A good strategy to end the government shutdown and not giving in on the wall funding tantrum is to challenge the toddler-in-chief to show that he's man enough to not take marching orders from a bunch of talk show hosts. Because that's what actually happened: he initially signaled willingness to sign the CB until Hannity, Limbaugh and Ingram started to say mean things to him.
Come on, what strong president take orders like that? You know more than all of those pundits combined, right?
Keep up taunting. It's what a toddler understands well.
1
Sometimes it appears Donald Trump is out to destroy the Republicans, . . . and Democrats are just collateral damage. His entire political career is directed towards erasing the history of Obama, . . . his nemesis!
How much more can we take? A wall is not the solution—- it didn’t stop Genghis Khan.
He broke through the Great Wall Of China many times!
2
Trump's claim that unpaid public servants are Democrats repeats his well worn script of stiff-the-workers on his buildings, complete with occasional GOPs in Congress imitating some of his previous lawyers -
"As the construction manager spoke, “Trump’s trial attorneys visibly winced, began breathing heavily, and attempted to make eye contact” with the witness, the judge noted in his ruling."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/09/donald-trump-unpaid-bills-republican-president-laswuits/85297274/
1
Most, if not all, federal employees have check-to-bank. Banks would do everyone a favor if they would treat the normal payment as "having been made" for the duration of the Trump shut-down.
2
Yesterday this idiot President claims that his furloughed federal workers are “fine” with not getting paid as long as Trump gets his funding for the wall.
But today “Delusional Donald” suddenly complains all the furloughed workers are Democrats???
Is there not one republican who can keep this pathetic excuse for a president from humiliating!
I’m embarrassed for all republicans who obviously have no voice and allow this imbecile to speak for them.
2
Did I understand correctly that we are paying for this furlough through unemployment benefits? Isn’t that socialism, trump?
2
I keep hearing from Republicans about how these migrants, whom Trump has referred to as an "infestation", have no respect fo the Rule of Law. I find that ironic considering that this president was endorsed by them after he bought is way out of three class action lawsuits filed against him for fraud and racketeering, is currently under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Trump's campaign's Art of the Backroom Deal with an adversarial enemy of our country, he's under investigation in NY for illegal hush money payments to keep quiet potential sex scandals during his campaign, his charity is being dissolved and has been forced to refund the money it stole from people who were duped into donating to the self-dealing foundation, there is the matter of obstruction of justice after several episodes of Trump's display of just that, and he still hasn't shown us his tax returns even though several people who worked for him are going to jail for tax fraud and money laundering.
Then there are his GOP supporters - some of whom have been indicted for committing felonies. In fact the GOP candidate who drove the "Deportation Bus" - Michael Williams - had to report to jail today due to an indictment on insurance fraud charges. And that's just today.
Getting sick of these bigots in the GOP claiming we need a wall to keep the criminals out when they're the ones who are the criminals.
6
I feel so badly for federal employees over this nonsense. NY Times journalists I would like to understand 2 things hopefully to be published in a future article(s):
1. What is the volume by each state affected by the shutdown? It would be a plus if it could be depicted also by 45 supporter impact. I got into a disagreement with a friend who swears only feral workers in the DC metro area are affected which just isn't true as thankfully this article indicates (I sent her this article and she said she had no idea other states were affected). Sadly, I fear the vast number of the general population also believes only DC metro area is impacted.
2. How are federal employees able to file and collect unemployment due to the shutdown? They're still employed and I'm pretty sure back pay will apply.
1
@Rose - Every state has different unemployment insurance benefits. Individuals who are furloughed or laid off - just in the same way that for example, auto workers are furloughed - may be eligible to draw unemployment benefits. That's what UI is for. If pay is later made up to the furloughed employee who has drawn UI benefits, they will repay the benefit to the State UI fund. The 800k federal employees affected by the shutdown are employed all over the country and in some cases OCONUS. The departments include Justice, Treasury, Agriculture, National Parks Service, SBA, Commerce, National Archives and quite a few others - and all those agencies have employees throughout the country. Only a fraction live in DC/VA/MD. Florida, California, Illinois, Hawaii, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Washington - federal employees. Furloughed.
1
This adds an interesting twist to why Trump told Pelosi and Schumer he would be “proud” to shutdown the government. Salon reports Trump’s lawyers are using the government shutdown to delay an emoluments lawsuit related to his hotels.
“The underlying issue here involves the president's willingness to accept money from foreign governments through his hotel empire. Although this would not pose a conflict of interest if Trump had fully divested himself from his business empire, he has not done so, and as a result there are concerns that the president could be unduly influenced by foreign governments which effectively give him money through his businesses.
