The temporary government did not make big decisions regarding budget (though money still flowed as before), the national debt, foreign policy and defense, leading some to worry that a debt crisis could occur and affect all of Europe. It didn’t happen.
The consequences of the U.S. government shutdown, which started Tuesday, could be different, depending on how long it lasts and whether Congress decides to retroactively pay the 800,000 federal government workers who have been furloughed.
Maybe we need a caretaker Congress until the elected one can sort out its mess.
Incidentally, Belgium took the dubious distinction of going the longest time without an elected government from Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.