The building where I work is rat-infested.

[Drahthaardogs]

They routinely climb out of the toilets in the women's restroom. My computer software is so old, it is not even mouse-driven. It is still operating on function keys. The Chinese stole my birthday, my name, my social security number, and even my fingerprints. I was supposed to get a letter telling me what to do by June 28th. It is now July 20th and I have not received anything. Everyone I work with has advanced degrees in a hard science, yet we are called stupid and lazy. I see colleagues berated on TV by Congressmen for enforcing the laws that the Congressmen passed. It is insane. Mitch McConnell wants to use my private 401K to fund his highway bill. My private counterparts make about 40% more than me. Congress passed a law years ago that told the President to rectify the situation. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barrack Obama have ignored that law - - and no one does anything about it.

I am a Federal Employee and I have come to believe that if Bush or Walker get in and fire me, it might really be for the best. The only reason I stick around is that I am proud to serve my country and I would feel horrible letting down the people I work with every day.

[hobbit709]

1. How many are two legged?

[luvspeas]

2. Sounds very Orwellian!!!

I was supposed to get a letter telling me what to do by June 28th. It is now July 20th and I have not received anything.

[BlueJazz]

3. I've met several Federal employees who say (pretty much) the same thing as you do.

They are sick and tired of being the butt of abuse by the very people who have cut-off the money that allows them to do their job.
Worse of all, the public airwaves parrots the disgusting anti-government noise where everybody can shake their head with that ol' stand by: The Government can't do anything right.

[tech3149]

5. My sister works at a military hospital in the medical library

The IT is handled by one of those marvelous contractors(who shall remain nameless here). The quality and speed of service was so bad, most of the younger department members learned to take care of problems themselves.

[topological]

4. I feel you. Where I work there are literally signs telling you not to touch things.

The lights flicker. My boss does nothing but yell at me and to people on the phone.

[Recursion]

6. You know the worst part? The SF86 is to determine if *you* can be trusted with information

It's just an extra little kick in the teeth there.

[hfojvt]

7. when I graduated college in 1985

I got a job as a GS-7. I was a mathematician. People used to tell me I could make more money in the private sector. I quit that job after I was promoted to GS-9.

In 2011 I was promoted to supervisor in my current job (working for a local government). I noted that my new salary - was less than a GS-7 made.

I found this interesting though

hourly rates

GS-7 (1986) - $8.54
GS-9 (1987) - $10.45

inflation adjusted to today's money

GS-7 - $18.59
GS-9 - $21.95

current pay scale

GS-7 - $16.61 (89% of the past)
GS-9 - $20.32 (92.6% of the past)