The Federal Workers furloughed tomorrow have been furloughed several days this year already

[CreekDog]

Many workers have had the equivalent of part time paychecks for several months.

Many agencies have staffs who have lost the equivalent of almost an entire paycheck already just in the past 5 months.

And now they face a layoff tomorrow which has no prospect of ending after a 5 month period of reduced hours and pay.

And because they are federal employees, even though they will be in furlough, unpaid status, the rules of their employment, even federal law, prevents them from working in their professions, it prevents them from doing many kinds of work that would replace the pay they are losing, nevermind that many are overqualified for the kind of work they would be allowed to take.

And if they can find such work, understand that the requirement is that when the government restarts they must report the next day. So they can't even promise another employer more than one day of work.

Federal employees are screwed. As are contractors who depend on work from the government and all the places that sell coffee, lunch and other things during the day to the federal workers around them each day.

Some think that's funny or making a point.

I think it's cruel and a default of the government on the promises it's made to its people and the workers who were hired to provide them.

[Stargazer09]

1. Thank you

My husband was a government employee who had to take a new job, one he absolutely hates, just so we could pay our bills.

Furlough, sequestration, shutdown. Any name you give the political mess, it is a horrible way to treat people.

[2naSalit]

2. The dirtbags who

created this mess have violated their oath of office and need to be held accountable as the oath actually indicates that they have agreed to the probability that they could/would be prosecuted under penalty of perjury and other crimes should they violate it.

So it's time for us to do our job of holding them to it. Since this incident is unprecedented, so should the remedy be such.

[NBachers]

3. And how many of these furloughed workers will go right on voting Republican?

[CreekDog]

4. probably fewer than before

and the number who have has been decreasing over the years.

[NBachers]

5. I sher hope so

[CreekDog]

6. but not few enough yet.