Shutdown Highlights Basic Fact: Most of Govt is "Non-Essential"

I've got a column up at Time.com about the true reveal of the government shutdown. They titled it "Shutdown Highlights Basic Fact: Most of Govt is 'Non-Essential'" and here's a snippet:

After learning that 95 percent of Department of Education employees were deemed "non-essential" during the government shutdown and furloughed, I'm still wondering: Is that all?…

The shutdown may have started over a hare-brained attempt by Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to delay and/or defund President Obama's signature health-care reform (it is sure to fail because Obamacare's implementation is not contingent on passing a federal spending plan).

Nevertheless, the shutdown provides the country with a perfect moment to ask why a federal government whose spending habits are an insult to drunken sailors everywhere is paying above-market compensation to hundreds of thousands of "non-essential" workers.

I conclude that voters need to really furlough the ultimate non-essential federal employees: our elected officials.

Read more.

Comments

[Jon Lester]

I'll be interested to see how it affects areas like the CSRA, centered around Augusta, Georgia, where people vote heavily Republican yet depend on federal money more than most.

[The Late P Brooks]

I predict outrage and butthurt in the (Time) comments.

[Swiss Servator, Kneel to Zug!]

Don't worry, he got the obligatory shot in at Cruz and the Tea Party.

"The shutdown may have started over a hare-brained attempt by Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to delay and/or defund President Obama's signature health-care reform (it is sure to fail because Obamacare's implementation is not contingent on passing a federal spending plan)."

Note TEATHUGLICAN CRUZ is hare-brained, but O!Care is President Obama's signature health-care reform.

Oy. I guess, when in Time, do as the Derpians do.

[VG Zaytsev]

Gotta keep those invites coming.

[Mike Laursen]

I'm disappointed at how many journalists have completely dropped the ball on invoking the Kochtopus.

[Loki]

Holy hell:

Anet99 5ptsFeatured
54 minutes ago
It's so easy to point out "non-essential" persons. Most of society is, in fact, non-essential. How do you suggest we cut back on ALL non-essentials everywhere and what is the BEST way to do it? Birth control is one way. Genocide is another. War and disease is another. This shut-down was caused by a minority of "small government" ideologues who are PART OF GOVERNMENT and have MADE A CAREER OUT OF GOVERNMENT. The fact is they spent HUGE sums of money to brainwash a bunch of white, costume-weating "patriots" against something a CONCEPT of BIG GOVERNMENT. This plot was conjured up in the boardrooms of the Koch Industries, Heritage Foundation, Focus on the Family and other right-wing Non-Profits and industries to get a DEMOCRATICALLY voted election and SUPREME COURT upheld Affordable Healthcare Act law overturned. This is their "payback" for their candidate Mitt Romney's SHOCKING loss and their strategy for 2016's election. BAM.

Too. Much. DERP!

[Loki]

This one's almost as good. I give the one above a 9/10, good incoherent ramblings at the outset followed by random sporadic use of ALLCAPS. This one, only 7/10. Not nearly as incoherent, obviously off their meds, and not near enough ALLCAPS, but they really bring it home at the end with their invocation of "governement invented the interet, so there!"

groobiecat 5ptsFeatured
59 minutes ago
Yeah, here's the thing about that: The government has ALWAYS played a vital role in the health of the economy. Basic logic--and history--show this to be true. When government employees spend, they create demand throughout the economy--just like private sector employees and non-profit employees do. That's why Wall Street is tanking and why ALL economics researchers indicate that a continued shutdown will hurt the economy. It's basic logic--something libertarians conveniently ignore. Oh, and BTW, if you really dislike the government, log off right now--the technical basis for the Internet was invented in the 60s by, you know who, THE GOVERNMENT

[Pro Libertate]

Of course, for a great deal of our history, the federal government was insignificant next to the power of the economy. It was a small parasite then, and we were still a robust and healthy nation.

[Hyperion]

This one's almost as good.

These type of posts are so derptastic, that it would be totally believable that one of us Reasonoids wrote it as satire. In fact, that would be MORE believable.

[Doctor Whom]

When government employees spend, they create demand throughout the economy--just like private sector employees and non-profit employees do.

