So... U.S. government shut-down

[Backroads]

How's everyone handling it? (and I really don't want this to turn into a nasty political debate.)

I'm vaguely worried about it continuing too long to stop Husband's weekend drill in a few weeks.

[Swiper]

Fine. I haven't noticed anything that impacts myself or my family. I work for the U.S. government but are not impacted by the shutdown.

[bytebear]

I find it interesting how little things have changed. Same for the sequester which we are still living with. The truth is the Federal Government is HUGE, and could easily be scaled back a lot before we noticed. And even things that are important, like health inspections, pollution controls, have State regulated equivalents.

[Vort]

Coded message from the National Weather Service? ‘PLEASE PAY US’

[Backroads]

I find it interesting how little things have changed. Same for the sequester which we are still living with.

This is what surprises me, too. I'm seeing some grassroots movements pop up to take charitable action for a number of affected causes and I know people complaining they aren't working.

But that's about it.

I do like they agreed to pay the furloughed crowd retroactively.

[Wingnut]

This is what surprises me, too. I'm seeing some grassroots movements pop up to take charitable action for a number of affected causes and I know people complaining they aren't working.

Someone I know is in the military, and is moving cross-country this week. His orders were all approved, his housing had been inspected and cleared, and all his family's belongings were already on a truck being crated to their new home. He went to the office to sign his final paperwork and was told that he couldn't move because of the shutdown. Fortunately, there was a local civilian-led grassroots movement that secured funding for his (large) family and others in similar circumstances. They'd have been living out of their car indefinitely.

[Just_A_Guy]

The Washington Examiner is reporting that the federal government is still 83% functional at present.

[LittleWyvern]

The Washington Examiner is reporting that the federal government is still 83% functional at present.

I'm curious how much of that 83% is only functional because they're running on fumes, so to speak. There's a lot of federal agencies that are only active because they're using reserve funds.

The only shutdown effect that affected me is the total closure of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). I was doing a research project in cryptography...

Edited October 6, 2013 by LittleWyvern

[yjacket]

I used to be a federale. I find the whole charade hilarious and at this point utterly pointless. I was a fan of the shutdown but today Congress passed a resolution giving all federal employees furloughed back-pay.

So at this point the whole shutdown is merely a one week plus of free tax-payer funded vacation time. Now I worked with some very, very good people, but (and I'm not speaking of anyone in particular-but from my personal experience) they were some of the most entitled individuals I've ever met in my life. They had/have very little clue about what is going on outside their bubble world.

They have some of the best paying jobs in the country, with the best benefits and a guaranteed job; even if they get "furloughed" they get back-pay, that's not being furloughed that's a free vacation. The amount of time wasted at the "water-cooler" or just shooting the breeze is ridiculous. I've seen guys sleep on the job. I knew I could sit at my desk all day and throw darts at the wall and not get fired. The only things that will generally get one fired is Time and Attendance Fraud (i.e. not showing up to work and charging time), committing a felony and looking at porn at work. And except in the case of a felony, it was a long drawn out process where the employee got several "chances" to set it right.

I read news articles in the Washington Post/Times and just chuckle; so many federal employees trying to justify their job, "I want to work", "I could have a better paying job in the private sector", "Without xyz bad things will happen".

There are definitely real inconviences for a lot of people due to the shutdown; but there have been a lot of real inconviences for millions of people since the '08 recession. For those current federal employees count your lucky stars you had a job through the recession and still have one. Unfortunately, we have some serious structural economical problems in the US and no one wants their part of the pie cut.

[prisonchaplain]

Essential government workers are showing up for work, but do not expect to be paid again until the shut down ends. Back pay is coming, but in the mean time, some, who live pay check to pay check, are hurting.

[pam]

Those on government retirement pensions or receiving social security benefits got paid October 1st because those funds were approved before the shutdown. Now whether they get paid November 1st if no agreement is made is another story.

[yjacket]

Those on government retirement pensions or receiving social security benefits got paid October 1st because those funds were approved before the shutdown. Now whether they get paid November 1st if no agreement is made is another story.

I'm pretty sure that regardless of the length of the shutdown SS and pensions will be paid because they are part of "mandatory", non-discretionary spending. The shutdown only affect discretionary spending, but I could be wrong.

[NightSG]

The only things that will generally get one fired is Time and Attendance Fraud (i.e. not showing up to work and charging time), committing a felony and looking at porn at work.

All at once?

(Then again, that's pretty much how our former fire chief got canned; soliciting a minor that turned out to be a cop working an online sting, and still having the chat window open when the Ranger showed up to arrest him in his office.)

[pam]

I'm pretty sure that regardless of the length of the shutdown SS and pensions will be paid because they are part of "mandatory", non-discretionary spending. The shutdown only affect discretionary spending, but I could be wrong.

