Necessary Roughness

Hey, this idea could be kind of catchy. Maybe it will spread westward:

Gov. Ed Rendell late Sunday ordered a range of state government services shut down and placed about a third of the state work force on indefinite unpaid furlough after frantic last-minute negotiations failed to break a budget stalemate.

(skipping)

Critical services such as health care for the poor, state police patrols and prisons will be maintained.

The partial shutdown is the result of a battle of wills between the Democratic governor and the Republicans who control the Senate. Without an approved budget, the state has lost the authority to spend money on nonessential services and employees.

Except for the unexpected inconvenience for the 14,000 who suddenly don’t have a paycheck, this sounds like something that should be maintained. The state need not run museums. As for the licenses — well, who liked standing in line at the DMV/BMV anyhow?