Furlough letter - Explicit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

[jsteele]

If any of you affected by the furloughs would like to talk to a national news radio program, please click the "report" button and send me your contact info. I'll pass it to the reporter who is willing to talk off the record at first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Hmmmm, I know where your spouse works and why you didn't name the 3-letter agency. Interesting that you had the actual language of letter within hours to post here. Could have just said that it would be 5 - 7 furlough days.

My spouse emailed me shortly after the notice came out and clipped that in the email. I had read the message a little while before I read this thread and so I just cut-and-pasted from the email. Yes, I could have said that it would be just 5-7 days, but I also thought it was pertinent that they were not giving actual 30 day notices, so that furloughs were not imminent but were projected for several months from now (since someone had asked if furloughs would start soon). That, and I was being lazy and cutting and pasting was easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be saying the same thing.

Sorry you are going through this!

+1!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting to see the families that live large on by sucking the Fed's titties in normal times squirming now (like the rest of the US has been for the past ~5 years).

Not good, not bad, not schadenfreunde, just ... interesting.

Thinking of all the NoVa families with one spouse civilian DoD and the other spouse a "defense contractor." When the rest of America was pasting their bumpers back on their rickety cars back in 2009, what about you?

Uh, you are in denial if you think you aren't experiencing schadenfreude. Please, having a bit more self-awareness while you're enjoying other people's pain would be the dignified way to behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

I call bullshit on your post. Sorry, no one who is actually concerned about losing their job is considering the plum housing market that will be left in the wake of other's financial ruin. Moreover, I find it ludicrous when people say "you should have seen it coming and saved your money." It's hard enough paying for basic necessities, trying to sock something away for retirement, and covering daycare. We don't eat out, we don't spend lavishly, haven't been on a vacation beyond camping at a state park in four years. We don't have a huge nest egg to live off of for two, three, or more years while the job market takes a dive (I'm in the private sector, by the way). Yeah, I can live off my savings for a bit ... But where does that leave me for retirement? Your post smacks of someone who must be earning one of those fat cat salaries because those of us earning less than 100K are quite concerned about our fates. Buy hey, as long as we don't raise taxes on millionares, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quote]

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

I would not be so sure about that statement. The same people who have been wishing gloom and doom and spearheading voodoo talks against federal employment and employees are now squirming and saying, but not in my backyard. The Governor of Florida has been stating for a couple of days now that the sequestration is going to seriously hurt Florida. Between the military bases and cuts in FEMA, I can see Florida going through a whole lot of hurting during hurricane season. And was it Utah who said that 1/3 of their economy depended on some military base there. I am assuming, but I can certainly be wrong, that the 1/3 are not all federal employees, but the likes of mechanics, cashiers, hair stylist, electricians, etc. who depend on government workers spreading their largess throughout the overall economy.
This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:quote]

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.


This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

I would not be so sure about that statement. The same people who have been wishing gloom and doom and spearheading voodoo talks against federal employment and employees are now squirming and saying, but not in my backyard. The Governor of Florida has been stating for a couple of days now that the sequestration is going to seriously hurt Florida. Between the military bases and cuts in FEMA, I can see Florida going through a whole lot of hurting during hurricane season. And was it Utah who said that 1/3 of their economy depended on some military base there. I am assuming, but I can certainly be wrong, that the 1/3 are not all federal employees, but the likes of mechanics, cashiers, hair stylist, electricians, etc. who depend on government workers spreading their largess throughout the overall economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am really interested in the $763K claim that a contractor was being paid.... can someone link that story? I googled for it but couldnt find it.

http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2012/04/23/executive-compensation-benchmark-increase.aspx

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/groups-want-cap-on-contractor-compensation/2012/10/18/07136bec-1954-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_blog.html

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-29/national/36616390_1_contractor-federal-workers-stan-soloway


Here ya go. There are plenty of articles on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed too, but let's be real the government couldn't continue functioning at the level it has been. It sucks some of us will be laid off, furloughed, etc, but I don't feel right asking others to get a tax raise so people in DC can keep getting nice paychecks. Not to mention a lot of federal agencies have been abusing the system for years. The money train had to come to an end eventually. Hopefully people stacked some savings.

I make 30k less than my private sector counterparts. And well after a decade of service where I have been furloughed, threatened with furlough, had my salary frozen, but still worked over night and had holidays canceled for threats I don't give a flying fuck what you think. Op

What a pansy. Basically you didn't save for a rainy day, so whose fault is that? I've been a fed for over 10 years myself. I also blame contractors there was a recent article in the Washington Post about a single contractor being paid $763k a year. That is just outrageous.

