DAVE ROSS

Crazy fix for the government shutdown, but not by much

Jan 3, 2019, 8:44 AM | Updated: 12:47 pm

shutdown...

Crowds of visitors take pictures of wildlife, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, as they visit Everglades National Park, Fla. Human feces, overflowing garbage, illegal off-roading and other damaging behavior in fragile areas were beginning to overwhelm some of the West's iconic national parks, as a partial government shutdown left the areas open to visitors but with little staff on duty. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

I listened to the evening news last night, trying to figure out how not paying federal workers gets us closer to a building a proper border wall.

Here’s a clip from Major Garrett’s Jan. 2 report: “Laurie McCann, a furloughed IRS program analyst outside of Chicago, is worried about paying her medical bills after a recent surgery.”

So I’m trying to figure this out. How does punishing employees like Laurie McCann, who lives nowhere near the border and has nothing to do with the wall, help get a wall built?

Then Major talked about the national parks, which are also shut down, but…

“But some are getting unsupervised use, like Yosemite, where trash piles up for lack of funds to haul it away.”

That certainly sounds disgusting but is it somehow going to inspire unhappy campers to rise up and demand … a border wall?   I can see how they might rise up and demand biodegradable packaging.

We have to keep our eye on the real problem, which is that Mexico refuses to pay for the wall! If Mexico was paying, you wouldn’t need to ask Congress for a dime.

So what the president needs to do is Tweet that he’s going to invade Mexico. But that he would  call it off if they wire $5 billion to the US Treasury by close of business Friday.

Yes, it sounds crazy. But not by much.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the KIRO Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ KIRO colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on KIRO Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

2 years ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

2 years ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

2 years ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren’t just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I’m convinced voters weren’t just voting for a change – they were voting for a hormone.

2 years ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on KIRO Newsradio are both leaving the show.

2 years ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day – that’s what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

2 years ago

Crazy fix for the government shutdown, but not by much