Indeed, although Trump has insisted that he isn't involved in his business empire, his son Eric Trump (who is partially responsible for managing Trump's businesses in his absence) accidentally admitted last year that the president still discusses "the bottom line, profitability reports and stuff like that" with them on a basis that is "probably quarterly."”
www.salon.com/2018/12/27/trumps-lawyers-are-using-the-government-shutdown-to-delay-emoluments-lawsuit/
2
The government shutdown should be complete and without exception. The next spending bill should not include back pay either. It is against my nature to say that but the only way to ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future is to ensure grave political consequences for all involved. I work everyday with TSA and FAA Air traffic control as I am an Airline Pilot. They are all consummate professionals. I thanked each TSA worker for showing up to work this past four days as I worked my trip. I know that mortgage payments will be missed and groceries will not be purchased as a result of no pay. In my opinion they should all stay home or better yet be required to stay home. Working for free on Christmas Day is absurd and wrong. I personally believe that this is “Trump’s shutdown” and he should suffer at the ballot box or his sacred polls. Others will believe the democrats are at fault. I can respect a difference of opinion but at the end of the day they should all be accountable by their constituents. Every single government worker should stay home until Congress and out President return to Washington and fix this mess.
3
They are getting paid through unemployment benefits.
@Scott Hardy - You are wrong. No furloughed employee is being paid. If they are able to file for State Unemployment Insurance, it'll be a fragment of their salary, and there will be no UI check until after a one week waiting period.
2
Read Michael Lewis' "The Fifth Risk".
It should be required reading for every citizen before they allowed to ever vote again.
We have a real mess on our hands. And we need to get out of it very, very quickly.
And the terrible thing about it all is that it was 100% predictable.
It's just terrifying.
2
I've determined that whenever trump states "Many (Insert whatever group) have told me...", it's actually from the child-whisperers- Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.
“If they shut down this week, I was like, what am I going to do?”
Like, I’m, like, happy that you, like, weren’t inconvenienced while, like, hundreds of thousands of Americans aren’t working or, like, are working without pay. Like.
2
This is what Trump thinks about the people who voted for him. Merry Christmas
2
I've been a government employee in the UK for 30 years. No shutdowns here!
I was disgusted to read about the abuse of public funds from the likes of Pruitt and Carson and now, there's no money to keep government running for the average worker? People who probably earn an annual salary that's less the cost of Carson's office dining table are spending their festive season worrying about paying their bills, because Trump is holding the government hostage over funding for his ridiculous wall.
I hope that the shutdown means that Trump supporters' welfare payments are delayed. A direct hit to the pocket may knock some sense into them.
2
The deal maker in chief is making hundreds of thousands of his employees go without pay over the holiday season because he can’t even make a deal over a wall, he originally claimed Mexico would pay for. The Emperor has no clothes.
1
Good Lord, when will the juvenile, kindergarten bullying tactics and the fragile-ego defenses of flip-flopping denials and deflections stop?
Donald Trump has sullied the Presidency and turned it into a Maury Povich Show.
3
As an outsider looking in, I thought Mexico was paying for the wall. Why is the American public paying for the wall? Where is the outrage over that?
2
This unpatriotic and amoral “ dotard “ should be forced somehow “not to tweet or speak “ .
We would finally have some peace and stability.
It's only the beginning. We need to take to the streets.
2
FORWARD AS APPROPRIATE:
Greetings President Trump,
You're a real estate developer, the land to be used by the wall covers a good piece of real estate. Hence this idea from my Lady friend for softening the image of "The Wall" and also helping to pay for it.
The WALL as a commercial venture? https://app.box.com/s/zg4hmhyhk0ylq0cgc453zn6ilus0qv6n
Who dares question the Man-God -- his will, his vision, his works? Kneel to the Man-God - Heart of America.
Sad to see the overflowing trash. You would think that some people could carry their trash home or to work or to their hotel or wherever instead of adding it to an unsightly pile on the street. Laziness? Indifference? Lack of Character? Sad!
Over 95% of federal workers voted for Hillary. Let them eat cake.
The overflowing trashcan is such a fitting picture.
1
It looks more and more like the only relevant boarder is Trump's probable borderline personality disorder.
1
Missing from the assessment of how the shutdown impacts the federal workforce, is mention of the impact on federal contractors. Estimated by Paul Light of NYU to account for 75% of the 9.1m federal workforce, these individuals don't receive back pay when the government reopens, and usually are required to take their personal leave, or unpaid leave, for the duration of the shutdown. While managing cash flow during a shutdown is not easy for any member of the federal workforce, the impact is even more severe for these individuals who will either have to forfeit their limited personal time off, or effectively take a pay cut, as a consequence of this stalemate.
