Posted on 01/24/2005 9:20:21 AM PST by bibarnes
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney asked nonessential state workers in the eastern part of the state not to come to work, and Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri closed all state and municipal offices Monday. School closings were reported from Maine to parts of Virginia
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
I know you're trying to be witty, but "non-essential" means people who must be present to handle emergencies. It does not mean that people who could miss a day or two with a major catastrophe are completely useless. Many of them may actually be useless, but you're reading way too much in the specific phrase...
"Essential personnel" are those required for public safety and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
Just fire them, no severance, no retraining.
The posts show the great divide between the tax consumer and the tax payer. Want to guess who gets a government paycheck?
Like most states, it will be no surprise if nobody notices that they were not at work.
"Non-essential State Workers"
A redundancy?
You are partailly correct. I happen to think that governemnt does way more than what it should be doing. If these people are not performing a task that can't be done by non-government workers they are essential (Cops, firefighters, judges, state attorneys etc.) On the other hand DOT, Social workers, food stamp coordinators etc. Should go find real work somewhere else where I can choose not to support them by shopping elsewhere
Well, I'm a tax payer, not a tax consumer. While I do contract work for the State Dept. (and therefore actually understand how the government operates), the funding for my project comes not from tax dollars, but fees paid by visa applicants (i.e., non-US citizens).
Hmmm - this issue needs further study. Refer this to the Department of Redundancy Department!
As an example for my department, "essential" would be the CBP officers manning the border. "Nonessential" would be the secretary, payroll person, etc.
It's not nonessential on a continuing basis, it's nonessential at that particular time. What they do can be put off for another day.
But you knew that. :-)
No, I'm 100% correct. I readily agree that many government employees are useless, but you are still reading way too much into the phrase "non-essential". Using your examples of "good" government employees, a judge or state attorney is non-essential by the government definition because if their workload is put off for a day or two because of a winter storm or other problem, it's no big deal. However, at least some subset of cops and firefighters have to be on duty during the same situation, and therefore are essential.
Anyone who would normally be in a crisis-management position (such as 24/7 on-call) is "essential", everyone else is "non-essential", regardless of the value added by their position.
Welcome to the world of Hacks.
Useless employees are asked to stay home for ever.
Normally useless employees are related to someone in the legislature!
I don't know where you live, friend, but it really is possible to be trapped by snow.
Three feet of snow of snow fell in Denver in a very short time a couple of years ago. Those of us who parked in our alley driveways (no on street parking) were trapped. As were thousands of others who couldn't get from their driveways to a plowed thoroughfare.
Add to that the Governor declared a state of emergency and wanted everyone off the roads so plows could be more effective. Almost all private businesses closed that day. One inch of snow closing down D.C. is one thing, three feet of snow is something else.
My mom works for John Hancock in downtown Boston.
Hancock told their workers that they were expected in today and if they couldn't make it they were to take a non-paid day or vacation.
Isn't that the sole purpose of government?
In your view, yes. In others' view, no.
What do the other folks do?
Judges, for example, are not in that definition. Their work is important, but it may be safely delayed a few days.
Libraries are considered by most to be a public service. However, I do not view them as being so critical to public safety that they must remain open at all times.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.