Posted on 01/12/2019 7:22:03 PM PST by 11th_VA
As the partial government shutdown stretches on with no clear end in sight, its affecting US embassy staff around the world and making it harder for the US to conduct diplomacy abroad.
Many of the State Departments roughly 75,000 employees 50,000 are employed locally in US embassies abroad have found trouble progressing with their work and even, in some cases, struggling to put food on the table while they wait for the White House and Congress to strike a deal. Thats a big problem, since the State Department is Americas leading foreign relations agency. It now means that American foreign policy is, at best, running on fumes.
The partial shutdown began in December, after President Donald Trump demanded around $5 billion for a border wall, a request Democrats have refused to comply with. The shutdown poses an optics problem for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is currently on a crucial trip to the Middle East to reassure allies that the US wont fully withdraw from Syria. He and his wife who has accompanied him to the region will rely on the work of staff who arent getting paid to make the trip successful.
(Full disclosure: My wife works at the State Department.) ...
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
I hope this drags on long enough that the bulk of these people have to find work elsewhere. I look forward to the optics change to the attrition rates coming from the likes of the compost and the slimes telling the tales of these poor people that had to go find real work. I'll be all choked up. The tears may flow from the pain of my constant laughter.
I remember when VOX actually had a few well-thought-out articles that induced thought - now they are just another left-wing mouthpiece...and who wants to be lectured by a mouth that’s been places no sane person wants to go?
This past week is the FIRST paycheck they have missed -
ARe we to believe they didn’t have their mortgage/rent and utilities money for the month already in hand?
As to food, etc, I’m in my 80’s - on SS fixed income... but I could get through at least a month before I’d be in trouble for February’s bills...
Phoney stories of being threatened with foreclosure (which banks don’t start for 3-4 months and landlords, knowing they will get back pay and be able to catch up , will forego for a couple months...etc. PHONEY PHONEY.
Besides, if these are the ‘non-essential’ employees - why do they even have a job? Bet half of those jobs could be eliminated.
“in some cases, struggling to put food on the table while they wait for the White House and Congress to strike a deal.”
Foie gras and truffles are a bit pricey.
What malarky. They JUST missed their first DELAYED paycheck.
Either they have already paid January's rent/mortgage and fixed bills or have the money already allocated to do so.
Banks won't start foreclosure for 3-4 months and landlords know the back pay will come to catch up with.
As to food/gas - and credit cards already declined as unable to pay for a cafeteria lunch! Horse pucky.
I'm in my 80's on Soc. Sec. I've got my January fixed bills money in hand. I've always got enough foodstuffs to go at least 2 weeks. As to gas and misc - I NEVER have cards maxed out- far from it.
And I sure don't have the income these people have.
They're 'NON-ESSENTIAL'. Do what Reagan did with the air traffic control employees striking for higher pay (making $25 an hour in the early '80's!) He fired them and hired new. And they WERE essential... well, the jobs were, but no one employee is. They can be replaced.
Start culling!
Ya mean stuff women toss in their bathtub? Or:
The Synthetic cathinones are marketed as cheap substitutes for other stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
I suspect the latter.
I agree. Amazing. Gvt workers are some of the best paid people in the US and they’re wailing like their first born has been taken. (Of course we all know they’re doing this for effect.) GROW UP! Save your money.
There is a story about Reagan's Secretary of State worth retelling. New hires were supposed to go meet the boss as a courtesy before they were off to their first overseas posting.
He would ask them to point out the country they were going to represent on the world globe on his desk.
Invariably, they would point to the country where they would be posted. "No, goddamnit," he would shout and then point to the United States, "This is the country you are going to represent in the location where you are going to post. Don't you ever forget it!"
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Fumes or gas. They've been running on gas for years. The kind of gas you can't replace with windmills.
I saw the same thing in every embassy I worked at. No exceptions. It’s part of their culture.....to waste money.
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