Government Shut down, do you care?

[Masswich]

Big freaking waste of time and money. Bad for the economies of places near National Parks, and doesn't save anything because the furloughed employees eventually will get paid for this time off anyway.

I actually fully support the President on this one. You don't get to negotiate to just do your job- if Congress wants to spend less money, they are the legislative body- show a backbone and cut some programs. Don't whine that YOU appropriated too much money and that YOU don't like a law YOU passed and then shut everything down.

And ironically, it doesn't even shut down Obamacare.

As an aside, liked this Slate piece on the issue:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world..._it_if_it.html

[HomerJ]

Our inability to move as a nation on any sort of meaningful legislation and/or decision making is seemingly only getting worse. Is there ever going to be a light at the end of the tunnel for our Congress? Are any of these debates ever remotely representative of actual constituencies? It's just those with money and power doing everything they can think of to keep it (and get more). The fact that these people can knowingly bring harm to so many federal employees (regardless of how one views the government) for no good reason other than political posturing; it really is disgusting. Not to mention the fact that actual services are being shut down.

[imaplanner]

It's more than embarassing and disgusting. It's an outright assault on our system of government by a group of people who do not share American values.

[nrschmid]

You no longer designing subdivisions on AutoCAD is not going affect air traffic control, disease and medical research, regulating financial systems, etc, etc......

So my job worth is measured entirely on me NOT doing my job, whatever it is? Let's say I ran a frozen banana stand and there was a terrible insect infestation and the price of banana's goes through the roof? But because it's not air traffic control, disease and medical research, my financial struggles are no one's problem? Thanks for your sympathy.

[luckless pedestrian]

Gentlemen - this is my thread and I don't like this going personal (unless it's funny personal, then it's okay) - I am not a moderator but I have a few cards of my own...

btrage - what's wrong, who is ignoring you? maybe you got drunklaged or whatever that's called

[Hink]

btrage - what's wrong, who is ignoring you? maybe you got drunklaged or whatever that's called

Oh you know what it is called and you got it spot on That is all. Carry on.

[nrschmid]

The private sector has higher highs, and lower lows.

True

The public sector shouldn't be used as a pawn in the partisan debate over costs / taxes / etc.

Agreed


Public sector workers deal with a lot more than private sector on a day to day basis.

Explain this to me. We ALL deal with a lot of things on a day to day basis, public and private alike.

The fact that they are accountable to the taxpayer add even more joy to the job. Add in the fact that retirements are being gauged, articles are being written constantly about how overpaid they are, and the phone calls, and you have a pretty awesome situation.

If the federal government is the country's largest employer, then employees are employees. The current shutdown is no different than an inefficient and wasteful group of shareholders. How many articles go unnoticed about banks STILL laying off tens of thousands of employees at the drop of a hat. I am not saying private sector layoffs should get any more or less sympathy than anyone else. A layoff or a pay cut or a furlough is terrible, no matter who suffers.

So we should have all federal employee's leave? Is that the solution?

At the end of the day a job is a job, and if I see red flags I leave. I have a business/entrepreneurial point of view and maybe that makes me a terrible public servant, I will be the first to admit that. I also don't have time to put with BS. When I work for someone else, I give that employer my time and my skills rather than their competitor. If they can't provide a "mostly" stable environment for me to work, my PERSONAL priority is to find a better job somewhere else. Congress has the power of the purse, and they are the CFOs of the federal government, for better or worse. If I worked for a company that had a terrible CFO who couldn't pay me on time I would leave.

[terraplnr]

I care a lot... my husband and I are both federal contractors in different fields, and I'm already seeing that projects and funding are going to be delayed. Two really big projects going on in our office are going to be delayed because travel plans for next week will have to be canceled (that's a couple of thousand dollars right there just from my office, to reschedule plane flights and figure out another meeting date that will work for everyone). All this delay, uncertainty, and shut down/restart efforts will cost the federal government (thus, we taxpayers) a lot of money.

[beach_bum]

I know we are all upset about the government shut down, but I think we all need to take a deep breath and stop attacking each other.

I don't like the shut down because it is irresponsible with our fragile economy. I don't like that a shut down is used as a political tactic, this is serious business (and 5% of the GDP!)

[imaplanner]

.

This is disgusting and I question the moral integrity of anyone who thinks what the GOP is doing is a good thing.
.

This. I mean, really. I've been listening to right wing talk this morning and the basic sentiment is this "the shutdown is good because the government sucks, but its all Obama's fault because he wants the shutdown because he hates America."

That's some great logic there.

