See Nobody Cares

I can think of a few hundred thousand people who would disagree with you on that.

Poor overpaid government workers. Guess it's time to go out into the real world and compete in the free market.

Unless these government employees happen to somehow also be illegal aliens or 3rd world foreigners, I don't think you'll see anyone drumming up much sympathy for them.

Do you actually know any federal workers? The ones that are commonly referred to as "overpaid" ($100k+) are actually underpaid according to their "free market" value. Most of the government workers I know would be making 1.5 to 3 times as much if they went into the private sector. Some stay because they love their job. Others because the private sector is less stable. Others because of student loans.

None of them, according to the market value of their skill set, is overpaid, and the ones in DC are struggling in a VERY expensive city. Pull your head out of your ass.

...do you know any teachers? Everyone touts them as the most underpaid people ever. But that's a lie. Their -benefits- are MASSIVE.

Do you? I have been a teacher, and have a personal network of friends who are teachers that spans half the states in the union. Benefits vary wildly from district to district, and even for those districts who are able to offer substantial benefits, the work of teaching is incredibly difficult. In general, they earn several times more than the amount they're paid.

Also, I have no idea how bringing up teachers (who are not federal employees) helps your argument here.

Hmm. Teachers. Public education.... I wonder who runs that program and who pays for it.......

Wow, you really don't know where your tax dollars go, do you?

Public schools are paid mostly through local property taxes. This is why schools in wealthy areas have better schools - their property taxes are higher. Many states take steps to even out funding across the state, taking funds from wealthy districts and giving it to poorer ones, but that's at the state level.

The Federal Government does not pay teachers in your local schools. Like, at all.

So coming full circle, does it really matter who is doing the taxation? If everything else is true.

By the way, on an unrelated note, you could try talking to some mayors, and see just how much the federal government gets involved with their policies! They can have a laundry list of demands and only "give" money back to communities that they taxed, if those demands are met.

lol

This is going to last a few years.. Non-essential employees.. are called non-essential for a reason.. I don't think back-pay is going to happen either..

Except those working without a paycheck.
Also everyone should care because the furloughed will get back pay for doing nothing, ending up costing us at least twice as much since they will get pay for not working.

News flash: lots of government employees aren't working.

and you think I don't know that?

I assumed that you did. I know people who work for DHS and they are at home.

They can collect unemployment benefits. When the shutdown is over they will most likely get that back pay.
At least they aren't forced to work without pay like those essential employees