2
I am a registered Republican. President Trump promised me Mexico would pay for the wall. It hasn't and he is a failure. President Trump promised me better, less expensive health care insurance. That has not happened so President Trump is a failure. President Trump promised he would defeat ISIS and bring our troops home. Old "Cut-and-Run" Trump plans to pull our troops from Syria leaving 20,000 ISIS fighters behind; he is a failure. Why does Fox News support a failure? Guess it does not want America to be great again.
Studies show 80% of drugs entering the US come through official ports of entry so a wall will do little to stop drug traffic. The prospect of a wall is pulling organized crime into human trafficking across the border and increasing corrupt behavior by those supposed to protect us. We know cocaine reaches the US border in shipments of more than a ton but no-one ever picks up shipments of that size here. Who protects and hides these shipments? If President Trump wanted to stop the flow of narcotics into the US he would not tie up Homeland Security guarding children. If you want police to reduce murders you do not send them out to write tickets for expired meters. If you want the Border Patrol to stop drug smugglers you do not turn them into van drivers for 6-year-olds.
Had I wanted a loser for president I would have voted for Hillary Clinton. But where she was a natural Donald Trump has proven to be a loser, a failure, and a fraud by working incredibly hard.
16
@usa999
Thanks for your honest assessment.
1
Add to that the reported fact that TrumPutin carelessly or purposefully compromised one of America's best warrior group, SEAL Team 5 by tweeting about his only-about-PR-not-about-helping-troops 11th-hour visit to Iraq, complete with photos that revealed some of those soldiers' identities.
As someone asked in prior NYT article comments, can the Commander in Chief be called before a court martial? To many, Trump's actions show that he is either dangerously ignorant and incompetent and reckless or that he is dangerously serving a power or a purpose other than the best interests of the United States of America, it's Constitution, and its people.
Regardless of the reason, IMHO it increasingly seems that Trump is not helping others more than he is helping us.
1
End the uncertainty, end the ceaseless political attacks on our President, and end the insecurity of the southern border. Now.
Build The Wall Now. It's what America wants and what America voted for in 2016.
1
@Brewster Millions - You couldn't possibly be more wrong.
6
America voted for trump getting Mexico to pay for the wall.
2
@Brewster Millions
No. Most Americans do not want the wall, and what Trump voters voted for in 2016 was for Mexico to pay for a wall.
3
Could use this time to figure what needs to be trimmed from the government payroll--a good thing.
2
How, exactly, does Trump know that all federal workers are Democrats? Did he call them and ask them?
11
Isn’t President Trump everyone’s President? I’m tired of his partisan attacks. And I’m exhausted from his bullying.
1
It’s pretty much a logical nexus: those working in the bowels of big government are most likely politically supportive of that big government, ergo, they’re Democrats.
Trump consulted his brain...this time the one in his head.
This morning Trump tweeted that most furloughed employees are Democrats. He’s right, because if they weren’t before, they sure are now.
This ridiculous, supremely wasteful, theatrical shutdown is yet another grievous injury to the already moribund Republican brand.
If Trump manages to destroy the Republican Party, he will have finally done one good thing for his country.
27
So Trump must really love these furloughed Democrats because he’s giving them all a fully paid vacation.
The Senate has already passed a bill to give them back full pay upon their return to their job.
A shutdown, punishing the civil servants and America, seems a natural consequence of the devolution of our political system to a triumvirate of opinionated bullies lauded only when they shove their base's agenda down the unwilling throats of the rest of the country. The pundits applaud dysfunctional ideological-purity obsession as effective leaders keeping party discipline and following a mandate that is only in their heads. The rest of us just want to scream.
28
@Seethegrey
dont include the democrats in our government dysfunction when the Republican party has acted to completely block any and everything the democrats proposed starting with Newt Gingrinch.
18
@Seethegrey
'The rest of us just want to scream' is the
best summing up of the current situation in government and politics I have seen for quite a while. In fact. this pithy paragraph should be repeated everywhere. What else is there to say?
1
This morning I read that Trump said federal workers are all Democrats and that's why they're complaining about not getting paid. Funny, a couple of days ago, Trump said federal workers don't mind not getting paid because they support the wall. Now that he's found out they're angry about not getting paid and that they don't support the wall, suddenly they're all Democrats.
32
All affected federal workers, even those furloughed, will get full back pay when they return. They always do, and this senate has already passed a bill on 12/21/18 authorizing full back pay to everyone!
This is all just a Trump Political Stunt.
And as usual, McConnell does nothing.
We hardworking taxpayers will be footing this bill!
This shutdown is all a ruse as Trump diverts attention from the massive chaos he has just created in the WH...firings, resignations, Chief of Staff rejections, plus the impending House escalation of investigations into his election conspiracy with Russia.
And somehow Trump’s most recent huge “gifts” to Putin - withdrawing our troops from Syria and rescinding our sanctions on Putin’s favorite oligarch, Derapaska - are lost in the
all the other chaos.