The money to pay them doesn't need to come from anywhere; it just magically appears. The same is true with increases in the minimum wage.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Exactly. If one of my kids takes money from the other and spends it, there must somehow be more aggregate demand than before. Wow.

[OldMexican]

Basic logic--and history--show this to be true. When government employees spend, they create demand throughout the economy

"Logic" and "History" do not mean what you think.

That's why Wall Street is tanking and why ALL economics researchers indicate that a continued shutdown will hurt the economy

Leaving aside the inanity of what the guy is saying, he doesn't even get the irony of an economy so dependent on government spending that even Wall Street (if one believe this ignoramus) is worried, compared to an economy where actual things are produced.

[Pro Libertate]

Imagine what it would do for the economy if most of those government employees actually did something productive in the private sector, not to mention the people in the private sector who work just to deal with the government.

[Zeb]

Wall Street is tanking?

[Pro Libertate]

It seems totally and absolutely unconcerned about the delay of the CR. I think there's more concern about the debt ceiling issue, but that's something both parties own.

[Gilbert Martin]

Not right now it's not.

DOW +70 points

S&P 500 +10 points

[JW]

Exhibit #39,065,154,987 of why we are SO fucked.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

My thoughts as well. That's some of the strongest dipshittery I've seen in a while.

[John]

This is why I think the Republicans should ride this out. The media and the Democrats have played their card. The longer this goes, the more it will become the new normal and people will stop paying attention. Meanwhile government workers, who are mostly Democrats, and groups like public employee unions and social welfare organizations who are funded by the feds (who are entirely Democrat and basically fund the DNC who are broke right now) are dying. The Progs fight politics so dirty because for them politics and government money is how they eat. This is hurting them much more than it is Republican voters. At some point the Dem interest groups will demand Obama do something.

[pan fried wylie]

This.

Stop feeding the dog, it won't bite your hand. Right?

[Pro Libertate]

And we're learning how unnecessary so many agencies actually are. What are we paying for again? And why can't we cut spending to avoid hitting the debt ceiling?

[John]

That is the other thing. The longer this goes the less able the Democrats will be to play the scare card in the future. They don't want to lose that. They will fold. You watch.

[DesigNate]

I won't hold my breath that they'll fold before the republicans.

[John]

The Republicans might fold first. That is true. But the Dems will fold if the Republicans hang in there.

[JW]

There's no might, they're already doing it. They WILL fold, like a cheap chair.

Funding the parks? For cheap political points? No, don't have instead an ass-pounding narrative of how petty and petulant the move of closing the parks was on the part of Dear Leader.

[Pro Libertate]

I agree. They should spend time calling out the president and passing individual funding bills for services viewed as critical. I mean, one huge stick they have is that everything being suspended is at the sole discretion of the president. The House isn't telling him what to stop doing or who to furlough.

[Pro Libertate]

I'm not sure how long the media can blame this solely on the Republicans, the more and more the Democrats refuse to talk at all. After all, at least one bill continuing piecemeal funding has made it through the Senate. Why that and nothing else? Why is no compromise possible?

I like how Reid said that anything can be negotiated once the House backs down. Actually, no, that's asking the House to give away its power to negotiate. What good is the power of the purse if you've already agreed to fund everything?

In a rational system, spending and revenues would have to match, with maybe some limited (very limited) deficit spending for certain situations. So the House would engage in this every year, picking and choosing what to fund. What's indefensible and retarded is this idea that we can keep taking on bigger and bigger expenses forever.

[sarcasmic]

Dude, compromise means the left gets everything they want! That's how it's always been! The Democrats' refusal to negotiate is how they compromise! Don't you understand anything?

[AlexInCT]

Heh Sarc, I always say that to the left compromise and bipartisanship mean do what we want or say, and negotiations mean kiss my ass and tell me you will do what I want and say.

[Floridian]

They can keep it shut down if they stop taxing me.

[Agammamon]

IMO - I'm more than willing to keep paying taxes *if* they keep it shutdown.

[AlexInCT]

they can't do that. According to what I am reading, the WH ordered plan to keep people out of these parks and other public places - in order to cause as much inconvenience and anger in the general public for political gain - is costing more than it costs to run them normally. If anything, they will need more money. Especially since they are just as likely to pay all the people furloughed anyway. Paid vacation!

