By STEVE GANEY

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — A group of protestors voiced their discontent with the government shutdown in Warrensburg yesterday. The group of five, affiliated with the Johnson County Democrats, met at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Maguire and Young St. outside Walgreens and displayed their signs to passing traffic.

Protestor Randy Higgins holds his sign in opposition to the government shutdown.
Photo courtesy of Michael Bersin/Show Me Progress

When asked what he thought was the cause of the government shutdown, protestor Randy Higgins was blunt.

“Hatred of president pretty much in a nutshell,” Higgins said. “The Republicans made it clear a few years ago that their goal was to make him a one-term president. It doesn’t really matter what the issue is. If Obama is for it, they’re against it.”

“I think the Tea-baggers are probably getting paid by the Koch brothers,” said Sue Nickles, who also said she is worried that her income from Social Security might be in jeopardy. “And if we don’t have a government, why are we paying income tax?”

Tom O’Neill, a retired Air Force veteran who served for 30 years, voiced his concern with the shutdown’s effects on life at Whiteman Air Force Base.

“Folks are having trouble moving on base. They used to pay for your move, or reimburse you, but now those funds just aren’t there,” O’Neill explained. “Some of these newly-enlisted guys really don’t have too much saved up, and if they delay moving because they don’t have the money, they’ll lose their house [on base]. It’ll just go to someone who has the money to pay out of pocket.”

The protestors said they had been writing their congresspeople and making phone calls. This is the group’s first protest since the shutdown, but said they are up for more as the shutdown lingers.