As we draw closer to a government shutdown, I have been reading with great interest. You see, I am a federal employee employed at Fort Drum as a civilian mail clerk. I am looking at the possibility of a furlough for as long as it takes for Congress to reach an agreement. It could be days or it could be weeks, but regardless of how long, I am more concerned at how much. How much will this affect my family? How much will it hurt us financially? The uncertainty is maddening as I, and my fellow federal workers, watch the stage show that is called Washington Politics gamble with our way of making a living.
As I have been reading articles about the progress, or lack thereof, in Congress, I am more dismayed by the comments of so many. Comments such as "SHUT IT DOWN!" and "let the federal workers get a real job!" are common. There seems to be a misinterpretation about being a federal employee that is rampant in not only the general public, but with certain members of Congress as well. Yes, as with any government agency, there is waste and certain things need to be pared down. Maybe there are more upper level employees in the federal system than there were ten years ago, but that is not the proper snapshot of a federal employee. Many of us are on the lower end of the pay scale, making the same or slightly less than our counterparts in the civilian sector.
I am one of those federal workers at the lower end of the pay scale. I am not rolling around in the big bucks like others may think. I came to the federal service because, quite honestly, the local economy of Watertown, New York, was not affording me many opportunities. Many of the jobs here are part time. Some want a higher education, but do not offer a higher wage. Positions that were once wide open to me with my Associates degree are now being offered to those with Bachelors and Masters degrees because there is little for those with the higher degrees either. The job position may say "Associates required" but if an employer can get a person with a Masters for the price of an Associates, we all know who they will choose. How does it make me a bad person because I chose to work for the federal government to provide for my family comfortably? How did we become the bad guy?
Hopefully I can dispel some myths that the general population may be thinking about federal workers and the government shutdown. One myth is that if we are furloughed, that we will get a paid vacation because we will get back pay anyway. While it is true that after the government shutdown during the Clinton administration that Congress approved the back pay for non-essential personnel, it is up to Congress to do so. In the climate permeating Congress this time, it's not a given and many of us that rely on our paycheck will not receive one. That's no income for scores of federal employees that need to buy the groceries that are at their most expensive in thirty years, the gasoline that rises in price daily, and the financial obligations that must be met.
Another myth is the term "non-essential personnel". This term, non-essential personnel, seems to imply not relevant or not really needed. I saw a comment on an article stating that "if they are not essential, why not fired them all?!" This is why. Essential is defined as someone whose primary job responsibilities are directly related to constitutional responsibilities, related to the protection of human life, or related to the protection of property. That means employees like police officers, firefighters, medical workers, and security. Essential personnel will have to work during the furlough and will get paid but only when Congress passes a budget. The rest of us, are non-essential, but we are still needed. We are the people in the background, the ones not always seen; clerks, budget, personal care, public works crews. Hardworking individuals just trying to make a living, just trying to live that American Dream we hear so much about.
Federal Workers are like everyone else. We get up in the morning, we go to work, we work a job, and we get paid. We work to provide for our families and hope for a little left over to enjoy the fun things in life. We are not underworked and overpaid. We are not the biggest draw on the economy. People need to see that the repercussions on shutting down the government are larger than what they appear. This are working families we are talking about, not ideology.
I could resent you for assuming that I've never had to work odd hours, or on holidays and weekends, but I don't because I respect that you worked hard your whole life and probably raised a family to boot.
Resentment only breeds more resentment and hate only breeds more hate. This is evident of why us working class folks continue to fight amongst ourselves and why our Congress is so inefective.
I am a former fed employee and son of retired fed employee ..... I quit cuz I could not stand REQUIRED "make work", "hiding out", "being dumber than boss", putting up with "fellow fed hacks" and "politics"
America can/should do without at least 40% of fed workforce .... some of the fed workforce should be privatized and most be more efficient by updating workforce, technology and contractors/vendors
turnover the fed contractors and get off the corrupt vendor system of only companies with lobbyists or quota contractors ...... alleviate govt expense and increase efficiency tremendously.
