No Suffering Allowed

At least the permanent residents of Washington, D. C. (as opposed to those who are there by temporary (?) election) love their Government workers.

Those workers, most of whom probably make more money per hour, month, year, than most of the non-Government workers in this Country, will have their jobs back in a few days – and, will get paid retroactively for any missed time (mark my words). Meanwhile, millions of non-Government workers across America have lost their jobs, have had to take part-time work if they can find any at all, or have suffered pay cuts and loss of benefits. Some older Americans who have been “downsized” will never find work again.

But Washington, D. C., takes care of its own:

Despair not. Dozens of businesses in and around Washington are showing their solidarity by offering furloughed employees free or discounted food, drinks and activities to keep their spirits high during the shutdown. (ABC News)

Free food, cheap booze (show your Government ID and get deeply discounted “drinks”) – Furloughed workers facing the prospect of an uncertain time without work — and without paychecks — were offered everything from free burgers, sandwiches and cups of coffee to admission to private museums, pilates lessons and activities at community centers. (IBID.)

It never ceases to amaze me that our society is exclusively selective in its actions regarding various people groups among us. We largely ignore the poor, the homeless, the hungry, even the unemployed, or the under-employed, the mentally ill, the uneducated, etc., etc., but – those “poor” Government workers -well, somebody has to do something before they go “completely under,” which will evidently happen before the end of the week.

Maybe the President could cancel his current trip (vacation?) to Asia – there’s enough money right there to make a meaningful difference in the lives of D. C.’s new unemployed poor.