Gatchamania.net
Register Memberlist Staff Search FAQ Arcade Calendar Gallery Filebase Forums Home  

Gatchamania.net »[Speak Up!] »Rant! » Shutdown
Print Page | Recommend to Friend | Add Thread to Favorites
Post New Thread Post Reply
Go to the bottom of this page Shutdown
Author
Post « Previous Thread | Next Thread »
jublke
Forum Legend
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 24-10-2009
Posts: 780

spacer
Angry Shutdown Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Is anyone else here affected by the US federal government shutdown?

My husband is a federal employee - and the sole bread-winner right now since I am still at home with our youngest, who is in preschool. Today, we got our last check, for 2/3 the usual amount. There will be no more income coming in for us until the US government gets its head out of its you know what.

My budget is unbalanced and precarious enough already without this nonsense. I am borrowing money earmarked for my kids college funds to pay the bills. I hope to God we get back pay and I am able to pay it back.

Worst of all, my government is using my family and me as pawns in a giant game of chicken.

Aaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!!

(And, scarily enough, we are lucky in this situation - we have savings we can put our hands on and family and friends who will bail us out if and when we run dry. My heart aches for others who aren't so fortunate.)

__________________
Heart "The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal Heart

No new posts 14-10-2013 01:30 jublke is offline Send an Email to jublke Homepage of jublke Search for Posts by jublke Add jublke to your Buddy List
ElectricWhite ElectricWhite is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 29-12-2011
Posts: 18925

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

I haven't been effected so far, but I came close -- up until the 1st, they were talking about holding the Social Security checks. 100% of my income comes from Social Security Disability, and (thanks to certain members of my family) I have no savings whatsoever. I've also lucked out in the fact that I live near a riverboat casino, and that casino has funded many programs that had to be shut down in other areas.

I'm scared to think what will happen if those yahoos in DC don't get their acts together....

__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

No new posts 14-10-2013 01:50 ElectricWhite is offline Send an Email to ElectricWhite Search for Posts by ElectricWhite Add ElectricWhite to your Buddy List
Becky Rock Becky Rock is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 16-04-2009
Posts: 6458

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Both my husband and I are involved, but I have a different outlook that I won't discuss here as its political. It's rough, but there are others out there worse off. We at least have jobs to go back to.

__________________
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

No new posts 14-10-2013 02:02 Becky Rock is offline Send an Email to Becky Rock Search for Posts by Becky Rock Add Becky Rock to your Buddy List
Springie Springie is a Female
Her Royal Fluffiness...Swan of Swans...
     

avatar


I am a Swan.

6 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 12-06-2006
Posts: 8028

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Oh dear, Julie...I hope the gov't. gets their act together soon for your sake and for all of those who are dealing with this same situation! Huggles

__________________

There is no problem that cannot be solved with time, patience, and a judicious amount of high explosives.
 

No new posts 14-10-2013 02:03 Springie is offline Send an Email to Springie Homepage of Springie Search for Posts by Springie Add Springie to your Buddy List YIM Screenname: Springie MSN Screenname: Springie
Transmute Jun Transmute Jun is a Female
Queen of the Bird Missiles
     

avatar


I am a Swan.

40 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

quote:
Originally posted by Becky Rock
Both my husband and I are involved, but I have a different outlook that I won't discuss here as its political. It's rough, but there are others out there worse off. We at least have jobs to go back to.


I completely understand what you mean, Becky, and I can appreciate the delicate position you are in, as I share it.

Julie, I'm sorry things are so rough for you right now. Perhaps I am wrong (the updates on this always seem to come fast and furious) but I thought that backpay had been approved already? So you should be receiving that once the shutdown is over.

I'm not directly involved, as technically I work for the state government and not the federal government, but that comes with its own set of headaches.

__________________
 

No new posts 14-10-2013 14:45 Transmute Jun is offline Send an Email to Transmute Jun Homepage of Transmute Jun Search for Posts by Transmute Jun Add Transmute Jun to your Buddy List
ElectricWhite ElectricWhite is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 29-12-2011
Posts: 18925

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

quote:
Originally posted by Transmute Jun
Perhaps I am wrong (the updates on this always seem to come fast and furious) but I thought that backpay had been approved already? So you should be receiving that once the shutdown is over.


You're not wrong, TJ. But the only problem with this set-up (that I can think of, anyway) is that there are some bill collectors who aren't willing to wait. (Which, I can understand that when dealing with someone like my niece -- her life motto is "Party first, pay bills never" -- but it's horrible when honest, hard-working people have to deal with this.)

