Four point one million people work for the Federal government [3], and eighty percent will continue through the so-called "shutdown". The dog and pony show continues, and the people are going to get their democracy good and hard, in the form of some parks closing.
The grand posturing that makes "us" think "they" are important is more valuable to them than any supposed service they can provide. And how, anyone, does one "close" a public park? If we the people own it, then how can we close it from ourselves?
So the grand charade continues, breaking news, over and over.