Possible government shutdown

[moopigsdad]

This is for funkyodar.

[bartleby]

Here guys, try this:
Public Approval of Health Care Law
Polling Data
Poll Date Sample For/Favor Against/Oppose Spread
RCP Average 9/4 - 9/15 -- 38.7 52.2 Against/Oppose +13.5
Rasmussen Reports* 9/14 - 9/15 1000 LV 43 53 Against/Oppose +10
ABC News/Wash Post 9/12 - 9/15 1004 A 42 52 Against/Oppose +10
CNN/Opinion Research* 9/6 - 9/8 1022 A 39 57 Against/Oppose +18
FOX News* 9/6 - 9/8 900 RV 35 54 Against/Oppose +19
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 9/5 - 9/8 1000 A 31 44 Against/Oppose +13
USA Today/Pew Research 9/4 - 9/8 1506 A 42 53 Against/Oppose +11

All Public Approval of Health Care Law Polling Data

Tell me how the public is supporting Obamacare?? Further, until you two are ALJ's I would suggest you keep your uninformed opinions of what the job entails to yourself.

[funkyodar]

Never said obamacare was the bees knees. How bout throwing up the numbers on what percentage wants a shut down to prevent obamacare? or congress' approval ratings, or these tea party guys that bare pushing it?

Didn't think so.

As for keeping quiet till one knows what the job entails...right back at ya buddy.

[bartleby]

So, besides attacking me personally, are you implying that I am not an ALJ??

[moopigsdad]

No, bartleby you are an ALJ, albeit a bitter one. No job is perfect bartleby, no matter what anyone says, but if your job is as miserable as you truly make it out to be in many of your posts, then why are you there? If it is about a paycheck, no amount of money can make up for being so miserable. Surely, you can point to positives in your job too, not just negatives. I suggest you offer a more rounded picture of your position.

Yes, you are correct that I may not be an ALJ, but I know many ALJs and discuss many things with them, including their jobs and not one of them is as discouraging as you seem to be. Most really like their jobs and are glad to have their positions. So, while I cannot speak from personally experiencing things as an ALJ, I can speak about how many others in your ALJ position feel about their jobs.

I don't want to make anything personal because I do not know you personally. I hope you would respect the same about me. Let's just agree to disagree on issues and let it go at that fellow Board member. I don't think name calling or calling another person out helps anyone. It just brings us all down on this Board as less than professional. Let's keep things professional and not personal. Thank you!

[71stretch]

I assume no one's had a response to their emails to OPM, I know I haven't. They probably don't know enough yet to say "what if....", and probably hope they don't need to find out.

[bartleby]

So you call me dr. feelgood and then say, " I don't think name calling or calling another person out helps anyone."? You mention "calling another person out" and then say, "I've long since chalked you up to one of those that talks down their group, school or whatever in the hopes of keeping others from wanting to join. An exclusivity thing." you are a very special whatever, aren't you???



I am very happy with my job. With all of the feelgood people on the board, I feel it is my duty to report the truth about this job so newbies can make an informed decision. Can you point to one of my posts and say it's not the truth? You say, "Bart, I would estimate 90% of the posts you have submitted and I ahve read deal with some complaint you have about the job. Seems every alj you knowis in trouble, unable to be productive or just sad they took the job." Show me where I am not telling the truth in my posts. If you can't deal with reality, quit reading my posts. I am not a naysayer, I report what is going on in ODAR. I collect info from the Union and other ALJs and pass it on. I support ODAR, but I do know that some changes need to be made and that the job is a lot more stressful than it was 5-10 years ago. Although we have been asked not to get into politics, you and your liberal buddies can't seem to help yourselves. Just as I post the truth regarding the ALJ position, I can not let biased untruthful political posts go unanswered. I am letting this go at this time as I know very well who I am and what I stand for and your name calling and demeaning me is your problem and not mine.

[Buffalogal]

Recently, I downloaded OPM's App (called OPM Alert) to stay informed about government closings. I thought I might recommend that. But then I wondered, if the government is shutdown, will the status be updated? Or will the employee with that job be sitting home?

[funkyodar]

Hey bart, MPD didn't throw the dr feelgood or the chalk you up line. that was me.

