Gubment Shutdown

[Bodhisattva]

You work for the Feds? If you aren't working it means you are non-essential!!:eek2:

Absolutely non-essential. My job is to waste money, which I try to do as poorly as possible. Since there is now no money to waste at the moment, I'm on holiday.

 

[Bamaro]

Which Castro brothers? The rapist in Cleveland or the dictator of Cuba?

Those wont be "put up to run next time".

 

[ValuJet]

Absolutely non-essential. My job is to waste money, which I try to do as poorly as possible. Since there is now no money to waste at the moment, I'm on holiday.

I have a background in purchasing, so I'd like to be in procurement for the feds. Preferably a position whereby I can exploit my authority and influence for massive personal financial gain. I can't get away with this in the private sector. Can you hook a brother up?

 

[Bamaro]

Absolutely non-essential. My job is to waste money, which I try to do as poorly as possible. Since there is now no money to waste at the moment, I'm on holiday.

And I'm sure you accomplish your goal well.:biggrin2:

 

[Bodhisattva]

And I'm sure you accomplish your goal well.:biggrin2:

I do. I've "saved" the program millions of dollars. However, the "reward" I was hoping for - to have the money saved or returned to the people that earned it - is not an option. In fact, I've been scolded for finding savings because it's a big pain for everyone if money is not spent - lots of paperwork involved, lots of arse chewings by the PTBs, etc. So, no, the money must be wasted. If not via its original purpose then in some other way. I've learned that there's really no point in my being so vigilant with taxpayer money. The government will always do what it does: waste money .... and then demand more.

 

[Bodhisattva]

I have a background in purchasing, so I'd like to be in procurement for the feds. Preferably a position whereby I can exploit my authority and influence for massive personal financial gain. I can't get away with this in the private sector. Can you hook a brother up?

You sound highly qualified for an SES position. Do you also have an exaggerated sense of self importance, and are you an expert at self promotion?

 

[ValuJet]

You sound highly qualified for an SES position. Do you also have an exaggerated sense of self importance, and are you an expert at self promotion?

All of the above and more. As long as I'm not outted by any of you all here, I can run with the Big Dogs.

 

[chanson78]

I do. I've "saved" the program millions of dollars. However, the "reward" I was hoping for - to have the money saved or returned to the people that earned it - is not an option. In fact, I've been scolded for finding savings because it's a big pain for everyone if money is not spent - lots of paperwork involved, lots of arse chewings by the PTBs, etc. So, no, the money must be wasted. If not via its original purpose then in some other way. I've learned that there's really no point in my being so vigilant with taxpayer money. The government will always do what it does: waste money .... and then demand more.

Whats worse, is that budgets are calculated based upon the previous years spending. If you spend less than the year before, or don't spend all of your budget, you are at risk for having your budget slashed because of efficiency. If you aren't running right up to the wire, you can never grow your kingdom. This is often when you hear of "we have end of year money we have to spend, what can we buy with X dollars that will seem beneficial?"

 

[Bodhisattva]

Whats worse, is that budgets are calculated based upon the previous years spending. If you spend less than the year before, or don't spend all of your budget, you are at risk for having your budget slashed because of efficiency. If you aren't running right up to the wire, you can never grow your kingdom. This is often when you hear of "we have end of year money we have to spend, what can we buy with X dollars that will seem beneficial?"

Beneficial purchases don't matter. In September my colleagues in budget are constantly pushed to spend money. If they have extra they start calling their various programs and ask, "Are you sure you don't need extra widgets?" Money must be spent, and there's hell to pay if it isn't.

If all else fails, buy more office furniture. We have rooms full of brand new, yet extra, chairs and computers. That stuff will eventually be shipped to a government warehouse, an unnecessary expense that houses other unnecessary expenses.

 

[chanson78]

...snip...
The fact is there's nobody worth a flip in this whole thing, everybody is posing, and it's little more than a political version of the WWE.

In the end, everything will work out and as I noted, nothing will really change. Nobody will win or lose their next election based on this. Seriously. Not one.

Not going to quote your whole post, but for the most part I do agree with it.

The two main points I would say is that, while I do believe that both parties are to blame, there is one that is holding their breath and throwing a hissy fit primarily for political gain, and I don't believe that it is the Democrats. The majority of this kerfluffle is due to the fact that there are many many Republicans who are worried that if they don't come off as sufficiently crazy enough regarding Obamacare, they will get replaced. A Tea Party wingnut will get backed by the Koch bros. or some other ultra conservative group and they will face a very debilitating primary leaving them weak for the general. This is by definition governing and posturing for purely political gain no matter the ramifications to the US or its credit/standing with the rest of the world.

As of two weeks ago, the Republicans were willing to put forward a CR that would be able to be stripped of the anti Obamacare language by the Senate and not have this back and forth. It wasn't until Cruz and the other Tea Party faction members started sandbagging Boehner and the rest of the Tea Party constituents started getting up in arms that this was not an acceptable plan.

You say that both parties are doing this for political gain. I will concur. But its not the Democrats who pulled a 180 on shutting down the government two weeks ago.

