Yea or nay: How many Americans really care about government shutdown?

They might be irritated at the politics-as-usual battle in Washington over budgets and Obamacare, but most Americans probably aren't losing too much sleep over whether the federal government shuts down -- if they even notice.

And while some of that is selfish -- they don't care as long as it does not affect them -- the other part is something that has been coming for a while.

People don't trust anyone in Washington -- including federal workers.

The olden days of public servants who sacrificed to serve their country are gone. Public service now is big business -- and the compensation and benefits are cadillac when compared to what most people struggle to earn and maintain in the private sector.

So, if they miss a paycheck, too bad, many of us think. That might put a few more dollars back in taxpayers' pockets.

And that brings up another thought: Is it really so horrible to ask federal employees to give up their cadillac health benefits to jump-start the program they created?

But as the battle continues in Washington, most Americans stretch and yawn.

They do not really care about the plight of the federal employees in Washington -- or the panda cam.

All they want is to see something in Washington work right -- just once.

We will see if that is even possible anymore.

Published in Editorials on October 1, 2013 10:59 AM