Obama slams Republicans for threat to blow up entire economy

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24415556

US shutdown: Defence staff told to return to work

Most of the 400,000 US defence department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the decision was based on an interpretation of the Pay Our Military Act.

A budget row between Republicans and Democrats has forced the closure of federal services for five days now.

But the sides have now voted to approve back-pay for the 800,000 federal workers sent home without salaries.

In a rare moment of bipartisan co-operation, the House of Representatives on Saturday approved by 407-0 a bill to pay the federal workers once the shutdown ends.

There remains no sign of any deal on the federal budget, however.

(continued, at least the military will be fully operational when TSHTF in a couple of weeks)

[klr]

US shutdown is starting to hit business, says Commerce Secretary

US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker has warned that business is starting to suffer from the federal shutdown.

Her comments at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) came as leaders gathering for the summit voiced worries about the US situation.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said that what happens in the US "affects us all".

On Friday, the US defence contractor Lockheed Martin said it would put 3,000 workers on unpaid leave.

The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget.

And President Barack Obama cancelled a scheduled trip to Asia because of the shutdown.

"The shutdown is not good for business. It's not good for the economy," Ms Pritzker said. One consequence of the shutdown had been her department's inability to collate vital economic data.

"We're a huge source of data for American business and that is a problem... It's affecting businesses and it's affecting their ability to get data," she said.

From Monday, Lockheed will put 3,000 staff on leave, but the defence giant said this number would rise if the shutdown continued.

"I'm disappointed that we must take these actions and we continue to encourage our lawmakers to come together to pass a funding bill that will end this shutdown,'' Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed's chief executive and president, said in a statement.

"We hope that Congress and the Administration are able to resolve this situation as soon as possible," she added.

The announcement followed United Technologies' decision to temporarily lay off 2,000 employees.

The company, which makes Blackhawk helicopters, said some manufacturing had been halted because there were no government inspectors working to sign off products.
...

continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24419564

[Seth]

So suck it up buttercup, you're a public SERVANT and when you don't work, you shouldn't get paid.

These people have mortgages and bills to pay. Bills don't take a holiday. It's not the fault of people perfectly willing to work as their contracts state, that their employers are incompetent boobs. The employee's have done nothing wrong here. They deserve the pay that their families have budgeted for.

Cry me a river. Nobody in the private sector gets "retroactive pay" when their company furloughs...or fires them. Why should public employees be treated any differently from anybody else?

[Seth]

There is not, nor should there be any guarantee of wages without work anywhere in our economy, particularly not when it comes to public employees, who serve at the pleasure of the People, who may fire or furlough them at will.

Yes there is. The mostly-Republican House just passed it unanimously. Duh.

I'm aware of that.

That didn't stop you from making a normative prescription to the contrary though. Reality rarely gets in the way of religious faith...

Mismanagement, corruption, cupidity and abandonment of ethical, moral and constitutional principles doesn't make Congress' action "normative."

[piscator]

There is not, nor should there be any guarantee of wages without work anywhere in our economy, particularly not when it comes to public employees, who serve at the pleasure of the People, who may fire or furlough them at will.

Yes there is. The mostly-Republican House just passed it unanimously. Duh.

I'm aware of that.

That didn't stop you from making a normative prescription to the contrary though. Reality rarely gets in the way of religious faith...

Mismanagement, corruption, cupidity and abandonment of ethical, moral and constitutional principles doesn't make Congress' action "normative."

It doesn't make your sweeping statements true either. Regardless of what your political religion tells you, lots of people get paid not to work, most in the private sector.
And just for fun, next time you see a Federal employee, try to fire him. You'll see how far your ideological interpretation of "The pleasure of the people" canon goes.

[laklak]

And just for fun, next time you see a Federal employee, try to fire him.

The term "sinecure" springs to mind.

[piscator]

And just for fun, next time you see a Federal employee, try to fire him.

The term "sinecure" springs to mind.

So does the term, "Preacher"...

[laklak]

Yeah, but a preacher can't have a sinecure, since he's responsible for souls.

[piscator]

A soul proprietor, huh?

[laklak]

Lol yeah, the Libertarian dream. Well, it will be once we kill all those product liability lawyers. Caveat Emptor, baby.

[Svartalf]

And just for fun, next time you see a Federal employee, try to fire him.

The term "sinecure" springs to mind.

I don't know where you find them but that sure doesn't apply to mosst civil servants I've been in contact with.

[piscator]

And just for fun, next time you see a Federal employee, try to fire him.

The term "sinecure" springs to mind.

I don't know where you find them but that sure doesn't apply to mosst civil servants I've been in contact with.

The strawman of the Federal deadender bureaucrat is quite appealing to people who like to think they're the only ones who work hard for their $$. I work with some highly effective civil servants who consider it an honor and privilege to serve the American taxpayer.

[Ian]

Me.

And everyone I work with. Except whatshername. She's useless.

[Kristie]

Me.

And everyone I work with. Except whatshername. She's useless.

Maybe Seth can fire her.

[Svartalf]

With or without use of accelerant?