Re: There's a simple solution to this
So far for me, there has been no impact (will not say there will be none yet).
Hmm, lots of tainted food recalls last year, seems like the perfect time to furlough food inspectors. And those farmers getting hammered by trade wars, they'll just have to wait for their token reimbursement. And the essential services they depend on for planning next years crops..... Not to worry, corporations will buy out all those 'small' farms that can't survive the uncertainly and low revenue. And the consumer will just have to live with the higher prices. Just hope you are in the higher income range where food is a smaller percentage of your budget.
Having just finished the holiday season, there is ample proof that many jobs, both public and private, can be neglected for a week or two before seriously impacting their organizations. That doesn't mean those jobs aren't essential.
I used to work with a guy, who like you, felt that most federal jobs were a waste of money. A self-proclaimed libertarian. So I asked him, your kids go to (socialist) public schools, right? Should we get rid of them? "No!" How about we privatize all the roads, you can pay tolls on your 40 mile daily commute. He didn't like that either. And the ultimate irony, last time I talked to him he was working a government job. Just because you don't see a direct benefit from public services doesn't mean you don't receive positive benefits. At least that is what I tell myself as 75% of my property taxes go to public schools that do not (and will not) affect me directly. I also have very limited ability to utilize national parks, but that doesn't mean I don't see the benefit of a well funded parks system.