Congress failed to come to a resolution on whether or not to raise the nation’s debt-ceiling and as a result, we are now in day 1 of the government shutdown.

Both legislative bodies claimed to be standing up for the rights of the people as they staunchly defended their political agendas.

The shutdown means that 800,000 Americans will not get paid. The measure is projected to cost the U.S. economy about $1 billion a week. The positions effected are government jobs deemed by Congress. Employees are taking a mandatory furlough until the shutdown ends. They will be compensated back pay after work resumes.

From CNN:

Now, the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate will try to see if they can reconcile their two versions of the spending plan at the heart of the issue. So far, each has refused to budge. House Republicans insist the spending plan for the new fiscal year include anti-Obamacare amendments. Senate Democrats are just as insistent that it doesn’t. Obamacare, as President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare plan is known, isn’t directly tied to funding the government. But it’s so unpopular among a group of Republicans that they want it undercut, if not outright repealed. About an hour after the shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, House members voted to once again tack on the anti-Obamacare amendments that the Senate has said is a deal-breaker. They also requested a conference with the Senate to work out their differences.

Read more at CNN

The new healthcare plan went into effect on Tuesday.

The Senate is scheduled to convene Tuesday at 9:30 a. m. ET where it will again reject the House amendments that seek to delay the requirement that everyone gets health insurance.

The last government shutdown was in 1995 and lasted for 21 days.

Thoughts on the shutdown?

Will it weaken America’s perception as one of the most powerful countries on the planet?

Sound off below!