[John]

I don't see how the Dems can continue to refuse to accept individual funding bills. They claim 200 kids a week can't get cancer treatment. Okay, the Republicans in the House passed a bill to fund NIH. How can the Dems not pass that? They either admit closing NIH is not a big deal or they admit, keeping it closed is worth it to get leverage over the House. Neither of those answers works very well.

[SugarFree]

If the GOP has the balls to do it, they might get some traction. Offer up bills in drips and drabs to fund everything except Obamacare and hammer the Dems as much as the media will let them.

[Pro Libertate]

That's the one thing they've been doing that is clever--keep passing funding bills for high-profile, empathy-inducing programs. The Senate already blinked and passed the one funding active duty military personnel, so this isn't a bad strategy. How long can the president and the Senate stonewall?

One thing for the House right now, they're already taking whatever political hit they're taking. It won't matter, politically speaking, whether they cave or not. They might as well ride this out.

[JW]

That's the one thing they've been doing that is clever--keep passing funding bills for high-profile, empathy-inducing programs.

Except that they're doing it outright, not for quid-pro-quo.

"Sure, we'll fund that. What will you give up in return?"

[BakedPenguin]

They're doing it to get rid of the "evul tea thugs WANT kittens and babies to STARVE" bullshit.

"Well, we passed the Feed the kittens and babies bill in the House, why isn't it getting through the Democratically controlled Senate?"

[Pro Libertate]

See, what I think they should do is fund stuff that people generally agree should be funded, like VA hospitals, then hold up for negotiation everything the Democrats pine for.

This is precisely why the power of the purse is in the hands of the "popular" house of Congress.

[John]

I think that is what they are going to end up doing. The funny thing is that the Dems are forcing them to do it by coming up with one horror show after another. Okay, kids need treated, here you go, go treat some sick kids.

I know the media will cover like crazy. But I am having a hard time seeing how they can get away with not passing that.

[AlexInCT]

Denial is not just a river in Egypt. The narrative must always trump reality John. They may botch the job up, but they are going to keep pretending the problem is always someone else's fault.

[John]

Sure they will. But not everyone is a brain dead prog. A lot of people have little interest in this. And at some point the narrative gets so ridiculous even they won't buy it anymore.

[AlexInCT]

You presume they can be dissuaded from doing stupid stuff by logic, reason, and even an instinct for self-preservation, but so far, nothing I have seen has given me any indication that is the case. These people will stick to their fantasy of what's going on even when doing so is detrimental or deadly to them. Don't underestimate the stupidity that permeates the media. These are the clueless idiots that voluntarily gave up their job of reporting the facts to become shills for the current crop of tyrants.

[VG Zaytsev]

The place where the Rs fail is in not publicly attacking the donkeys and instead just letting all of their bullshit float out there unchallenged.

They (the rs) need to stick with a simple narrative that can be extended every day - Harry Reid is an extremist that refuses to negotiate - about parks one day, kids with cancer then next, etc ad infinatum.

But for whatever reason the Rs first instinct is to stfu and take whatever lies and slanders are thrown at them.

[Pro Libertate]

Yes, this is what surprises me. I mentioned in the AM links that I can't explain why the House isn't calling the Senate and president out for passing one such funding measure but not others.

[tarran]

The tea-party Republicans are pointing it out. The media is not really promulgating that particualr set of talking points.

My guess is that Boehner is hoping that this will destroy the Tea Partiers the way establishment republicans are hoping for.

[Pro Libertate]

Win or lose, I think plenty of Americans are thinking a little more about how fucked up our government really is. That's a good thing for libertarians.

[AlexInCT]

^^^THIS^^^^^

If the media ignores what you say, or worse, makes up the reality they want, you aren't going to be able to get the information out.

And fuck the republican old guard. They are just as bad as the democrats.

[Brett L]

My guess is that Boehner is hoping that this will destroy the Tea Partiers the way establishment republicans are hoping for.

What? They already won. Boehner and the Establishment are doing this because they were going to be primaried out of office if they didn't. If the Establishment hasn't figured out this is the new normal, that's their problem.

[Pro Libertate]

Yes, this is my take, too. It's more than obvious that the old guard didn't want to do this, but felt like they had to. It's a huge win for the Tea Party types, I think.

