We Can Do Without the Government for a Few Days, Poll Respondents Say

What has the federal government done for us lately? Apparently not much.

With Congress on the verge of punting on a bill to fund the government, the fight will resume in March when current funding levels expire under a temporary fix being voted on today. If Democrats and Republicans once again can't agree on spending levels, the federal government could shut down for a few days amid political stalemate, as it did in 1995.

But that wouldn't be such a huge deal, poll respondents tell CNN. Fewer than half see a temporary shutdown as a "major problem" or "crisis"; most see it as a "minor problem"; nearly a quarter say it wouldn't be any problem at all.

As it turns out, people say they can do without the federal government for a few days. From CNN's release:



People get far more concerned when asked about the government shutting down for "a few weeks": 33 percent see that as a "crisis," while 38 percent see it as a "major problem."

CNN polled 1,008 adults by phone, for a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.