And then there are more than the usual number of callers talking about armed overthrow of the muslim anti-american government.


These people have lost their fucking minds.

[hilldweller]

All I know is that the GOP just handed the Virginia Governor's race to Terry Mcauliffe.

[imaplanner]

All I know is that the GOP just handed the Virginia Governor's race to Terry Mcauliffe.

I can't believe that in 2013 a guy (cuccinelli) whose platform is banning oral sex even had a chance. Wow.

[dvdneal]

I just get annoyed at the children of congress in general. If you shut down the gubmint over a financial issue (something more direct like spending ceilings) I'm still not happy, but it's better than hijacking the gubmint for your personal agenda. A bad (or good) health care law has nothing to do with funding the gubmint for the next year. Just right up a repeal and vote on it. Oh wait, they did. Can we just all move on past one bill? There is so much more to focus on.

[Whose Yur Planner]

Several thoughts-there are a group of people who want to make the government appear to be as dysfunctional as possible. This plays into their hands. Second, there are those who will benefit from the federal agencies not being able to do their jobs. Taking off my tinfoil hat, this is embarrassing. It didn't work in the 90's and won't work now. All this does is piss people off. It points to a deeper dysfunction in our government and our society as a whole.

[Hink]

Several thoughts-there are a group of people who want to make the government appear to be as dysfunctional as possible. This plays into their hands. Second, there are those who will benefit from the federal agencies not being able to do their jobs. Taking off my tinfoil hat, this is embarrassing. It didn't work in the 90's and won't work now. All this does is piss people off. It points to a deeper dysfunction in our government and our society as a whole.

You know who is going to make a fortune off this? Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, K Street Lobbyists, Rachel Maddow, etc.

You know who isn't? The American people.

Dysfunctional government is now a gold mine to Fox News, MSNBC, etc. The right has taken more advantage of this, but they usually enjoy the benefits of corporate money, etc. more so this shouldn't be a surprise.

[nrschmid]

[btrage]

Now this is funny.

Gotta love Ron Swanson.

[luckless pedestrian]

awesome

[btrage]

Gentlemen - this is my thread and I don't like this going personal (unless it's funny personal, then it's okay) - I am not a moderator but I have a few cards of my own...

btrage - what's wrong, who is ignoring you? maybe you got drunklaged or whatever that's called

You'll have to figure it out on your own. I'm not saying here.

[rcgplanner]

I care a lot... my husband and I are both federal contractors in different fields, and I'm already seeing that projects and funding are going to be delayed. Two really big projects going on in our office are going to be delayed because travel plans for next week will have to be canceled (that's a couple of thousand dollars right there just from my office, to reschedule plane flights and figure out another meeting date that will work for everyone). All this delay, uncertainty, and shut down/restart efforts will cost the federal government (thus, we taxpayers) a lot of money.

^^^THIS^^ I find it disgustingly ironic that the party who is all about saving our tax dollars is actually costing us more by shutting down the government. I read something this week that said all of the uncertainty in government funding is actually causing agencies to spend more because they can't plan supply budgets with all of this uncertainty.

Those who don't like the ACA are acting like a bunch of spoiled entitled twats. I have yet to see one them offer any solution on what they would replace the ACA with. They would rather piss away the public's time voting 40 fucking times to defund the law. Guess what it is not going to work. If you wanted input on the ACA you should have offered it when the law was being debated rather then sit on the sidelines pouting because it was someone from another party who spearheaded the law. The ultimate irony, the idiots shut down the government and the law they wanted killed is still in effect today and not shut down. I swear to god Congress couldn't agree to put themselves out if they were on fire.

[paiste13]

Meh. It's not really a "shutdown" if only 20% are not working.

[rcgplanner]

Meh. It's not really a "shutdown" if only 20% are not working.

Except it is vital things like WIC that is feeling the pinch. The VA will not be able to process new applications for benefits. National Parks will be closed, this will have a ripple effect on surronding communities and business owners. Hundreds of thousands of government employees and contractors are now left wondering when they will get to go back to work and if they will be paid for these days they were forced to take off. Here is a list of what is closed (End of the article) and who is furloughed. All of this because of a pissing contest in Congress, it is pathetic.

[kjel]

This is helping my grant writing. Not.

www.census.gov

[dw914er]

This is helping my grant writing. Not.

www.census.gov

I am glad that finished a Community Impact technical report yesterday...

[ColoGI]

Meh. It's not really a "shutdown" if only 20% are not working.

I needed something off the Census website today. No dice.

Thanks TeaHadis.

Disaster Capitalism is what is happening.