????如果你是聯邦公務員、到國家級景點觀光的游客或者投資者，你就一定感受到了近來這場國會大戲所產生的影響。如果無法打破目前的僵局，整個美國以及世界上很多國家和地區遲早都會發現，美國政府停擺不僅是一出可悲的鬧劇，它還會直接影響人們的信心、就業前景以及養家糊口的能力。即使國會同心協力，但卻只是搞拖延戰術（似乎越來越有可能出現這種情況），這種風險也有可能成為現實。

????現在，人們已經相當清楚政府關門會有哪些直接影響。無論是否暫時下崗，大多數聯邦公務員都無薪可領。政府辦公能力已降至最低水平，公私交流和跨部門合作也都是如此。

????進入第二周后，政府停擺的影響開始成倍擴大。

????盡管相信自己最終會拿到工資，一些聯邦公務員仍然自然而然地想到減少開支。有些地區的旅游業受到了重創，讓一些平時以旅游業為可靠收入來源的當地企業入不敷出。同時，眾多政府職能部門（比如審核法定地位）不再向公司開放這就延緩了企業招聘員工的計劃。就連按揭公司都難以確認現有和潛在借款人的具體情況。

????對大多數沒有直接受到影響的美國人以及世界上其他國家和地區來說，這些問題目前似乎還相當遙遠。此外，只要聯邦政府重新投入運作（這是肯定的），大多數不利影響就都只是暫時的，基本上也是可以挽回的。但很可惜，我們仍然有理由擔心，本次國會停擺過后，美國經濟可能不會出現強勁復蘇。此前美國經濟增長率原本就不高，也沒有創造出足夠的就業機會。

????現在，我們選出的議員正要讓政府停擺和主權債務違約風險撞車。尋找政治解決方案從本質上講已經變成了一種短期的片面措施。在少數成員特別能影響共和黨談判立場的情況下，現實一點兒來說，我們最多也只能期望民主、共和兩黨就應急措施達成一些蹩腳的協議。

????美國可能會再次依靠拖延戰術走出本次國會停擺困境。

????雖然消除美國債務違約引發全球經濟衰退這樣迫在眉睫的風險是件好事，但它幾乎不會增強企業和消費者的信心，而這種信心對經濟強勁復蘇來說非常關鍵。實際上，個人和公司可能都想讓自己更安全一些，這種想法會進一步抑制經濟活動。

????美國的全球地位也不會完全不受影響。

????不錯，美國無須擔心別人會很快取代自己而成為超級大國，成為全球儲備貨幣發行國，成為希望和世界上最完善、最有深度的金融系統建立溝通渠道的那些人的目的地。美國在大部分國際經濟互動（包括貿易、金融和多邊政策協調）中都發揮著定海神針的作用，但美國國會現在卻在讓其他國家想方設法降低對美國的依賴程度。如果連這一點都想不到，國會就真是蠢到家了。這個問題和美國在世界上的整體地位有著直接聯系，因而也影響著美國的國土安全。

????If you are a federal employee, a tourist visiting our national sites or an investor, you've already felt the consequences of the latest Congressional theatrics. If the current deadlock continues, it is just a matter of time before the rest of the nation – and also much of the rest of the world – would find that this latest political debacle is more than a sad spectacle; instead, it would directly impact confidence, job prospects and the ability to provide for family members. And this risk could materialize even if Congress gets its act together, but only does so by kicking the can down the road (as seems increasingly likely).

????The immediate effects of the government's shutdown are quite well known by now. Most federal employees – whether furloughed or not – are receiving no pay. Government services have been reduced to a minimum, as have both private-public interactions and multi-agency initiatives.

????Two weeks into the shutdown, the consequences have started to multiply.

????Some federal employees are naturally tempted to slow their spending, even if they are confident that they will be paid eventually. Tourism has been hit hard in some places, starving local businesses from a normally-reliable source of revenue. Meanwhile, companies are no longer able to access a range of government services, including the verification of legal-status, thus slowing their hiring plans. Even mortgage companies are facing difficulties in confirming the particulars of actual and prospective borrowers.

????For most Americans who are not directly impacted, and for the rest of the world, these issues may seem quite distant for now. Moreover, once the federal government reopens (as it will), most of the effects would end up being both temporary and largely reversible. Yet, unfortunately, there are still reasons to worry that our economy may not bounce back as buoyant from this latest Congressional debacle. And it is not as if it was growing at a high rate and creating sufficient jobs.

????With our elected representatives on Capitol Hill now combining the government shutdown with the threat of a sovereign debt default, the search for political solutions has become more short-term and partial in nature. And with a minority being particularly effective at influencing the negotiating position of the Republican party, the best that can be realistically hoped for is some clumsy agreement on stop-gap measures.

????America is likely emerge from this latest phase of Congressional dysfunction with yet another "kick the can down the road" outcome.

????While removing the immediate threat of a global recession associated with a U.S. debt default -- a good thing -- this would do little to strengthen business and consumer confidence that is so critical to a strong economic recovery. Indeed, both individuals and companies may be tempted to increase their self-insurance, thus further dampening economic activity.

????Our global standing would also emerge less than fully intact.

????Yes, America need not worry about being replaced any time soon as the world's superpower, the provider of the global reserve currency, and the destination for those wishing to outsource financial intermediation to what remains the most sophisticated and deepest financial system in the world. But Congress would be foolish not to recognize that it is tempting other countries to explore ways to reduce their reliance on the U.S. as the anchor for the bulk of international economic interactions (including trade, finance and multilateral policy coordination). And this directly speaks to our overall standing in the world, thus also impacting national security.