[epic0ego]

Most gov't workers are teachers, cops, and fire-fighters. Should we just shut the down their respective governments, no better yet, fire the whole lot of them, just to demonstrate "how good they have it?" Even if you think this is a good idea, you are only dealing with half the budget equation. For those who would put up misleading polling numbers, it would be most helpful if you would put up the numbers showing the loss in revenue generated by the so-called Bush tax cuts. If that revenue was still in the budget, we would still be running significant surpluses as we had during the Clinton Administration years. It would be unreasonable for lawmakers to demand the full repeal of the Bush tax cuts, just as it is unreasonable to demand the repeal of Obamacare. Obamacare is the law of the land, and many aspects of it are extremely popular and make total economic sense, e.g., pre-existing conditions, students up to age 26, major reduction in "free" hospital emergency room subsidies, etc. The Tea Party folks represent the Koch brothers and their financiers, not "the people who elected [those lawmakers]." This shutdown business is political, not math-based. It will actually cost MORE money to make preparations to shut down the gov't, make up for the services and activities that will be impacted, and then to gear up again. That is what the result was in 1995 and the engineers of that strategy paid a heavy price in the 1996 elections. Crazy like a fox is one thing, but crazy like a neanderthal is something else altogether. The responsible leaders of the right wing (and there are a few), want no parts of this fight. They have a stomach for brinksmanship, but not suicide. Hang in there, folks. There could be delays. But having just returned from the dark side aka the OPM Conference Center, I have no doubt that OPM will make it right for us -- dedicated gov't workers that they are. By the way, hurrah for the outstanding "very normal" people from out West! I would love to work with any of them, but I was secretly glad to know that I was probably not going to have to compete with them head-to-head since any of them had GALs limited to west coast cities.

[Deleted]

Everybody has their opinion on politics as they do on religion, another hot button topic. I suggest, however, that this forum is not the place to discuss partisan politics, political philosophies or whether we are conservatives, liberals, socialists, libertarians, etc., etc.. I for one find this forum to be invaluable because it makes available the thoughts and experiences of the members, all of them, on matters re the position of ALJ. I think that if members start getting political the forum will suffer in that it will be less objective. We are not going to change each other's minds about politics and, anyway, the point here is wether there will be a shutdown and how it affects those of us in the process and who is at fault has nothing to do with that. I think that every member in this forum is well intentioned and wants to share their experiences. Although I am a newcomer to the forum, I ask everybody to take a step back and look at what we have in common instead of what might divide us.

[ALJD]

Alright. Can we all calm down a little please? Next time this thread derails into partisan infighting it's getting locked.

[moopigsdad]

Sept 24, 2013 15:43:18 GMT -5 ALJD said:

Alright. Can we all calm down a little please? Next time this thread derails into partisan infighting it's getting locked.

I agree ALJD. I apologize if I stepped over the line, as my intent is never to be political or attack another member personally. However, I am not going to stand idly by and let someone demean or impugn my character and not say anything about it. Mea culpa for any transgressions on my part.

[71stretch]

Sept 24, 2013 15:43:18 GMT -5 ALJD said:

Alright. Can we all calm down a little please? Next time this thread derails into partisan infighting it's getting locked.

Thanks, ALJD. For those of us for whom a potential shutdown is a real problem directly related to the purpose of this board, it's important that this thread stay open and on topic.

[sealaw90]

Sept 24, 2013 15:22:28 GMT -5 Buffalogal said:

Recently, I downloaded OPM's App (called OPM Alert) to stay informed about government closings. I thought I might recommend that. But then I wondered, if the government is shutdown, will the status be updated? Or will the employee with that job be sitting home?

Buffalogal,
    This app is for snow closings, horrific storms, etc. but I guess it couldn't hurt.  It's only Tuesday, and Congress doesn't have to pass a Continuing Resolution until Monday night.  That's like an eternity up on the Hill.  I think we're in for a nail biter, but I'm voting for a Saturday night vote - like 2 am.


Bartleby - you have posted very truthful things and it's not all bad.  Not being creepy but I did go back a few years to check and make sure you're  not just all 'bad kitty' postings.  You do give us an unvarnished view which I appreciate.  Becoming an ALJ is not just taking a new job, it's a profession within our profession, and we need to be prepared. 

To all -  The only politics I don't like is what the Agency is doing to ALJs.  Not sure why we're not an independant agency because that would solve a lot of problems - don't answer this! It's not a Socratic question!!  However, if this discussion would keep us away from 'real' politics within the beltway, then feel free to answer.

[epic0ego]

forgive my typos in the previous post. I only hope I did better on the WD. I also left out prescription drug coverage which is also immensely popular. Finally, according to the General Accounting Office (non-partisan), Obamacare will REDUCE the federal budget, not add to it, because it reduces the long-term costs of medicare, medicaid, and the cost of subsidizing hospital emergency room treatment by indigent patients. For an expert, albeit politically-tinged, discussion on Obamacare and the threatened gov't shutdown, see the Obama-Clinton summit held this afternoon at the Clinton Global Initiative. The west coast folks are way ahead of the rest of us. Many of them are experts in energy, engineering, science, and the environment, and the ones I spoke to favored Obamacare. They compared our health care system to Canada, Europe, and other industrialized nations. I was glad to know that most of them were not interested in my GAL cities, but now I'm thinking that maybe they know something I don't know . . .

[privateatty]

Sept 24, 2013 15:43:18 GMT -5 ALJD said:

Alright. Can we all calm down a little please? Next time this thread derails into partisan infighting it's getting locked.