2
The Con Don is trying to convince us that furloughed workers and OUR military are on his side. Ridiculous.
Military people, furloughed workers and every concerned American should read this special investigation by Reuters News Service about one of the Robber Barons who has made BILLIONS of $$$ through privatization and depraved indifference of OUR military housing. It's hard to read such obvious theft of OUR hard-earned taxpayer money. It's hard to admit that some in the military complex only want to rob us blind. It's further proof that corruption has no party affiliation. But this is the kind of "news" WE THE PEOPLE need to repair our corrupted systems at all levels.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-military-developer/
This is just the tip of the iceberg. These are the people The Con Don is trying to protect. He and his Robber Baron brethren must be purged from OUR governments at all levels right now - BEFORE they can further rob and destroy us and OUR lives.
13
@njglea - Thanks for the Reuters report on privatised housing. I think. It's pretty grim and I find I can only stand to read small portions of it before nausea sets in. BAH is transferred automatically to privatised housing and there is no real recourse for military members.
1
Bring back the draft and military housing costs fall drastically. Limit enlisteds to the old WWII-style wood frame open bay barracks built by the men themselves. As it currently stands, approximately 50% of enlisted personnel are married in the only job in America that pays married people more. On top of that, the DoD even admits that a member who re-enlists with over 4 years service, a spouse and two kids who live off base in a high cost area receives pay and benefits worth ~$50,000/yr. That can be slashed to $25/month if every 18 year old male public school grad had to serve.
The only reason we elect representatives is to run the government. If they can't manage that, we don't need them.
It's past time for our representatives to reaffirm that they all -- right up to Donald Trump -- work for us.
For all of us.
6
"I'll tell you what, you take all the risk, and do all the pain and suffering, and I'll take all the credit and keep all the benefits. Sound good?" - That's the story of Donald "Bone Spur Cadet" Trump's entire life.
If you want to know what happens to people who live their entire lives free from the negative consequences of their actions, look no further than that complete an utter failure as a human being that is Donald Trump.
The "Win! Win!" guy, who couldn't be a bigger loser if he tried.
13
"As Shutdown Lingers, Only Guarantee for Federal Workers Is More Uncertainty"
This will be a Trump Shutdown of Our Government.
The Budget and Appropriations bills to fund Our Government for the Fiscal Year are, by law, required to be passed and signed into law by September 30 of each year for the start of the Fiscal Year on October 1. The republicans, with control of both houses of congress and the White House, just can not get the job done, the same as last year and previous years.
This shutdown of Our Government is nothing more than an attempted bribery by Trump to get his ego wall.
Both houses of congress and both parties need to send an ultimatum to Trump in the form of budget and appropriations bills to fund the rest of Our Government with no money for his wall. Let him veto it and then both houses of congress can pass the bills into law with a two thirds majority in each house. Yes, both parties need to join hands and put up a united front to Trump and his constant failings.
46
@RetiredGuy
I'm another retired guy and registered Republican. I agree wholeheartedly with this comment. We need a bipartisan solution here. The Democrats and Republicans agree on this more than they disagree. Both parties' leadership should let their elected members join in support of an appropriations bill that would stand up to Trump's veto.
9
As the title suggests, the "only guarantee for federal workers is more uncertainty." Unfortunately, that is true, as federal workers are currently suffering from one of Trump's untimely whims, and there is no end in sight. However, we are all one Fox News story or one right-wing blog post away from another impulsive, nonsensical Trump policy decision. These are uncettain times because of a president who would rather play theatrics than govern with an even hand.
29
This morning, President Trump has declared without evidence that most of the 800,000 federal workers not receiving paychecks are Democrats, so it must therefore be OK to give them the Christmas shaft.
I suppose some of them are Hispanic, and many more are people with darker skin. Who knows? Some might even be Muslim. There is little doubt, however, that all of them are criminals, rapists, and drug runners. Not to worry though, all the good Republican workers are urging the president to keep them on starvation. They love it.
The danger for the president is that his brilliant tactical moves, not to mention the insightful analysis behind them, might turn all federal workers into Democrats, regardless of their previous political affiliations.
Happy New Year!
24
So why is Donald Trump giving all these furloughed Democrats a paid vacation.
They all get full back pay once Don realizes his stunt did not work and reopens the government.
So Trump is doing as President what he did as a private citizen: having people do work for him without any guarantee of ever getting paid for it. What a surprise.
43
I think it's terrible that Donald Trump shutdown the Mexican government because they wouldn't fund his wall the way he promised they would.
5
Trump says they are all very happy he shutdown the Government.
2
If Federal workers are not paid then no elected officials from the President on down should get paid. that includes Federal money for transportation or security. Close down the Congressional restaurants and other perks they get.