NEW BLOOD and an end to inherent GOVT CORRUPTION by employees/contractors would do wonders for the taxpayers expense and services
I loved the short hours, good money, healthcare and pension, but the fed workforce does not deserve what they are costing the America taxpayer - maybe 20 years ago, but not today
the typical fed think that they suffer from their workload ........ the fed workforce needs to join the real world and give the children/grandchildren a break for the future !!!!
YOU WILL DEMONIZE ME, but that is the TRUTH about the federal govt workforce and damage they do to the American taxpayer and the American economy
there is something wrong with the fed pension when my dad retired on $6,500/mo after $300/mo total healthcare cost
We as tax payers do not want our tax dollars going toward waste. Any waste!. And if this includes your job we are sorry. But not sorry enough to let you keep your job.
But most importantly, whether waste or not, we should not be spending $$$ that we do not have!!!
This means that we are willing to do without!!! Until we can afford it!!!
We are adaptable, hardy and capable. We do not always have to be comfortable. I lived in a tent for a year so that I could afford to pay child support. It made me a better person. It was not the most comfortable but i adapted and so can you.
nothing like govt employees and their unions to insist that those of us that dont have it must keep contributing to those of you that do have it ......... and then keep giving you more and more and more
As stated in the piece above, if a private sector position requires an associate degree, but if they can get someone with a masters degree they will hire that individual instead and pay the same salary. Which automatically underpaying the individual for their talent. Individuals who are against government workers need to explain why. If we did not have a government we would only have the very rich and the very poor. I think this was called plantocracy (slavery) back then.
Working at a good job, with many benefits with limited education.
Many people won't feel much sympathy.
But the rich need more in tax cuts, right?
1. Pay for my own healthcare
2. Pay for my own retirement plan
3. Live on a basic salary that just covers by rent, utilities and monthly bill and it is all taxed (so I am paying myself lol)
4. I work 8 hrs a day 5 days a week in a high stress job. I work crisis management, suicide prevention and natural/man-made disaster preparedness. So for those out there saying that these services would fall into "non-essential", say that when your state has a massive flood or you or a friend call the 24/7 toll free suicide hotline. I would normally be the one to answer the phone or work to get you the supplies you need to survive. But I wont be here next week because the gov. is shutting this program down.
Now the GOTP future is no help for any natural disaster. Per Virginna Fox, everyone should call their neighbor. The GOTP also wants to eliminate all government health care, including any mental health issues such as suicide. They want to continue to defund our government, increase the deficit via more tax cuts for the rich per Mr. Ryan's plan. Unless they are stopped, they will reduce this country to third world status.
So why punish federal workers for congress's screw-ups?
Thank you for your work and for your ability to make clear your value.
Please know that you are appreciated by most Americans!
This is political posturing at it's worst in my lifetime and I've already seen enough.
How many of you govt employees are reading and posting to this blog while on the clock???
Answer honestly, then hang your head in shame if you are/do/have, because that makes you part of the problem.
If the public sector is so inefficient, why do medicaid and medicare have administrative costs of 2-5% (depending on the analysis) while private plans have administrative costs running in the range of 10-25%?
And why do people question the right of government employees to receive such "luxuries" as health insurance and retirement benefits but not the rights of CEOs to receive salaries that could support a third world nation?
Kelly
We Resenters have done our best to Resent with the best of our fellow Resenters, but sometimes we find it hard to keep up our Resentment, due to Resentment Fatigue or "RF" (often brought on by long bouts of Fox News and 10lb bags of Cheetos from Sam's Club).
But don't you worry...we'll gather our Resenting Strength and gird our Resenting Loins for the next Resenting Battle...Homeless Single Mothers and Their Tax Draining Homeless Children...boy, how I Resent those terrible Homeless Children. Don't get me started...oh, I feel another bout of RF coming on...SCOOTER! Bring me the Cheetos! and turn up that gorgeous Hunk Hannity!