RE: DoD funding levels.

I can't find a better link, but in essence the issue was in 2012 during the election, the Joint Chiefs of Staff supported Obama's budget that trimmed ~487 Billion over 10 years. Paul Ryan, as part of the appropriations committee said, "We don't think you are being truthful, heres more money than you requested." I haven't dug in far enough, to see what level it actually got passed at, but if I recall correctly, this was when congress was giving the army tanks it didn't want.

Ah-ha! I found the link about the tanks at least. Granted this is closer to pork barrel spending and not necessarily holy grail spending. So technically it isn't a good example building up my argument that the Republicans are hypocrites, but it is a good example of the stupidity of Congress.

http://news.yahoo.com/army-says-no-more-tanks-115434897.html

Yet in the case of the Abrams tank, there's a bipartisan push to spend an extra $436 million on a weapon the experts explicitly say is not needed.


"If we had our choice, we would use that money in a different way," Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army's chief of staff, told The Associated Press this past week.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/dome...nerals-are-giving-their-true-advice--20120329

Ryan's comment referred to a common Republican complaint that the defense request -- which is strongly supported by the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- was not "strategy-driven," and was based instead on an artificial spending cap. The chiefs, in testimony and public remarks since early February, have said they carefully built a strategy and a budget to meet the required limits of the Budget Control Act that Congress passed last year and endorsed the fiscal 2013 request.

 

[seebell]

Non-essential and not needed are two different things. The government can limp along without people. I'm doing two or three people's jobs right now which is not a lot of fun. The government should have as many people as necessary to run efficiently and do its job.

The National Parks are non-essential. The Smithsonian is non-essential. etc etc. I'm glad we have them though.

 

[G-VilleTider]

Non-essential and not needed are two different things. The government can limp along without people. I'm doing two or three people's jobs right now which is not a lot of fun. The government should have as many people as necessary to run efficiently and do its job.

Doing two or three government jobs and still plenty of time to read and post on TF's ... sounds like they have the people but lack the efficiently part

*cracks whip* now get back to work, you serve us taxpayers

 

[seebell]

I have a background in purchasing, so I'd like to be in procurement for the feds. Preferably a position whereby I can exploit my authority and influence for massive personal financial gain. I can't get away with this in the private sector. Can you hook a brother up?

You need to be in charge of contracts in Afghanistan or Iraq.

 

[Tide1986]

The National Parks are non-essential. The Smithsonian is non-essential. etc etc. I'm glad we have them though.

They are certainly "nice to have" when the necessities have been taken care of.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Selma, do you drink coffee and Red Bull?

No, they actually make me incredibly hyperactive. I DO indulge too much in Diet Coke, though.

I thought all budget bills were supposed to originate in the House.

The BILLS do originate in Congress, but it is the PRESIDENT who SUBMITS the first set of recommendations which, of course, are never adopted wholesale. In fact, not at all, har har.

The President is supposed to submit his recommendations on 1 Feb, which is why the State of the Union address is always given right before then.

And btw - so that I don't leave the erroneous idea (I was half awake last night), Obama DID submit a budget proposal in early April. And no, I won't hack on him for being late with his homework since he no doubt was preoccupied in December and January planning his coronation gathering complete with gold crown and sceptre.

Actually - in my "let's evaluate" mode, I'll give him a pass because one can easily argue that sequester upheld his budget proposal submission. If he'd not submitted anything until July it would be a lot different.

 

[Al A Bama]

Oh, and for the benefit of CajunCrimson and rgw.....
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/0...ing-events-including-saturday-air-force-navy/

Now y'all can have at it. :biggrin:

Do you mean that tax payers are funding Army, Air Force, and Navy athletic events (football games)?

Don't they make enough money from athletic events (football games) to be able to play a football game at all three academies?

Are they temporarily closing the academies because of the SlimDown?

 

[crimsonaudio]

Don't they make enough money from athletic events (football games) to be able to play a football game at all three academies?

Considering a small percentage (roughly 20%) of all FBS programs operate in the black, I doubt the academies earn their own way wrt football.

 

[cbi1972]

Considering a small percentage (roughly 20%) of all FBS programs operate in the black, I doubt the academies earn their own way wrt football.

They sure have a heck of an alumni base if they wanted to draw upon it.

 

[BamaPokerplayer]

They sure have a heck of an alumni base if they wanted to draw upon it.

You always see the angles. Impressive.

 

[cbi1972]

Shutdown overreach: More personnel sent to WWII memorial than Benghazi; Park Service closes park it doesn't run

Pointing to Park Service claims that parks have to be closed because the agency can’t afford staff during the government closure, Eberly wrote: “What utter crap. We have operated the Farm successfully for 32 years after the NPS cut the Farm from its budget in 1980 and are fully staffed and prepared to open today. But there are barricades at the Pavilions and entrance to the Farm. And if you were to park on the grass and visit on your own, you run the risk of being arrested. Of course, that will cost the NPS staff salaries to police the Farm against intruders while leaving it open will cost them nothing.”

Incredible.