[Brett L]

Reid already said he doesn't give a shit about kids with cancer, and the total shitstorm erupted in the media just like if a Republican said that. Oh wait, everything after the comma is made up.

[Pro Libertate]

The beauty is that it's all sitting out there. Whether or not the media beats the drum now, it can be used later to cause all sorts of trouble for the Democrats.

What's funny is this idea that the president is somehow "in charge" of this debate. He's not. It's the House first, the Senate second, and him just waiting to see what happens, while choosing what to fund and not to fund solely based on politics, not on what needs funding or what's right or wrong (leaving aside the libertarian view of the whole business for a moment).

[Brett L]

If I were the House, I would be lining up bills that remove Executive discretion. For example, I would clarify that land managed by the National Park Service belongs to the people and shall not be closed to the public during government shutdowns.

[Brett L]

Then, I would establish that any museums or historical sites are to spend any maintenance funds they possess in an effort to stay open to the public.

[Brett L]

Then I would move onto something important like Executive branch rule making privileges, and present it as the natural extension of the previous two bills.

[Pro Libertate]

That's a great idea, and it falls in line with something I think the GOP should do when they take both houses--heavily limit presidential discretion. Most of it comes from improper delegations of power and really isn't supposed to be in the executive's hands, anyway.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

The Dems are betting on Oct 17th. There will be a big media push coming up to that date.

[Brett L]

My fantasy is that Peter King leads 25 "moderate" GOP representatives into a "clean" CR. That way the small government conservatives in the GOP -- not necessarily our allies, but people we can walk a long way towards a smaller government with -- will have a clear picture of their enemy.

[VG Zaytsev]

My fantasy is that King, McCain and Graham all stoke out on the same day.

[Brett L]

I like yours better.

[VG Zaytsev]

Reid already said he doesn't give a shit about kids with cancer, and the total shitstorm erupted in the media just like if a Republican said that. Oh wait, everything after the comma is made up.

Sure, the media's biased as hell.

But the Rs can make it work to their favor anyway.

1) Keep pushing the Reid is an extremist narrative with press conferences and appearances that the media cant' ignore. Worst case the public will conclude that both sides are equally to blame, which is an improvement of the Rs being solely to blame.

2) Use the dems tactics against them. "Personalize and freeze the opponent." Go to war on Harry Reid, he's a execrable pos with zero charisma to begin with. Make him the central bad guy. Doing so is guaranteed to get coverage because the media loves them some interpersonal conflict. And Obama's narcissism will make him keep his distance for a thrashing Reid.

[Francisco d Anconia]

But teh jerbs, man! We can't afford to lose teh jerbs at this critical phase of teh "recovery".

[sarcasmic]

Yep. Though I must say it's kinda fun being paid while the customer is furloughed. Ha ha! Contract is already paid!

[VG Zaytsev]

Exactly,

Republican voters don't give a shit about the government 'shut down' beyond schadenfreude. But it dim voters in the pocketbook.

Keep it going and the donkeys will be begging for mercy within a month.

Clinton basically admitted that he was ready to cave in 95 before Dole rode to his rescue with a surrender.

[Hyperion]

Agree, John. Try to get the Dumbocrats to stop barricading parks, make sure veterans benefits and SS gets paid. But leave 90% of the EPA and IRS at home, forever.

[JW]

But leave 90% of the EPA and IRS at home, forever.

Don't forget the Dept of Ed!

[Hyperion]

100% of them.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I conclude that voters need to really furlough the ultimate non-essential federal employees: our elected officials.

This line brought to you through the channeling of John Stossel.

[Bardas Phocas]

Is HERC back?

Anet99 32 minutes ago
It's so easy to point out "non-essential" persons. Most of society is, in fact, non-essential. How do you suggest we cut back on ALL non-essentials everywhere and what is the BEST way to do it? Birth control is one way. Genocide is another. War and disease is another. This shut-down was caused by a minority of "small government" ideologues who are PART OF GOVERNMENT and have MADE A CAREER OUT OF GOVERNMENT. The fact is they spent HUGE sums of money to brainwash a bunch of white, costume-weating "patriots" against something a CONCEPT of BIG GOVERNMENT. This plot was conjured up in the boardrooms of the Koch Industries, Heritage Foundation, Focus on the Family and other right-wing Non-Profits and industries to get a DEMOCRATICALLY voted election and SUPREME COURT upheld Affordable Healthcare Act law overturned. This is their "payback" for their candidate Mitt Romney's SHOCKING loss and their strategy for 2016's election. BAM.