__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

No new posts 14-10-2013 15:47 ElectricWhite is offline Send an Email to ElectricWhite Search for Posts by ElectricWhite Add ElectricWhite to your Buddy List
Becky Rock Becky Rock is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 16-04-2009
Posts: 6458

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

To my knowledge, the House sent the back pay bill to the Senate, where it is currently sitting, although the President said he will sign it.

We were given some info before this happened that included how to request financial aid from our credit union and employee association. After this was threatened last year, we started an emergency fund to hold us over if it did happen. We had experienced the one in 1995 and it was a pain in the ass then too.

Julie, Maryland's unemployment laws are different from Virginia, but those Fed employees forced out are entitled to unemployment benefits, since this is in effective a 'lock out'. I think in Maryland's you can apply immediately. In VA, we have to be out of pay for 5 working days first. Your husband can apply for it. The only thing is if we do get the back pay (which could take months) the unemployment benefits have to be paid back.

__________________
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

No new posts 14-10-2013 17:37 Becky Rock is offline Send an Email to Becky Rock Search for Posts by Becky Rock Add Becky Rock to your Buddy List
jublke
Forum Legend
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 24-10-2009
Posts: 780

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Well, I wasn't trying to make a political post here. I am just very stressed out. We still have the kids' tuition and a mortgage and all kinds of bills coming in and it is freaking me out to see my bank balance so low. My husband is depressed and mooning around the house and things just feel very, very unsettled. I'd like to be confident that we will get back pay and things will go back to normal but frankly, for us this is a new experience and it reminds us of the early 00s when my husband lost his job and I was in grad school and Mark was just a baby and there was no way for me to help financially then either. We are still digging ourselves out of that hole ten years down the road.

__________________
Heart "The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal Heart

This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by jublke on 14-10-2013 at 22:45.
No new posts 14-10-2013 22:44 jublke is offline Send an Email to jublke Homepage of jublke Search for Posts by jublke Add jublke to your Buddy List
clouddancer clouddancer is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar


I am an Owl.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 10-04-2007
Posts: 12239

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Julie, sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with the shut down, there in the States. I keep hoping that things will end quickly and then settle back down.

I have to admit I had never considered how this might affect the "ordinary" person. Best wishes to everyone who is affected.

__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

No new posts 14-10-2013 23:19 clouddancer is offline Send an Email to clouddancer Search for Posts by clouddancer Add clouddancer to your Buddy List
ChrisW ChrisW is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar


I am an Eagle.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 16-01-2012
Posts: 4648

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

But hey, Congress can still use their private gym ...

__________________
Eagle Whisperer

No new posts 14-10-2013 23:58 ChrisW is offline Send an Email to ChrisW Search for Posts by ChrisW Add ChrisW to your Buddy List
Becky Rock Becky Rock is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 16-04-2009
Posts: 6458

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Julie, I know its hard. Nothing like having the govt screw up your life because they want to throw a tantrum likr a bunch of two year olds.

CW, don't even get me started. I could go on for days.

__________________
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

No new posts 15-10-2013 00:24 Becky Rock is offline Send an Email to Becky Rock Search for Posts by Becky Rock Add Becky Rock to your Buddy List
ElectricWhite ElectricWhite is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 29-12-2011
Posts: 18925

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

quote:
Originally posted by Becky Rock
Julie, I know its hard. Nothing like having the govt screw up your life because they want to throw a tantrum likr a bunch of two year olds.


Now, what's the point of insulting two year olds? Eh

__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

No new posts 15-10-2013 00:43 ElectricWhite is offline Send an Email to ElectricWhite Search for Posts by ElectricWhite Add ElectricWhite to your Buddy List
amethyst amethyst is a Female
Wanted: $1000 Reward
     

avatar


I am a Condor.

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 15-07-2009
Posts: 6248

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

I know this will sound a bit political, but if the Tea Partiers and extremist (from both parties) would just crawl back under the rock they climbed out from under, then the moderates on both sides of the political spectrum could probably solve this problem in a manner that does not hurt the general public and within a day or two at most.

__________________
Perspective Alters Reality

No new posts 15-10-2013 00:59 amethyst is offline Send an Email to amethyst Search for Posts by amethyst Add amethyst to your Buddy List
ElectricWhite ElectricWhite is a Female
Gatchamaniac
     

avatar

0 fics uploaded

Registration Date: 29-12-2011
Posts: 18925

spacer
Post Reply with Quote Edit/Delete Post Report Post to a Moderator        IP Information Go to the top of this page

Clap amen Clap

__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

No new posts 15-10-2013 01:16 ElectricWhite is offline Send an Email to ElectricWhite Search for Posts by ElectricWhite Add ElectricWhite to your Buddy List
Members browsing this thread: none
Post New Thread Post Reply
Rate Thread: 

very bad very bad 

1

2

3

4

5
 very good very good 

Go to: