Upsides of the Shutdown

The federal government shutdown isn't all bad.  Some of the good things that resulted include:

White supremacists had to cancel their rally at Gettysburg National Park, because National Parks have been closed.  Poor knuckleheads.

Federal spy agencies have been cut back 70%.  We now have a lot more privacy than we had just a day ago.

Spying on pandas halted, as the National Zoo's panda cam has been cut off.  A lot of people are disappointed, but consider the pandas' point of view.  Wouldn't it be creepy to have a camera focused on you for hour after hour after endless hour?  Aren't pandas entitled to some privacy and dignity?

School lunches and breakfast still being served.  Or maybe, from the kids' point of view, this isn't so good.  Many of them might have been hoping for an excuse to binge on junk food.

Free and discounted food and drinks are being offered to feds and sometimes non-feds by many Washington, DC area bars and restaurants.  Theaters, museums, gyms and other businesses are also advertising free or discounted admissions, goods or services.  Close the government and what do you get?  Party central.

Stock market up.  The S&P 500 rose about 0.8%.  If this is what a shutdown does, there are probably a lot of market players rooting for more government dysfunction.