[KDN]

I wish. Not enough brackets.

[Brett L]

Also, not enough [CATS] or [EMPIRE]!

[OldMexican]

Re: Anet99,

It's so easy to point out "non-essential" persons. Most of society is, in fact, non-essential.

If you need any more proof that liberals love to equivocate, you are beyond redemption.

Non-essential workers =/= non-essential people

[invisible furry hand]

Meh, read the same thing today in Australia

Shutdown reveals useless 'work'

[Doctor Whom]

But ... but ... the rest of the world is laughing at us for shutting down those entirely necessary federal functions. That's what my prog acquaintances tell me.

[RightNut]

They weren't embarrassed by Putin sliding his balls all over Obama's face on Syria?

[Doctor Whom]

Are you kidding? They dragged out the "3D Vulcan chess" meme for that one. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[BakedPenguin]

That was hilarious. President Bumblefuck as 3D chessmaster, right.

[BakedPenguin]

No doubt he roped in Mitt Romney in that one debate - you know, made Romney feel totally overconfident.

[Gilbert Martin]

Does "the rest of the world" inclule all those "superior" Europeans whose countries would not even exist right now if they hadn't been getting U.S. military protection ever since the end of WW2?

[Doctor Whom]

Without a federal Department of Education, how would children learn anything? Just look at how much achievement has improved since it was started, even with the horrible underfunding that American schools face.

[DesigNate]

There are those who would say that you are being sarcastic, but I say that you were unintentionally correct!

[Francisco d Anconia]

What shutdown?

Did I miss something?

[Mike M.]

Heh, so doing your job that you were elected to do and representing your constituents and the American people is "hare-brained". Who knew?

[Tim]

I caught a rerun of "The Omage Man" on cable recently. Now THAT's a government shutdown.

[Pro Libertate]

What is that, some British film about a Cockney fellow who people pay 'omage to?

[Tim]

I suck.

[Pro Libertate]

No, no, because you watched The Omega Man, which is a good thing. You should also watch The Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green to complete the trifecta.

[Tim]

"Apocalyptic Charleton Heston Films" for 2000 Alex.

[Pro Libertate]

They should do a Celebrity Jeopardy with Taylor, Dr. Zaius, and Nova.

[NoVAHockey]

Challenge accepted.

[Pro Libertate]

Alex Trebek: [Nova buzzes in] Nova, the removal of parts of the frontal lobe of the brain.

Nova: [Gesticulates wildly.]

Alex Trebek: No answer? Very well. Gentlemen?

Dr. Zaius: [Buzzes in.] What is a lobotomy, you vile pestilence called Trebek?

[Mr. Soul]

Ive always thought the best Final Jeopardy would be "He was the protagonist in Atlas Shrugged".

[Ken Shultz]

If you're gonna go with that, then I think you have to make a short list...

You gotta see Planet of the Apes, but you also need some Rollerball and some Death Race 2000 in there. ...and getcha some Zardoz. ...and Dark Star.

Yeah, I think Soylent Green is...um...skippable. There are better episodes of Twilight Zone. I'm just sayin'.

[Pro Libertate]

I don't agree. I thought it was a pretty good movie, especially Edward G. Robinson. And it has T'Pau!

[Marty Feldman's Eyes]

And A Boy and his Dog.

[Hyperion]

They made a film about Boehner? Oh... I read that as 'The Orange Man'...

[Ken Shultz]

I still say people on the left should welcome the government shut down, and try to keep as many of these non-essential workers unemployed, since it lowers the government's carbon footprint and helps in the fight against global warming.

If we're going to do something serious about global warming, we'll need to make much more drastic cuts than what we're seeing during a temporary "shutdown", and I think President Obama should lead by example.

He should make all those furloughs permanent. It's like he's said a hundred times: we're all going to have to be willing to make sacrifices.

[Hyperion]

I still say people on the left should welcome the government shut down, and try to keep as many of these non-essential workers unemployed, since it lowers the government's carbon footprint and helps in the fight against global warming.

