Real Impacts of a Furlough: My story

[Trish]

I am sorry spare me the violins music here. Government Regulators (read Government Employees) put thousands of people a month out of work by closing business and forcing productive enterprises to scale back or not hire because they cant comply.

None of those people will receive back pay for time off.

Trish do you worry about those people? Do you feel bad for coal miners put out by the EPA or farmers who cant farm because of stupid water regulation plans, Do you care about employees layed off because their employer is fighting off an ADA complaint?

Guess not.

If you're going to answer for me then don't direct the question to me.

Are you at all upset that the President lied about resurrecting the coal industry? There are more coal mines that have closed under this President. Are you upset that he hasn't kept his promise......cause the coal miners are.

[jimmyz]

I'm worried about sharing my story because it reveals some things in my life that are personal but I want others to know that there are struggles people are facing through unexpected life situations. I hope I'm not judged to harshly for sharing some of how I've been impacted.

I had never filed for unemployment, last week I did. It was the most crushing thing I have had to do. I am independent and proud. I always pay my bills and I’ve never asked or needed handouts.


The house that I fell in love with and was going to make an offer on didn’t happen. The sellers were devastated. They are an older couple who have lived in that house for over 40 years. The husband was a retired fireman which I really connected with because my grandfather was a DC fireman too. They had raised their family in that house and I could feel the pride and love they had poured into it.


This will delay their move to warmer climates. I hope they find a buyer while simultaneously I’ll be sad if they do.
I owe less than $2k on my car with only 4 payments remaining. Friday, I had to contact the financial department and request a deferment due to the furlough. They were very gracious and agreed. Of course, the loan had 0% finance, so they really aren’t losing anything, but I was still relieved that they were willing to work with me.


I took out a personal loan through my credit union last year to address a health issue. I contacted them about deferring my January payments. They were happy to accommodate me for a $35 fee applied to both payments. I was shocked and told them that I was disappointed they were using the furlough to make money. They quickly rescinded the fees.


My savings took a hit when I was faced with rehab and housing costs for one of my sons. I take care of my own problems and I’ve never applied for federal resources to offset those expenses. I’ve always thought federal resources should help those less fortunate than me. Now I have no resources to help him right now and I worry for his life. Generally, I would have a cushion, but the opioids epidemic has hit my family hard and has basically cleaned me out.


I’ve always been smart not to accumulate credit card debt but I’m worried that I may have to fall back on my credit cards to survive this furlough. I may have to ask my parents for a loan. I’ve only had to ask them for help on one other occasion and I was much younger, it was one of the most embarrassing times in my life. Now I’m in a situation where I may have to ask them for help again and I feel like a failure. They don’t know that my savings has been depleted from helping my son. It’s something I’ve never discussed with them because I wanted to handle it on my own and I didn’t want them to worry for me or my son.


I guess I could pull money from my TSP savings, but I don’t want to take any money out of my retirement accounts.
I’m required to perform some activities for work without pay as an excepted employee and I do them without complaint because it’s who I am as a civil servant. My country comes first.


I do NOT support this President’s shut down as he claimed in a press conference yesterday. He is delusional if he thinks federal workers should carry the burden of these negotiations.


I need to be paid for the work I am performing during this furlough and I need to get back to work so that I can meet my financial obligations and responsibilities that I have to others. Creditors are not going to give me a pass because of a wall. Retailers and manufacturers who depend on federal workers to buy from them are not going to understand why they are not making profits because of a wall. Contractors and small businesses that the federal government does business with will also suffer from losing business or having current work performance stopped because of a wall. Senior Citizens that need social resources will not understand why they are not receiving the care or assistance because of a wall. These are just some examples of how everyday citizens and businesses are going to be impacted by this shutdown.


My story isn’t unique. I am just one of many that are impacted by the furlough. I’m a real person who has always done the right thing financially and personally. I’ve never used social resources, but I may have to use them now because my livelihood has been cut off. This is heartbreaking and I’m angry to be forced into this situation.

@Trish

Would you be more pro Trump's Wall knowing that the illicit drugs that have affected your son and your family so negatively freely flow-in on our unprotected southern border?

It sounds like you have many avenues to help keep you financially afloat during this temporary shutdown. Good!

[Tahuyaman]

It was rather cartoonish.

I'd be tempted to drill a dude right in the nose for making that type of comment.

[Admiral Ackbar]

If you're going to answer for me then don't direct the question to me.

Are you at all upset that the President lied about resurrecting the coal industry? There are more coal mines that have closed under this President. Are you upset that he hasn't kept his promise......cause the coal miners are.

No I am not upset because the forces put in play by Pres Hussein Obama Soreto need to be rolled back and it is hard work.

So do you feel your situation as a Gov employee is worth of our concern. I answered the question because I have never heard a Gov employee concerned about the effects of their leech like employment on real people

[nathanbforrest45]

Trish made the statement earlier that some government workers were dedicated and tried to do their jobs well. Admirable, but then again so did some of the guards at Auschwitz.

[MisterVeritis]

If you're going to answer for me then don't direct the question to me.

Are you at all upset that the President lied about resurrecting the coal industry? There are more coal mines that have closed under this President. Are you upset that he hasn't kept his promise......cause the coal miners are.

Now there you go again.

Candidate Trump promised to end the Federal government's war on the coal industry. President Trump fulfilled candidate Trump's promise. The Obama regime did enormous damage to the coal industry.

[Trish]

Now there you go again.

Candidate Trump promised to end the Federal government's war on the coal industry. President Trump fulfilled candidate Trump's promise. The Obama regime did enormous damage to the coal industry.

Just in case you can't tell because the emoji is sooooo small, that's me rolling my eyes.

[Trish]

Trish made the statement earlier that some government workers were dedicated and tried to do their jobs well. Admirable, but then again so did some of the guards at Auschwitz.

That wasn't necessary. It's mean and I don't appreciate being compared to nazi soldiers.

[Trish]

No I am not upset because the forces put in play by Pres Hussein Obama Soreto need to be rolled back and it is hard work.

So do you feel your situation as a Gov employee is worth of our concern. I answered the question because I have never heard a Gov employee concerned about the effects of their leech like employment on real people

You answered the question because I was courteous not to answer for you. You have no idea what I do for the government so calling me a leech is really not appropriate.

Not sure what's going on here but there's a group of you who've decided to come on this thread and be hateful. Just skip my article and move on if you hate me so much.

[MisterVeritis]

Just in case you can't tell because the emoji is sooooo small, that's me rolling my eyes.

You are wrong Trish. Say it. Say, "MisterVeritis, I was wrong."