Or my deceased husband left me and ur toddler with a crap load a debt. Judge much?[/quote

As much as it sucks that's not the tax payers problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

I call bullshit on your post. Sorry, no one who is actually concerned about losing their job is considering the plum housing market that will be left in the wake of other's financial ruin. Moreover, I find it ludicrous when people say "you should have seen it coming and saved your money." It's hard enough paying for basic necessities, trying to sock something away for retirement, and covering daycare. We don't eat out, we don't spend lavishly, haven't been on a vacation beyond camping at a state park in four years. We don't have a huge nest egg to live off of for two, three, or more years while the job market takes a dive (I'm in the private sector, by the way). Yeah, I can live off my savings for a bit ... But where does that leave me for retirement? Your post smacks of someone who must be earning one of those fat cat salaries because those of us earning less than 100K are quite concerned about our fates. Buy hey, as long as we don't raise taxes on millionares, right?

Guess what? My neighbor just SOLD his house in anticipation of hard housing times. Right now it is a sellers market. Both he and his wife are contractors, he got notice that his last day at work in March 30th. He wanted out for under his mortgage and wanted to make the max he could on his home. It think that was smart.

No, I am not rich, but I live where none of you would dream of living-far out and inexpensive because we did not want to suffer under the costs of living in an expensive close in location, which comes with expensive daycare and expensive taxes and a huge dependence in a big 6 figure salary. Our income is not high, so we are conservative with our money. Fat cat salary! Oh yes, us lowly project managers make a fortune!

You must not read these boards that much because most people on here are racking in a ton of money. If you cannot save, for the rainy day, then I don't feel sorry for you. The nation’s poor are not exactly crying about this, they a poor no matter what, they have been suffering since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. The people pissing down their pant leg about this are feds and contractors-college educated, well paid. I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry (heck, I feel sorry for myself), but seriously you did not see this coming? Are you kidding me?? We’ve just been talking about the government coming to a critical mass for, like, the last 5 years. We you deployed in North Korea until today?

Oh and the housing market that will be impacted, that should be on the top of people's mind. It has been all rainbows and unicorns with housing. Prices are sky high, people are sitting on huge mortgages. If they lose their jobs and it is happening to a lot of other people trying to fire-sell their homes-that will make it nearly impossible to get out from under a suffocating mortgage. Who are those people? Oh yea, everyone inside the beltway and everyone 10 miles outside of the beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: vacation beyond camping at a state park in four years.

So I know this is totally off topic but can I ask where? I used to go camping in Europe and miss it ... I'd love to bring my kids this spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

I call bullshit on your post. Sorry, no one who is actually concerned about losing their job is considering the plum housing market that will be left in the wake of other's financial ruin. Moreover, I find it ludicrous when people say "you should have seen it coming and saved your money." It's hard enough paying for basic necessities, trying to sock something away for retirement, and covering daycare. We don't eat out, we don't spend lavishly, haven't been on a vacation beyond camping at a state park in four years. We don't have a huge nest egg to live off of for two, three, or more years while the job market takes a dive (I'm in the private sector, by the way). Yeah, I can live off my savings for a bit ... But where does that leave me for retirement? Your post smacks of someone who must be earning one of those fat cat salaries because those of us earning less than 100K are quite concerned about our fates. Buy hey, as long as we don't raise taxes on millionares, right?

Guess what? My neighbor just SOLD his house in anticipation of hard housing times. Right now it is a sellers market. Both he and his wife are contractors, he got notice that his last day at work in March 30th. He wanted out for under his mortgage and wanted to make the max he could on his home. It think that was smart.

No, I am not rich, but I live where none of you would dream of living-far out and inexpensive because we did not want to suffer under the costs of living in an expensive close in location, which comes with expensive daycare and expensive taxes and a huge dependence in a big 6 figure salary. Our income is not high, so we are conservative with our money. Fat cat salary! Oh yes, us lowly project managers make a fortune!

You must not read these boards that much because most people on here are racking in a ton of money. If you cannot save, for the rainy day, then I don't feel sorry for you. The nation’s poor are not exactly crying about this, they a poor no matter what, they have been suffering since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. The people pissing down their pant leg about this are feds and contractors-college educated, well paid. I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry (heck, I feel sorry for myself), but seriously you did not see this coming? Are you kidding me?? We’ve just been talking about the government coming to a critical mass for, like, the last 5 years. We you deployed in North Korea until today?

Oh and the housing market that will be impacted, that should be on the top of people's mind. It has been all rainbows and unicorns with housing. Prices are sky high, people are sitting on huge mortgages. If they lose their jobs and it is happening to a lot of other people trying to fire-sell their homes-that will make it nearly impossible to get out from under a suffocating mortgage. Who are those people? Oh yea, everyone inside the beltway and everyone 10 miles outside of the beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to sound ignorant - which is so easy to do on DCUM - but how is it possible that what's been said on these 5 pages cannot effect the DC economy/housing?

