800,000 non-essential Federal government workers laid-off

[jimmyz]

If those workers are "non essential", why are they employed in the first place?

File this under things that make you go hmm.

[nathanbforrest45]

All government agencies with a few exceptions are "non essential" agencies and were created as a sop to special interest groups. What service do they perform for the average citizen that either does not need to be performed or could be better served by commercial organizations?

The only Departments I can think of that are essential are
The Department of the Treasury
The Department of Defense

[Chris]

If those workers are "non essential", why are they employed in the first place?

File this under things that make you hmm.

In government, budgets are determined by how much you can spend not how much you actually do or save.

[donttread]

All government agencies with a few exceptions are "non essential" agencies and were created as a sop to special interest groups. What service do they perform for the average citizen that either does not need to be performed or could be better served by commercial organizations?

The only Departments I can think of that are essential are
The Department of the Treasury
The Department of Defense

Well the DOD could be trimmed 25% without any increased risk of ivasion

[nathanbforrest45]

Well the DOD could be trimmed 25% without any increased risk of ivasion

I won't argue with you there. Furthermore, if they ended the Income Tax you could also eliminate 100,000 IRS workers. The IRS was originally created in 1862 by Lincoln as a means to fund the War Between The States when Lincoln installed the first income tax. The IRS is of course part of the Treasury Department as is the Coast Guard. I would also cut down on the number of military bases on foreign soil. We currently have military facilities in 80 different countries. We could take a number of those men and instead of protecting the borders between France and Germany we could station those men on our Southern Borders and protect this country

Oh, and I think I would keep The State Department but take it out of the spying business.

[Safety]

If those workers are "non essential", why are they employed in the first place?

File this under things that make you go hmm.

I can only speak for what I know to be true in the FAA, and for the most part they are support staff, ie engineers, administration assistances, etc. The day to day operations have been running, but parts are not being ordered, construction projects for runways and facilities are not being completed, and preventive maintenance for all equipment have not been done since the shutdown. When systems such as radios, navaid equipment, and RADARs start to fail, air traffic will grind to a halt.

I'm sure the other departments that are affected by the shutdown will have a similar experience.

[nathanbforrest45]

Why do the airlines get tax payer support. The railways don't and they seem to do just fine without it. Why couldn't the airlines start a consortium that would take the place of the FAA in providing for the safety of the passengers and efficiency of the member airlines.

[jimmyz]

I can only speak for what I know to be true in the FAA, and for the most part they are support staff, ie engineers, administration assistances, etc. The day to day operations have been running, but parts are not being ordered, construction projects for runways and facilities are not being completed, and preventive maintenance for all equipment have not been done since the shutdown. When systems such as radios, navaid equipment, and RADARs start to fail, air traffic will grind to a halt. I'm sure the other departments that are affected by the shutdown will have a similar experience.

Informative.

My FAA DAR was available for an 8130-3 issuance last week. And a buyer out of DLA Richmond was buying parts from me for F-18s. Spending taxpayers money for our fighters must be considered essential. Thankfully.

[Trish]

All government agencies with a few exceptions are "non essential" agencies and were created as a sop to special interest groups. What service do they perform for the average citizen that either does not need to be performed or could be better served by commercial organizations?

The only Departments I can think of that are essential are
The Department of the Treasury
The Department of Defense

How about FDA?
How about Agriculture?
How about NIH?

[Safety]

Why do the airlines get tax payer support. The railways don't and they seem to do just fine without it. Why couldn't the airlines start a consortium that would take the place of the FAA in providing for the safety of the passengers and efficiency of the member airlines.

Um...both the FAA and FRA are under the DOT.