What would happen if the government shut down – and never reopened? (2014) (washingtonpost.com)

there is still state government, which is apparently supposed to be the real governments. we are a union of states not a state of the federation.

Disagree. Regulators would be first on the chopping block.

>The federal government would "not look like anything" if a permanent shutdown kicked in, Rakove said. Instead: "You can imagine a radical devolution of authority to the states."

Amazing how decreasing the power and responsibilities of the feds is considered radical for a country that started off having a weak federal government on purpose.