Punished

WWII vets prohibited from visiting open-air war memorials in D.C.
National parks closed.
Scenic routes barricaded.
Private businesses on park lands told to shut down.
Mount Vernon parking lot blocked.
Florida Bay closed (?) to fishermen.
Etc, etc...

These are just some of the signs of the government shutdown for all to see.  
Warren Meyer, president and owner of Recreation Resource Management, employs about 400-500 camp workers and managers across a dozen states.  Meyer has been ordered to close all of his parks due to the government shutdown.  In a letter he wrote to Sen. McCain and Sen. Fluke of AZ, he said, "The point of the shutdown is to close non-essential operations that require Federal money and manpower to stay open. So why is the White House closing private operations that require no government money to keep open and actually pay a percentage of their gate revenues back to the Treasury? We are a tenant of the US Forest Service, and a tenant does not have to close his business just because his landlord goes on a vacation." In this case, not only are these parks not costing the Federal government any money to stay open, the government makes money when they're open. And to add insult to injury, the government is making him and other park management companies buy the barricades to shut their parks. As Meyer put it: "We are like prisoners of war who have to pay for our prison."  http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/10/02/shutdown-white-house-ordering-privately-run-privately-funded-parks-to-close/

What's really happening here?  What's happening is this administration's attempt to inflict pain and inconvenience in a visible way on the American people.  (What good would it be if the government shutdown was invisible?) Our president is punishing us. Why?  So that we will blame Republicans, even though Republicans have consistently stated they want to fund everything except Obamacare. Now, why present it that way? Because Obamacare is an untenable law that will hurt this country in many ways. And, because the Republicans are finally listening to their constituents who have elected them to do what they can to repeal or defund the monstrosity. However, having said that, the Republicans are willing to compromise to stop the shutdown by delaying Obamacare for a year and repealing the medical device tax.

However, this President, who will negotiate with major sponsors of terrorism, Iran and Syria, refuses to negotiate with  Republicans. Never mind that he, himself, has imposed amendments and delays on this law such as exemptions for Congress, big business, etc., delayed the employer mandate, and signed off on many other reforms.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/11/study-obamacare-has-been-amended-delayed-19-times/

Although there have been many government shutdowns in the past, never has a president so openly revealed such a vengeful streak as this president does. He has no interest in negotiating or compromising with people whom he perceives as the real enemy, aka Republicans.

While an open handshake is extended to terrorist nations, the Republicans are offered a closed fist.