I think politics is the gasoline and the vessel compacting it is the threatened shutdown. We have to be very careful at my place of work regarding the issue of politics--and not just because of the Hatch Act, but also because like religion, it does not make a good topic for genteel discourse.

Of course I am as guilty as anyone of veering off thread.

I am glad that bartleby cleared up any lingering doubt about his job satisfaction. I would also hope that funkyodar would accord him a little more respect, because after all he is an ALJ and he has taken alot of his time to try to help those here.

The vast majority of ALJs who have visited these pages are now long gone. They got the job and now have no time for ALJ wannabes. So many of you reading this will follow this path. To me its inexplicable, but then it took me a long time to give up on Santa.

bartleby may not be your cup of tea--attitudinally--but you know what? He cares. If you are a frequent poster and not an ALJ and you are here in six months as an ALJ then you can say, HA, privateatty--I'm one of the less than a score who stayed!

[moopigsdad]

Sept 24, 2013 16:27:48 GMT -5 epic0ego said:

forgive my typos in the previous post. I only hope I did better on the WD. I also left out prescription drug coverage which is also immensely popular. Finally, according to the General Accounting Office (non-partisan), Obamacare will REDUCE the federal budget, not add to it, because it reduces the long-term costs of medicare, medicaid, and the cost of subsidizing hospital emergency room treatment by indigent patients. For an expert, albeit politically-tinged, discussion on Obamacare and the threatened gov't shutdown, see the Obama-Clinton summit held this afternoon at the Clinton Global Initiative. The west coast folks are way ahead of the rest of us. Many of them are experts in energy, engineering, science, and the environment, and the ones I spoke to favored Obamacare. They compared our health care system to Canada, Europe, and other industrialized nations. I was glad to know that most of them were not interested in my GAL cities, but now I'm thinking that maybe they know something I don't know . . .

You could be right epic, maybe they know something we don't.

[moopigsdad]

Sept 24, 2013 16:45:00 GMT -5 privateatty said:

Sept 24, 2013 15:43:18 GMT -5 ALJD said:

Alright. Can we all calm down a little please? Next time this thread derails into partisan infighting it's getting locked.

I think politics is the gasoline and the vessel compacting it is the threatened shutdown. We have to be very careful at my place of work regarding the issue of politics--and not just because of the Hatch Act, but also because like religion, it does not make a good topic for genteel discourse.

Of course I am as guilty as anyone of veering off thread.

I am glad that bartleby cleared up any lingering doubt about his job satisfaction. I would also hope that funkyodar would accord him a little more respect, because after all he is an ALJ and he has taken alot of his time to try to help those here.

The vast majority of ALJs who have visited these pages are now long gone. They got the job and now have no time for ALJ wannabes. So many of you reading this will follow this path. To me its inexplicable, but then it took me a long time to give up on Santa.

bartleby may not be your cup of tea--attitudinally--but you know what? He cares. If you are a frequent poster and not an ALJ and you are here in six months as an ALJ then you can say, HA, privateatty--I'm one of the less than a score who stayed!

I do appreciate your posts privateatty as common sense. Yes, if I do acquire a position, I plan on staying around on the Board to help others still trying for a position. Respect is a two-way street, if you want to get it, you've got to give it. It is both given and earned. Some posters, including myself on occasion, forget this truth. We all need to be mindful of this axiom.

[71stretch]

Sept 24, 2013 16:01:22 GMT -5 sealaw90 said:

Sept 24, 2013 15:22:28 GMT -5 Buffalogal said:

Recently, I downloaded OPM's App (called OPM Alert) to stay informed about government closings. I thought I might recommend that. But then I wondered, if the government is shutdown, will the status be updated? Or will the employee with that job be sitting home?

Buffalogal,
    This app is for snow closings, horrific storms, etc. but I guess it couldn't hurt.  It's only Tuesday, and Congress doesn't have to pass a Continuing Resolution until Monday night.  That's like an eternity up on the Hill.  I think we're in for a nail biter, but I'm voting for a Saturday night vote - like 2 am.


B

A cheery prospect, since I leave for the airport in the very early hours of Tuesday morning. I'm hoping for Saturday, too.

EDIT: I do have a positive angle to this mess. I had not yet made hotel reservations when I got a pretty random email from Trip Advisor talking about one of the "specialty housing" places in DC. It's condos that are rented out just like hotel rooms. A one bedroom condo with a fully equipped kitchen, close enough to walk or short cab ride to both locations, for 149 a night plus a "cleaning fee" that's a little steep for a two night stay, but still comes in cheaper than any nearby hotel for the two nights. They don't run your card until you get there. There is a stated "penalty" for a late cancellation, but when I told them about my issue with the shutdown, they said there would be no penalty if I had to cancel last minute. They deal with the government a lot, and it shows.