Let's Get Back to the Essentials: Thoughts on the Shutdown

This morning as I walked my two dogs, I passed a charming park full of playground equipment.  It is just a couple blocks from my house in Washington, DC’s, Capitol Hill neighborhood, and there wasn’t a day I didn’t take my girls there when they were small.  It teems with toddlers, nannies, strollers, grandparents – but not today.  The iron gate was chained and padlocked and a large laminated sign hung from it, stating that the park is closed because of the federal government shut-down.