14
All federal workers, including Furloughed will get full back pay. Senate already authorized in advance.
As a federal worker, I hold the Democrats responsible for the shutdown. They are willing to cater to their base at the cost of our national security and federal workers, most of whom support Trump.
@Qcell Trump stated publicly that he owns the shutdown and that he would not blame the democrats. Can you provide stats that show most federal workers support Trump?
19
Trump is the one catering to his base. Most Americans, including federal workers, do not support spending billions on a wall that Trump said Mexico would pay for. He lied of course.
10
@Qcell
Gee! How many federal employees do you know beyond Hawaii? Inquiring minds would love to know and see if there is any veracity in your statement that most federal employees support the present occupant of the Oval Office.
Frankly, from having myself gauged the thoughts and opinions of numerous friends and acquaintances who are federal employees (many of them career employees), I see absolutely no merit in your statement. The present occupant of the Oval Office carries himself like an autocrat with a reptilian heart and a serpentine tongue.
I hope this partial shutdown is quickly resolved (with all federal employees who have been impacted by it being fully compensated) and that most citizens will take from this sad situation the fact that the Republican Party does not serve their best interests and will thoroughly REPUDIATE it by voting out of office an overwhelming majority of GOP officeholders (local, state, and Federal) in November 2020.
7
Our allies have learned that they cannot trust Trump- that he will always put his priority first! Now our government employees have learned that they cannot trust the Chief Executive- again his way will prevail no matter how much dislocation and suffering it costs.He has caused disgrace here and abroad.How much longer before we say, no more!
13
These people going without their paychecks couldn't be happier, because their support for Donald Trump's wall far outweighs their support for their own families.
We know this is true because Donald Trump told us so.
54
@Chicago Guy
They were so intent on telling him this that they sent messages to him by carrier pigeon now that the White House Switchboard is down!
Oh, what they'll do for this stable genius!
As a retired state employee I definitely feel the pain of these federal workers. Most of them get paid so little and live hand to mouth, but are vital to our security in so many ways. Trump treats employees like dirt and this is only one of many examples in the marathon of abuses.
Perhaps we should just give Trump a bit of what he wants, open the government and get on with the business of impeaching this cruel man. Its all a distraction anyway, created by Trump for his own political purposes in which common sense will never win. Dump Trump must become the Democratic rallying cry.
39
@just Robert
Actually, per the latest CBO study, federal workers, on average, receive 17% more compensation than their private counterparts. The study comares like to like jobs.
3
380,000 people held hostage by the mad king, isn’t this enough proof that the only concern the aristocracy has is to line its pockets? Trump has absolutely no feeling for Americans, I’m sure he’s enriching himself and his family while these people have to scrape by. And the lies he tells, that they want a wall! Next he’ll be asking for a wall in space to prevent Martians from invading America.
63
@Robert M. Koretsky
Nothing aristocratic about a grifter and his delude, deplorable people.
15
@MHV
don't tell trump that....he thinks he is the new Fuhrer, Kaiser, TSAR and King all rolled into one supreme being....delusional for sure, but his delusion is harming America.
10
This kind of behavior is what led to the bloody French Revolution in the early years of this country with the king, queen, and much of the nobility and upper classes losing their heads. Even some of the better ones who had helped with our fight against the English did not survive.
Trump better watch out--it could happen here.
Donald Trump not paying people for their work. Just another truth we knew in 2016 yet here we are.
34
Something else that isn't mentioned enough is all of the businesses in the communities where these workers live.
Without paychecks they aren't able to buy goods and services and the loss of that money on local businesses has a substantial ripple effect.
21
I live in MD, in an area where many commute to DC to work at federal agencies. The stores in my area, usually quite busy the day after Christmas, were practically deserted.
15
Federal employees are getting a paid holiday for sitting at home or making that quick trip to sunny Florida or to the gaming tables here in Las Vegas. It is about a four drive from LA to Las Vegas.
2
@NVFisherman
You figuring on drumming up business for your city?
11
@NVFisherman they are not getting paid right now if they are furloughed, but they will very likely get back pay.
4
Yes, they ARE all getting full back pay upon the reopening of the govt... both those working and those furloughed!
Someone should tell Donald all the furloughed “Democrats” thank him for their fully paid vacations!
As others are stating, Trump tweets most of the government workers not getting paid are Democrats. Why doesn’t he just come out and say he only wants to govern his adoring base. He visits the troops and uses it like a campaign rally. Maligning Democrats for not supporting his stupid wall. Does he even think the that some in that captive audience might not be Republicans and deserve equal respect? No President has acted like this. So tired of this child -in-chief. He is just exhausting. And, that is aside from the long lasting damage he is doing. Scary times.
