Was surprised this morning by some reaction to comments I made regarding the sequester... take for instance this listener e-mail.
Dear Joel,
I was listening to your show this morning and wanted to write to you about a statement you made. You said that federal workers get raises every year and that isn't true. We haven't had a raise in a couple of years now and with the 22 days furlough over the next six months, we are going to have to make some major lifestyle changes. I know of some younger folks who have their houses on the market now because they fear they can't make it. My husband and I already have part time jobs. Fortunately, my husband can work more on the day he is off from DSCC. I hope you can spread the word to let people know that we need to write our Congress and Senators to come to an agreement for a new budget.
Keep up the good shows.
Kind Regards,
Karen
Really? The economy has sucked for five straight years and you've cut your life so thin that an 8 hour weekly furlough causes you to put your house up for sale in the first week? I gotta tell you, I'm glad I don't live my life that close. I mean, 'younger folks' likely haven't had their homes for that long, but even with tough times they still live pay check to paycheck. I don't think ost people will ever figure money out.
And how about this one from Wayne...
This same crap happened a couple of years back. It wasn't called "sequester", but it was the same thing. The federal employees were "laid off" for several days, their work load had to be picked up by state employees...who didn't get laid off. After a couple of weeks of this horse **** , the federal employees were brought back, PAID ALL BACK WAGES, and all was well with the world again.
Basically, they got a few days paid vacation, and their work load was carried by others who were not federal employees. This is all hype and hooplah...designed to make one political party look bad. It's reminiscent of the late 90's when Clinton said the Republicans were going to "starve the children". The children had been given a huge boost in their school lunch program, but not exactly what Clinton wanted. Today, it's all about Obama not getting the huge deficit increases he wants.
So, the "worried Mom" who was SO concerned that her poor baby may go to a homeless shelter if he misses a $200 day of work (that's is, BTW, $25 an hour) is playing heart strings. I promise you that the government doesn't shut down if her baby doesn't go to work.
