Someone cared to explain it to those of us who aren't American?
The republifags are butthurt because they lost the election so unless the democrats delay the implementation of Obama care, they won't pass any bills. This includes the budget bill so this means all non essential government organizations have no budgets to function with so they shutdown.
I'm sure that Ako can add a more in depth explanation.
A measure of irony is that the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka "Obamacare") is funded a year in advance and won't be affected at all.
The Republicans know this though, so what they want to do is propose a budget where funding for Obamacare is removed. Obama of course won't let that happen and has openly said he will veto any budget that tries this. Obama is saying he will only pass a complete budget that funds the entire government, Obamacare included, and of course the Republicans refuse. Now both sides are saying the other won't negotiate.
The Republicans lose in this drama though, they got hurt by the elections, now this. I would be surprised if they managed to remain a major party in the US in 10 years if they keep this level of stupid up.
Most vital government functions continue as usual, many employees are working without pay for this, others are sent home without pay. US troops currently serving have had an emergency budget passed for them, most healthcare and welfare institutions also continue (as said, these get funded in advance, including Obamacare).
The worst that can happen is if a budget is not passed before the debt ceiling needs raising, this cannot be done without a budget. If they fail to raise the debt ceiling the US will automatically default, and with $17 trillion in debt this will be very, very, very bad.