41
Gotta complain to the only person who can do SOMEthing about Trump, Mitch
McConnell.
1
I work for the federal government and I WISH I got to stay home for a week or two. (I don't.) Federal employees get awesome health insurance and give me a break with this paycheck to paycheck thing. That is why God invented credit cards. Everyone WILL get back-payed. Some media outlets are making it sound much worse than it is. The IRS? HUD? Who cares if they aren't at work today? Who would even notice? Answer: no one.
4
@Nadia
Wow. A bit heartless, don’t you think?
15
God didnt invent credit cards. That's the work of someone else.
17
What about the small businesses that rely upon fed employee customers? Whose going to make up for that loss??
15
The Washington Post reports Trump claims most of the federal workers not getting paid are Democrats. Truly one cannot make up the nonsense Trump spews.
When Democrats take control of the House they should work with the Senate to pass a budget that renders Trump’s veto power impotent. It’s time Trump understands he is not King but merely the head of the executive branch.
34
The government workers will get their back pay.
Banks are willing to lend to them to cover their expenses in the meantime (I'm sure there's a credit check, though).
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this is causing folks, but the Democrats need to hold firm.
Keep repeating to Trump what he swore during his campaign: Get Mexico to pay for the wall.
Won't do it?
Next!
45
@Panthiest, Most contractors, who make up 40% of the federal workforce, will not get back pay.
16
Not entirely true.
Non appropriated agency employees operate on whatever funds they generate by providing services to other agencies.
Once this funds are exhausted employees have to file for unemployment. We do NOT receive back pay and unemployment is not enough to cover the average employees expenses.
Now me and lots of others have to face the prospect of burning through our savings for this unnecessary standoff.
2
So not only do US politicians treat voters with contempt, as their actions around elections and policies which harm the public good demonstrate, but federal employees too.
The majority of civilised nations do not have 'government shutdowns', partial or whole.
Politicians in other countries may adjust budgets or alter structures, usually after signalling such moves in advance in election manifesto, and employees may strike, but I can think of no other western nation where politicians let funding simply run out and employees and the functions they perform for citizens or subjects suffer or cease.
Where is the collective protest from you, the people, to say hey, we are sick and tired of being treated with such disrespect by our politicians and president? Where is the cry for electoral reform and changes so shutdowns don't occur?
Are there political parties and candidates that propose such things? Why not vote for them instead of the psychopaths you keep electing?
21
@Scott America is very different than New Zealand. You really cannot compare our politicians with the ones that you vote for down under.
1
@NVFisherman I see nothing in his comment that is incorrect. Can you point anything specific out?
6
Maybe you should have voted Republican. The wall would be up and you would be working.
@Chris Anderson
What happened to "Mexico will pay for it" ??? I am convinced that free higher education is the only way we can solve America`s ignorance problem. It`s amazing how prevalent stupidity has become.
68
@Chris Anderson. Sorry. I'm ethical and have made an effort to understand the complexities of the modern world and not approach things like a bewildered child.
26
@Chris Anderson - So where's the great health care and the infrastructure Republicans promised? Republicans have controlled all three branches of government for the last two years. Why weren't any of those promises kept?
35
It's worse than I thought. Garbage in our nations Capitol. Gosh I would have thought that this wouldn't happen there. Maybe we're pigs after all.
3
I’m a federal employee and I DO NOT support the government being shut down, EVER, for ANYTHING, especially a wall of which Trump said Mexico will pay for, now he wants taxpayers to pay for, but it turns out my paycheck will pay for.
We are a republic/democracy. Our representatives are supposed to work together and compromise not strong arm or wrestle power from the other. And we certainly aren’t a monarchy where the monarch bullies his policies at the expense of the government services on behalf of the people.
PS-I’d like to add that I think any government employee who would go on record to support a shut down should not be a government employee.
She works for the people not the president.
131
Idea: everyone in or around DC should visit the garbage can pictured in the photo and contribute a piece of garbage.
11
@Wasted
Build a garbage wall around the White House
6
With all the concern about security and the need for a wall, I am surprised that the government does not appreciate the way it destroys loyalty among its employees - especially contract workers as mentioned below, who may never get paid.
I am sure China or Russia would be happy to put these abused employees on their payroll and make use of their access to government data. We are at risk of creating the next Edward Snowden out of our disillusioned and financially strapped employees who have offered their services in good faith only to have that faith abused for political expediency.
48
Speaking from experience: unemployment offices have to be able to contact someone with your former employer to verify your claim. Good luck if the offices are shut down.
9
@Anne Hajduk
Lest we forget, the federally funded temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program expired at the end of 2013.
I voted for Obama twice, but now consider him a self-absorbed ego-maniac who was only interested in enhancing his legacy, not America's.