You are assuming that they are serious about stopping 'global warming', and not using said as an excuse for stealing trillions of dollars from tax payers to further their real agenda, the all powerful utopian progressive state.

[Ken Shultz]

Yeah, I know they're full of crap.

But they're a lot better at using these excuses for doing whatever they want to do than we are.

Never let a crisis go to waste.

The way to call their bullshit is to use their own bullshit against them. Let's watch them talk about how global warming isn't that important if it hurts the economy as bad as a government shutdown.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

If any of them were serious about stopping man made climate change, they would be shaking up the Nuclear Regulatory Comnision to ease the licensing and operation processes for nuclear plants.

If they aren't looking to make building and operating a nuclear reactor less burdensome (from a regulatory standpoint), then they are in interested in climate change for corrupt reasons.

[SweatingGin]

How to make a Progressive take off the mask and show the fascist side?

Shutdown the government in the week of their greatest triumph, their flagship legislation, and they'll cheer police executing an unarmed black woman in front of her child.

[Brett L]

So I guess since America has more or less defaulted before, the debt ceiling isn't really a crisis, and we can stay shut down for as long as necessary.

[Pro Libertate]

It's not a real default, in any case. A real default would be if we repudiated some or all of our debt. No one on the planet thinks that's going to happen. At least, not without the economy totally crashing first.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

But but our credibility is at stake dude! We're totally gonna get crucified in the foreign press!

[Pro Libertate]

Amazing how most leftwing consequences are fluff, not real ones. The real danger is that our government spends way too much, intervenes in the economy way too much, and is oppressing us way too much.

[Brett L]

It would also violate the 14th Amendment to repudiate any of our debt. Not that these guys give a shit.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

Yes, however we've never been this heavily leveraged before (thank you Paulie Krugnuts and your ilk). That isn't to say I think the House should back down, but it's going to be anybody's guess as to how the market reacts come Oct 17th.

[Mike Laursen]

I have been told that my asking questions like this is the same as delivering a "slap in the face" to all those furloughed employees.

[Gilbert Martin]

"(it is sure to fail because Obamacare's implementation is not contingent on passing a federal spending plan)."

Not necessarily.

The salaries of a whole lot of government employees involved in the administration of it IS contingent on a federal spending plan.

If you cut off funding for HHS and IRS salaries of people involved in administering it, it could indeed have an effect on the implementation of Obamacare.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

A friend posted this on facebook. I am resisting the urge to respond, as it's probably not worth the hassle. But I need to vent.

"We really are a spoiled nation, and my generation is the worst about it. If I have to listen to one more bratty twenty-something gleefully proclaim things like "government is shutdown and nothing changed! lol" I'm going to lose it.

For far, far too long we have lived in a country with safe food and drugs, fair labor standards, clean air and water, an all-volunteer military, and highways and airports that can take us to the most amazing cities and natural wonders the world has to offer. If you were born after a certain year, you take these things for granted.

In a democracy, you get the government you deserve. We absolutely deserve what is going on in Washington right now because we have quit paying attention. And some of us have never paid attention, because we seem to believe that America magically became a great nation with no effort. Next federal election is over a year away, please write or call in the meantime."

[BiMonSciFiCon]

The FDA limits the number and kinds of life-saving drugs available on the market. The EPA is one of the worst organizations in Washington. What's more, we don't have the government to thank for these things he seems to love. It's free markets he should be thanking. Worker safety was improving long before OSHA came around. And a clean environment is a normal good; as countries get richer, their people demand a cleaner environment.

This guy doesn't understand a lick of economics and worships at the progressive alter. But I'm the one who's a bratty twenty-something. Right.

[Mr. Soul]

Hang in there, Bi. Im a bratty fifty-something and first became aware of that when I was a twenty-something.

[Derick @Teletrade]

I liked this article. After reading it, one thing came to my mind - are the Senators and Congressmen also getting their salary? If yes, it's a concern. When everything can be listed as non-essential, why on earth should these bunch of lawmakers, who are pushing the economy towards a default and a possible rating downgrade, get salary? Think about it.

Derick
Financial Consultant at http://teletrade-dj.cz/

[Pro Libertate]

I think Planet of the Apes is the best by quite a bit, then Soylent Green, then The Omega Man. But they are all entertaining.