Will Your Savings Get Caught In Government Shutdown Crossfire?
Donald Trump and the GOP face a major hurdle as their first budget test looms next week,
along with several problematic issues that could prevent an agreement and trigger a government
shutdown.
The potential shutdown would put a hiccup in federal bureaucracy for a few weeks, but
that�s not the real reason Americans should be worried. Turns out, there may be an unseen
economic danger that could affect you and your savings.
Shutdown Dejavu?
We�ve been down this road before, haven�t we?
Back in 2013, federal legislators failed to reach an agreement on funding appropriation,
and there were some serious consequences. This time the fallout could be just as bad,
or even worse.
The political mechanics of why are a little confusing, so let�s break it down piece-by-piece.
There�s a sensitive relationship between the debt ceiling and the federal budget. Both
require congressional approval, and big problems arise if either gets blocked.
Here�s where things get complicated�
In negotiations of the federal budget, the majority party (in this case, Republicans),
can hold the debt ceiling �hostage,� so to speak as a way to influence the president
� plus legislators from the opposing party.
Republicans have to be careful not to overplay their hand, though. If they do, it could result
in a shutdown, which nobody wants - each group for their own reasons.
That said, why should Americans care? What are the risks? And why could this shutdown
be worse than the last?
Why the Stakes Are So High
On March 15, the debt ceiling expired, and the Treasury (acting on behalf of the president)
was forced to start using �extraordinary measures� to keep the U.S. from defaulting
on its debt.
If Congress doesn�t act briskly, we could see another credit downgrade or worse. And
a government shutdown caused by budgetary squabbles would dramatically increase the
chances of that happening.
However, there�s one thing that makes this shutdown particularly special, not to mention
uniquely risky.
According to data from LPL Financial, analyzed and reported on by Ryan Vlastelica at MarketWatch,
there have only been a handful of government shutdowns under one party�s control. But
those few shutdowns have historically been the most economically damaging.
Vlastelica writes (emphasis added):
�A shutdown during a united government could underline the difficulty of major legislation
getting passed, something investors are particularly attuned to right now. The rally that was sparked
by Trump�s election started to unravel when a health-care reform bill was pulled because
it didn�t have the votes to pass. The post-election rally largely occurred because investors viewed
Trump�s economic agenda on taxes, infrastructure and regulation to be positive for growth.
The prospect of those initiatives not coming to fruition has raised questions that the
market�s robust move was unwarranted.� So not only could this potential shutdown
put the U.S.�s creditworthiness at risk of taking another hit (and causing a repeat
of all the negative economic consequences Americans were forced to suffer last time),
but it could be a big downward trading signal for equities markets as well.
But in the meantime, your savings could easily get caught in the crossfire while federal
politicians duke it out.
How to Keep Another Shutdown from Touching Your Wealth
The last time there was a government shutdown, then-President Obama acted like a petulant
child by shutting down national parks and even fencing off national monuments and posting
armed guards to keep people out. This was intentionally designed to cause conflict so
that Congress would raise the debt ceiling faster � illustrating how desperately the
president needs Congress to act on it.
This time the president is facing off against his own party, and throwing up roadblocks
to the negotiation like border wall funding.
Trump is calling Republicans� bluff, most likely because the all-important 100-day mark
of his presidency is quickly approaching. Fearing scorn from media and the public for
compromising his plans, Trump is increasing the chances of another shutdown (and consequently
another debt ceiling crisis) to avoid losing face.
Obviously, it�s not the end of the world if certain non-essential functions of government
don�t have money to operate for a week or two� so what�s there to worry about?
Well, the biggest risk is another downgrade to the U.S. credit rating, which could crash
both bonds and stocks�
On top of that, a shutdown under single-party rule sends a message to market makers that
Trump�s many proposed policies for the economy � the ones responsible for the rally in
stocks we�ve seen over previous months � aren�t as likely to come true as previously hoped,
which could send markets down even further.
However, such a scenario would cause an equal and opposite reaction in another type of investment
that Americans could take advantage of. Essentially, it would send investors flocking to safe haven
investments like gold and silver, which would drive metal prices through the roof.
This shutdown could send a huge ripple effect throughout the global economy, affecting financial
markets across world. Securing your wealth yet with gold could be a crucial step toward
ensuring your safety.
For more infomation >> The National for Friday April 28, 2017 - Duration: 59:54. 
For more infomation >> BREAKING Hospital Comes Forward With MASSIVE Announcement About George H. W. Bush - News - Duration: 1:41. 
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