4
@Enarco it is congress' job to renew the program you mentioned.
9
Following are a couple of reply comments of our fellow citizens to an earlier post I made. It was in support of our government employees going without pay and many furloughed.
This is what's wrong with our country. Support Trump and the Republican Congress at any cost.
"Unfortunately the word on the street is that the majority of the 800k? federal (government) workers do very little work for the pay they receive. (If it's really 800,000 then that's obscene.) That's the perception. Sometimes perception is reality. Fire (or lay off) those federal workers who do NO work and that will save some big bucks."
"Boo hoo. The federal workers are essentially on a paid vacation, they will get every dime for NOT working that they collect now. They LOVE the time off, don't kid yourself... "
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@cherrylog754. Perhaps, but the contractors who support them, and actually do a lot of work, will not see a penny of back pay.
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You have no idea what you are talking about. Most feds would much rather be working. You would feel differently about the feds if the shutdown meant that you didn't get your Social Security check or whatever other Federal benefit you are happy to get while trashing federal programs and employees.
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Making people work without paying them is no different than slavery.
Trump is making this country no better than a third world Banana Republic hostage to his demands.
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@mjbarr Agree and wonder why a 13th Amendment-based lawsuit has not been done before. Regardless, now would be nice. Ordering people to work without pay seems like the essence of "involuntary servitude."
How many jobs has Trump created with the shutdown.
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We have a GOP messaging that most of these furloughed workers are pencil pushers and democrats - how much more politicizing can the GOP do? This is disgraceful and it's all on Trump and McConnell. The American people don't want this wall. Furthermore, if Trump were truly interested in our security he would have followed the advice of Mattis and Mattis would not have felt it necessary to resign. Trump has made us less secure and everyday that he remains in office is a threat to our democracy and security. The democrats need to hold strong. It's not necessary to say but I'm an independent!
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@Kathryn Meyer
What can one expect from GOP'ers? They have chosen to take ZERO responsibility for any of their words, actions. They have no answer only deflection that it 'somehow' is someone else's fault.
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Federal workers, especially those having to work without pay, should in mass, all start calling in sick.
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Wait... Mexico's not paying for it?
So much winning.
Please, please, please, let this end in 2020.
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Or, better yet, 2019.
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Every time Trump says "many people say" it actually means no one but he said. The CBP anonymous worker who supports Trump: she should inform herself. The Administration hasn't spent the $1.6B allocated this year for border security. She apparently doesn't yet grasp, despite repeated overwhelming evidence, that Trump will throw any supporter under the bus at any moment, including shifting blame to her or a coworker for deaths at the border.
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@Anne Hajduk Correct. No way they need 5B all at once. Trumps just being the big baby he always is when he doesn't get his way. The Democrats have no incentive to make that deal considering Trump said he would be glad to shut it down. Eventually he will cave.
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Why should the federal workers get back pay if they never performed the work? I know some will argue that the shutdown isn't their fault but that is something they should consider when applying for such jobs in the first place especially when they already normally enjoy considerable job security (compared to the private sector).
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Somehow federal workers have gotten a bad reputation as being lazy and highly paid. This is clearly intentional and the work of both Democrats and Republicans. When you want to blame someone for something or save money, they are the immediate fall back and scapegoats.
To answer your question, federal workers should be paid during shut downs for several reasons, the least of which is fairness. Professional Federal workers, I.e., lawyers, doctors, engineers, are considerably underpaid when compared to the private sector. They work for the government because they elected a life of public service over luxury. If you like your laws being enforced,your veterans getting the treatment they need, you national parks, and our farmers getting their subsidies (not welfare), then it’s in your interest to support them and pay them when congress and the President can’t get their acts together.
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@Paul T It's not their fault our President is a spoiled brat. He does not need 5b all at once. He already has 1.3 B that they didn't spend. Also, where is this 5B going to come from? Thin air? What programs are going to be slashed for this?
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I'm a former federal worker. The truth is that federal workers are like workers in most industries: Some are diligent, competent, and deserve every penny they receive, but that's not true of all of them. Some have financial reserves they can count on to see them through the pinch, but some do not. On the one hand, we may feel that they should not be paid later for work they never did, but on the other hand, they continue to incur expenses (rent, mortgages, insurance, food, etc.) without regard to their income during a given period.
Our views that the federal government should be kept open should be informed by our determination to have regular, lawful, processes for making governmental decisions, and not by our irritation at or sympathy for federal workers.
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That photo at the start of this article should be captioned -
"Trump's America".
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The longer the federal government is shut down, the greater the profs that we can do without many of its functions and bureaucrats. It’s the same principle my boss applies to time off: if I can do without you for one week, I can do without you for fifty two.
