leads to “on-the-ground consequences” that impact federal workers and people relying on federal benefits, as well as broader ones that can affect the government and country as a whole.
“But I think that is an interesting question, can a government shut down and how the parties respond to it actually further polarization in some ways and not deepen those partisan divisions, distrust or dislike of the other side?” Kettler continued.
In previous shutdowns, like the most recent shutdown in late 2018, negotiation dynamics differed. While President Donald Trump was in office for his first term, the Democratic party had control of the House. Today, the Republican party holds a majority in the House by just a few seats.
Kettler described several questions and arguments for young voters to consider when analyzing not just the shutdown, but disputes between political parties, which suggest that “partisan identities are impacting our politics up and down the ballot”.
These include whether or not most Americans are deeply divided on all issues, or if more attention is directed to the few issues experiencing more polarization.
“Everything is politicized, and it’s hard to focus on what seems like a local issue without national and global issues being the front of the conversation,” Kettler said.
School of Public Service Professor Jeffrey Lyons also highlighted the crucial role of polarization and compromise in the shutdown, noting this topic is prominent in political science courses.
Lyons referenced the United State’s political climate before the 2000s, which he believed was less polarized. He said with enough voters expressing their aversion to compromise, and both political parties becoming more divided than they were in the late 1900s, many would argue that compromise would be seen as a weakness.
As a faculty member in The School of Public Service, Lyons emphasized the importance of raising the “next generation of [students] who are going to go solve problems in the public and in the world”. He commended the abilities of students on all sides at the university to discuss important political and social topics, as well as initiatives such as organizations and events students hold to do so.
“I think our students are definitely interested in these current events,” Lyons said. “This broader polarization is something that this country, and higher education has a role here to find similarities and have different conversations.”
With not only decision-making and the shutdown on the line, many members of Congress are also thinking about the next primary election and how their decisions now will affect voters. This provides reasons for people to analyze not just the potential compromises and decisions that will be made, but also the behaviors of government officials.
“Try to think about the incentives of the people involved. To what extent are voters carrying about this — and to what extent are politicians being pushed by their constituents to solve the problem?” Lyons said.
Lyons believes higher education and institutions like Boise State have a responsibility to foster conversations and collaboration among students who will later take on roles in government or society as a whole.
“Our system is set up on a need for compromise in order to get stuff done,” Lyons said. “It’s hard to be able to learn how to problem solve without being able to listen or consider viewpoints you haven’t considered, or maybe you have and disagree with.”
