Doesn't help someone with a house or car payment due, though, and not enough money to make the payment unless they take something from savings which may or may not exist.

^Fewer than half of the 2.1 million federal workers subject to a shutdown would be forced off the job if the Obama administration followed the path taken by presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.^

That's still a million people potentially affected. But not Congress. The Democrats have put forth a bill to make their salaries be withheld, too. Would certainly promote them coming to an agreement. People do get hurt by this and to say they don't, shows ignorance and lack of compassion.