My last job was with a company that handled the payments for social security. I have still have numerous friends that work there. The word they were given and that they are to give the customers is that there is no confirmation if November payments would be made to date. They are advised to watch the news regarding government shutdown and updates to it.

[NightSG]

I'm curious how much of that 83% is only functional because they're running on fumes, so to speak.

On the other hand, how much is shut down that was cost-neutral and/or profitable? If National Parks are so expensive, why do they refuse to turn them over to the states when those states are willing to run them?

(I realize the current offers at Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore are to temporarily fund and/or staff the parks at state expense, but I'm sure if the Feds offered to just walk away, those states would gladly take over ownership.)

Park Service Orders Closure of Park that Receives No Federal Funding | Washington Free Beacon

The PJ Tatler » BREAKING: White House Ordering Hundreds of Privately Run, Privately Funded Parks to Close

[Mahone]

For my wife and I, it could (yet again) delay our move to the US, as those in USCIS are not currently working - at least that's what I've been told.

For anyone else that's been through this process (I'm looking at all you dual citizens on the board) they'll know how frustrating it can be with the lack of updates, unexplained delays, inability to contact USCIS easily and just generally not having any idea of when we'll be able to move. The shutdown just adds to that.

*sigh*

[yjacket]

On the other hand, how much is shut down that was cost-neutral and/or profitable? If National Parks are so expensive, why do they refuse to turn them over to the states when those states are willing to run them?

(I realize the current offers at Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore are to temporarily fund and/or staff the parks at state expense, but I'm sure if the Feds offered to just walk away, those states would gladly take over ownership.)

Park Service Orders Closure of Park that Receives No Federal Funding | Washington Free Beacon

The PJ Tatler » BREAKING: White House Ordering Hundreds of Privately Run, Privately Funded Parks to Close

It's a well established practice: Washington Monument Syndrome or fireman first principle.

Washington Monument Syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Basically the fed. gov. agencies blackmail or extort the public for more money.

Sure they could make it work relatively painlessly, but if they did that then the public would see that 50% of the jobs are worthless and they'd be out of a job. Fed. gov. agencies don't operate like a business, they are rewarded for spending more money and being completely inefficient rather than saving money and being more efficient. Every year at the end of the fiscal year there was a big scramble, if the office didn't spend all it's money it would be sure to get a budget cut the next year so instead of operating prudently and being more productive they would go on a spending spree. What do we possibly need that costs a lot of money, that's how one office ended up with a $10,000+ touch table and another with a 3D virtual reality setup, neither of which were ever used afterwards or were necessary for the job.

[NightSG]

It's a well established practice: Washington Monument Syndrome or fireman first principle.

We've seen that locally in the form of a couple of city council members who, when questioned about the possibility of spending cuts, immediately started going on about the dangers of cutting police, fire and EMS. Even when people started the discussion with photos of 5-man street crews sent to fill a single pothole, or the 3-man trash crew in the parks. (One drives, one sits in the truck bed, and one hangs of the bumper while they drive from can to can.)

[Gretchen]

It has always amused me how many times throughout history the States have invaded other countries, tore down their inept government, provided jobs, food, and other necessary things. So why don't the States invade the States?

[carlimac]

My son-in-law has been home from work since last week. Sure it's a paid vacation but the stress is just not knowing how long it's going to last. At least with vacation days you know when they are going to start and end and you can plan accordingly. He and my daughter are in limbo- can't go anywhere fun besides what's just local. And guess where they live? DC

My husband's job is tied to the fed govt but they have a few weeks reserves to get by on so no furlough yet. An office social was cancelled. No biggie. I don't like to go to them anyway.

DH is interviewing for other jobs right now so hopefully the next job he gets won't be so closely involved with the feds. It's been a disappointing job.

[talisyn]

It's starting to be felt in little things like no permits for cutting firewood. The 800,000 federal employees are not essential, unless you want things done in a timely manner (or done at all). The sequester is hurting a lot of people, but they aren't important enough to be on the news. Please don't think people are not affected by all this.

[jerome1232]

It's starting to be felt in little things like no permits for cutting firewood. The 800,000 federal employees are not essential, unless you want things done in a timely manner (or done at all). The sequester is hurting a lot of people, but they aren't important enough to be on the news. Please don't think people are not affected by all this.

Why are permits for cutting firewood handled by the federal government.... maybe this is the libertarian in me but that just *really* seems like something that ought to be handled a tad lower down.

Then again there's a lot of things I think should be handled a lot lower down

[carlimac]

Looks like we might be furloughed, too. Grrr!

[pam]

Utah is feeling it.

9 Utah counties declare state of emergency due to gov't shutdown | ksl.com

[Dravin]

Why are permits for cutting firewood handled by the federal government....

Because they own the land they are issuing permits for? I suppose one could argue the national forests should be transferred to the states, but as long as they remain national forests it actually makes perfect sense that the National Forest Service handles firewood permits for national forest lands.