Originally Posted by JHZR2
Originally Posted by SubieRubyRoo
fdcg, I get your point, but here's mine: While intending no disrespect towards those employed by the government, other than the military which is obviously an essential part of the budget, there are nearly 2 million civilian federal employees. They do not by definition add any value to the country's economy. They consume the wealth generation of the working people, and a majority of those government positions are simply to collect even more revenue from the workers. This is not political, but simple fact.
While I think a shutdown is a crappy way to do business, I also support paring down the federal agencies and their payrolls. The paychecks and benefits are simply gravy compared to the private sector, and all of that money comes from the people with non-governmental paychecks.
Do tell how the military would operate without the backing support of a ton of Civilians? Your statements are both so correct and so uninformed that its just funny. There are many requisite roles of the Government that justify a workforce, notionally leaner and more efficient than it is now, and that wont change without a signinficantly more backwards existence than we have now. That too is not political, just fact.
Originally Posted by eljefino
But how do you work that? What if you have $1500 in checking, a monthly salary of $4000, and expenses of $3500, $1500 of which are fixed loans (mortgage and car)? Then you have $2000 you can put on a credit card with a $100 minimum payment, but you decide to pay the car note two weeks late on hopes that the government will be reopen by then, and you pay the minimum on your credit card wtih the money left over.
Then the shutdown drags on and your house of cards collapses.
Or you try to take out an emergency loan from your government retirement account, but the guy that processes that is on layoff too.
It's just a mess, and unprofessional.
I cant say I have a ton of sorrow for those who keep too flimsy a house of cards. 3-6 months of expenses is common sense. I get it that some young kids with tons of loans might be in a stretch, but an emergency fund should take priority before the iphone, if someone doenst have it. Last I checked, $3500 of expenses out of $4000 per month means that people should have been saving $500/month. While saving for retirement is critical, it doesnt take precedence to having a reasonable and realistic emergency fund.
I find it funny how people try to play the sorrow card for Federal workers, when most anyone else could be laid off in an instant, and may or may not have a severance. The notional "job security" in the Government is not an excuse to plan inappropriately in the financial department. Do we care so much when other industries see major layoffs or offshoring? When we buy made in China junk to save a dime, do we care about the person whose job was offshored and who is now not getting a paycheck and forced to think how their bills are met?
I frankly dislike the pawning of Federal Workers, which means both the stupidity of a shutdown, but then the fake sorrow that they arent getting a paycheck. Fiscal responsibility is for everyone.
I was sitting here trying to put into words my thoughts on this subject. But this just saves me the time. Couldn't agree more JHZR2.
Originally Posted by SubieRubyRoo
fdcg, I get your point, but here's mine: While intending no disrespect towards those employed by the government, other than the military which is obviously an essential part of the budget, there are nearly 2 million civilian federal employees. They do not by definition add any value to the country's economy. They consume the wealth generation of the working people, and a majority of those government positions are simply to collect even more revenue from the workers. This is not political, but simple fact.
While I think a shutdown is a crappy way to do business, I also support paring down the federal agencies and their payrolls. The paychecks and benefits are simply gravy compared to the private sector, and all of that money comes from the people with non-governmental paychecks.
Do tell how the military would operate without the backing support of a ton of Civilians? Your statements are both so correct and so uninformed that its just funny. There are many requisite roles of the Government that justify a workforce, notionally leaner and more efficient than it is now, and that wont change without a signinficantly more backwards existence than we have now. That too is not political, just fact.
Originally Posted by eljefino
But how do you work that? What if you have $1500 in checking, a monthly salary of $4000, and expenses of $3500, $1500 of which are fixed loans (mortgage and car)? Then you have $2000 you can put on a credit card with a $100 minimum payment, but you decide to pay the car note two weeks late on hopes that the government will be reopen by then, and you pay the minimum on your credit card wtih the money left over.
Then the shutdown drags on and your house of cards collapses.
Or you try to take out an emergency loan from your government retirement account, but the guy that processes that is on layoff too.
It's just a mess, and unprofessional.
I cant say I have a ton of sorrow for those who keep too flimsy a house of cards. 3-6 months of expenses is common sense. I get it that some young kids with tons of loans might be in a stretch, but an emergency fund should take priority before the iphone, if someone doenst have it. Last I checked, $3500 of expenses out of $4000 per month means that people should have been saving $500/month. While saving for retirement is critical, it doesnt take precedence to having a reasonable and realistic emergency fund.
I find it funny how people try to play the sorrow card for Federal workers, when most anyone else could be laid off in an instant, and may or may not have a severance. The notional "job security" in the Government is not an excuse to plan inappropriately in the financial department. Do we care so much when other industries see major layoffs or offshoring? When we buy made in China junk to save a dime, do we care about the person whose job was offshored and who is now not getting a paycheck and forced to think how their bills are met?
I frankly dislike the pawning of Federal Workers, which means both the stupidity of a shutdown, but then the fake sorrow that they arent getting a paycheck. Fiscal responsibility is for everyone.
I was sitting here trying to put into words my thoughts on this subject. But this just saves me the time. Couldn't agree more JHZR2.
