The problem is that the operation of the government has become a political football. We need to forbid the operation of the government to be used as a bargaining device between parties, regardless of who is in power, and in which offices. It should be impossible to shut down the government. The damage and increased costs to this nation and us taxpayers is only going to get worse as time goes by. Any legislation to solve this problem will be far more complicated than punishing members of Congress, who are only one side of this issue.