I have already interjected the premise that-however
well-intentioned the heroic efforts to keep inside-the-Beltway
museums open, e.g., the Vermeer exhibit-to do so is a big
mistake in the context of the political dynamics of the
budgetary process.
Let me add this further (and my last) thought. I am sure that
museum people think of themselves primarily as "museum
professionals," and from that perspective are inclined to
applaud the heroic efforts and their success. They do not see
themselves as primarily "government workers," and consequently
probably do not realize how keeping such high-visibility
government operations as museums at the seat of power open
damages the cause of other "government workers."
It was part of the genius of the early leaders of the US labor
movement, that they were able to get disparate occupations to
subordinate their group identification and affinities, in favor
of seeing themselves as having a common cause. Thus, steel
workers, electricians, butchers, brakemen, bicycle makers, and
so on, were made to think of themselves as "American labor."
The great advances in the lot of working persons in this
country in this century were the fruit of this change of
mindset.
Alas, the success was its own undoing. Everyone came to take it
for granted, got fat and lazy, and that-coupled with some
undoubted excesses and corruption-have apparently caused
workers to view "solidarity" with either indifference or
disdain. Perhaps they choose to view what they do as not being
"labor": "I am a professional," not a working person . . . the
same denial attitude that causes people surveyed to repeatedly
answer that the "lower class" begins just after them, or that
has villagers in Italy assure travelers that the South of Italy
is from the next village onwards.
Until working people realize that unless they organize and
combine for power, they will continue to get [deleted] over by
"management." Can anyone imagine an ITT laying off 40,000
workers in the 1950s?
                       **USUAL DISCLAIMERS**

          Paul,

          This is the type of comment flooding the Museum-L list in
          response to the Federal Shutdown--thought you might find it
          interesting