I have mentioned here before that I am a Federal employee in DC. I won't go into any more discussion than that. Not that I am saying anything that would harm my position but because I believe that what I do doesn't matter for the purposes of this blog.
But I do have to say something about the treatment of Federal employees in the media. We are not lazy bums sitting around all day doing nothing and getting rich off of taxpayer money. We pay taxes. We pay for our health insurance (in fact, I had a much better and cheaper plan when I worked in the private sector). We can get downsized and all the talk of reducing the size of government scares us.
When we downsize in government, it is a RIF - a reduction in force. If my position went, they would have to find me another job, but it doesn't have to be something I like. So yes, my paycheck is safe, and I am not downplaying that. But going into a job you loathe isn't exactly a good thing.
Right now, there is a reduction in hiring. That means that as people leave - which they do - no one else comes in to take their jobs and the rest of us take on more. Just like in private industry.
I won't lie - I know we're in a good spot. But I loathe the implication that we are a waste. The general public would be surprised if all of a sudden, everything shut down, including all the emergency services. We would be missed.