It seems that everyone believes our economy is untouchable...even in the face of sequestration. If anyone can explain to me how this WILL NOT negatively effect our economy, that would be appreciated.

It will. It's just that most DCUMers don't want to think about it.

No kidding. Instead they speculate about the potential to buy cheap houses on the same thread started by someone who just got furloughed. So incredibly sensitive .

It is not being insensitive it is simply reality. I'm the one that started the housing comment and YES, both my DH and I are in a worse position than the feds because we work for private industry. They don't furlough us, they TERMINATE our EMPLOYMENT. I would take a furlough over a termination, but that is not our reality being in the private sector. Furlough is a gift in this climate. The private sector is crushed and people in this area have been running for years to the government and government contractors for cover, now there is no safe haven. No jobs to be had a contractors or private industry. You think a private sector employee will find work now? Please.

Yes, I will speculate over the bubble. The bad economy has come our way, and I can assure you the rest of the nation is weeping crocodile tears for our plight. The rest of the nation would like to see Federal employees and contractors burned alive at the stake. This has been their reality for 5 years now. Hopefully people have taken advantage of the bloated spending since 2001 and saved their money. No one thought the band would just play on forever, did they? Even if they kick the can down the road, which of course will happen after they stop with their posturing and calling each other "dumb", then it is still a long sick painful process before the chicken comes home to roost.

This will impact every single person in the DMV. Even if you do not directly benefit from government and defense spending, you are ignorant to think you don't. We are going to get squeezed by higher taxes on the state, local, and fed levels, while continuing to lose our jobs in droves.

I call bullshit on your post. Sorry, no one who is actually concerned about losing their job is considering the plum housing market that will be left in the wake of other's financial ruin. Moreover, I find it ludicrous when people say "you should have seen it coming and saved your money." It's hard enough paying for basic necessities, trying to sock something away for retirement, and covering daycare. We don't eat out, we don't spend lavishly, haven't been on a vacation beyond camping at a state park in four years. We don't have a huge nest egg to live off of for two, three, or more years while the job market takes a dive (I'm in the private sector, by the way). Yeah, I can live off my savings for a bit ... But where does that leave me for retirement? Your post smacks of someone who must be earning one of those fat cat salaries because those of us earning less than 100K are quite concerned about our fates. Buy hey, as long as we don't raise taxes on millionares, right?

Guess what? My neighbor just SOLD his house in anticipation of hard housing times. Right now it is a sellers market. Both he and his wife are contractors, he got notice that his last day at work in March 30th. He wanted out for under his mortgage and wanted to make the max he could on his home. It think that was smart.

No, I am not rich, but I live where none of you would dream of living-far out and inexpensive because we did not want to suffer under the costs of living in an expensive close in location, which comes with expensive daycare and expensive taxes and a huge dependence in a big 6 figure salary. Our income is not high, so we are conservative with our money. Fat cat salary! Oh yes, us lowly project managers make a fortune!

You must not read these boards that much because most people on here are racking in a ton of money. If you cannot save, for the rainy day, then I don't feel sorry for you. The nation’s poor are not exactly crying about this, they a poor no matter what, they have been suffering since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. The people pissing down their pant leg about this are feds and contractors-college educated, well paid. I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry (heck, I feel sorry for myself), but seriously you did not see this coming? Are you kidding me?? We’ve just been talking about the government coming to a critical mass for, like, the last 5 years. We you deployed in North Korea until today?

Oh and the housing market that will be impacted, that should be on the top of people's mind. It has been all rainbows and unicorns with housing. Prices are sky high, people are sitting on huge mortgages. If they lose their jobs and it is happening to a lot of other people trying to fire-sell their homes-that will make it nearly impossible to get out from under a suffocating mortgage. Who are those people? Oh yea, everyone inside the beltway and everyone 10 miles outside of the beltway.

A) It's not a seller's market and hasn't been for several years. Most of the homes in my neighborhood sit for months with no sale and that's normally with considerable cuts to the price.

B) I'm not sure why you think that DCUM is representative of the entire DC area. Sure, there are people who are making a ton of money. But there are also people like me an DH who don't make a ton of money, live very modestly - really only the basics - and scrape what we have left for emergency savings and retirement. After that, there's nothing left. We can live on those emergency "rainy day savings" for a few months, but not forever.

So spare me your sanctimonious drivel about how you should have seen it coming because clearly you are in several tax brackets above me if all you can think about is buying a new house at fire sale cheap. The rest of us who are really middle class, don't have that luxury. Again, as long as we're not taxing millionares the middle class can keep bearing the burden of the economic mess.