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Sorry, that’s crazy. This means that anybody taking one week of vacation is non-essential and could be fired. Your boss has serious managerial issues, and you are not better for believing this.
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Do you collect any federal benefits? Social Security, Medicare, or any of the other benefits that you're happy to take while bad mouthing federal employees. someone has to run those programs. I know you volunteer if you could, right? you do it for free I'm sure.
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@EN
No, I do not have my hand out. I am a 1099 contractor whose pay is based on minimum wage x a 35 hour week but who is expected to work as many hours as needed to manage a dozen client sites where we have people working in security, warehouse and clerical positions as well as cover any holes in their schedules. I more than EARN every penny I collect.
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One picture says it all. How many of these Federal Workers were protesting near the White House and creating that garbage.
Never in all my years as an american citizen have I witnessed such total disregard from a president for his country. He is absolutely self-centered. If he hadn't made that stupid promise to his 30% base, we would not be in this predicament. Spending such astounding amounts of money on some ludicrious wall that will do no good is bad economics at the very least. Why should we, the american people, pay for such a stupid idea? There are better and more effective ways of handling illegal immigration, which in itself has slowed down not sped up. More personnel along the border would be a start and would not cost as much. We have a madman in charge of our country.
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And his supporters cheer. That’s the sad part.
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Perhaps little Donald should have thought about what he wanted to pay for before handing out $1.5 trillion in 2017 Christmas gifts to millionaires, oligarchs and corporate thieves.
Perhaps bankrupt Donald should have thought about his little Trumpty Dumpty Wall before he increased the annual deficit to $779 billion in 2018 with his reckless 2017 tax cut 0.1% giveaway.
Donald has never had to pay for anything in his life since his daddy always dressed him in dollar bills.
Donald is a reckless spoiled brat who doesn't care how many lives he ruins with his hissy fits.
He's always been a rotten human being.
He doesn't care how many American lives he ruins.
Somebody give Daycare Donnie a pacifier.
Let the new Congress override the big baby's veto and pass a budget without him.
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@Socrates, overriding a presidential veto would require 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate. That's not gonna happen with Republicans in control for another week, especially those afraid of Trump's base come primary time.
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@hdtvpete Yes, a serious part of the problem: Republicans afraid to do the right and noble thing for their country because they fear trump's base, i.e., poorly educated rabble. That's pathetic.
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@hdtvpete
Truth is, most congressional republicans are not with their prez on the wall issue. If they were, the wall money would have been approved last year. It suits their political purposes to pretend that the democrats are the ones holding things up.
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As with most columns I see no mention of the thousands of government contract employees who are also prevented from working due to the shutdown. In many cases these workers are not paid as well as the government employees, and they will not receive back pay. Not sure why they are rarely mentioned.
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@mikeg4015 - Yes! I lost three weeks’ pay during the Ted Cruz shutdown. Contractors make up 40% of the federal workforce and most will never see a dime.
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I appreciate all of the concern for federal workers’ finances, which should be of utmost concern. However, I’m not seeing much discussion over the impact of the shutdown on the ability for federal workers to effectively carry out their work or mission even after the shutdown has ended.
Not every service provided is transactional or itemized. Some projects that have annual or other major deadlines will be disrupted and will cause strain on a labor force already grappling with long-term attrition that was implemented prior to this administration.
Think of permitting, NEPA, endangered species listings, Court actions, long-term investigations and research, agency planning and policy efforts. Contractors will eventually leave to find paying jobs (many don’t get back-pay so this is understandable), forcing agencies to rework their contracts. Lower level employees will realize that the benefits of government job security aren’t worth the paltry pay.
In other words, it’s not just the uncertainty with paychecks, it’s the uncertainty of the ability for federal workforce to effectively carry out agency mission and serve the public.
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@Resra I agree... this is really overlooked amid the drama of the actual shutdowns. My company is a contractor for the FAA that works on new technologies for the air traffic control system. The shutdowns not only affect morale, they also interrupt projects and research studies related to rolling out new technologies. Sometimes a study is interrupted and months of work have gone to waste.
Something else that is overlooked is that at the end of these shutdowns, it is rarely an actual budget that is approved but a continuing resolution. These resolutions in place of actual budgets have a significant long-term effect. People wonder why new technology isn't being implemented (such as GPS in airplanes) when such technology is widely available. When the DOT only receives a continuing resolution, they are unable to budget for implementing new technology and must just continue with the status quo. Over the past 15 years, at least, there have been many years that the DOT was only funded with a continuing resolution and not an actual budget. This in addition to being repeatedly shutdown makes it very difficult to move implement new technology.
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@Resra
Not to mention the fact that many gov't employees - surprise! - actually CARE about the work they do, and are invested in their projects. During the shutdown, they don't get to continue.
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