Should federal workers strike ?

[creditcardfree]

dont want to get too political, but imo this divisiveness is a mark of today's society, and will continue to get worse until something happens to change it. Before, even a decade ago, politicians were willing to compromise and find middle ground. Nowadays each side sticks to their guns and is unwilling to negotiate meaningfully with the other side. Society as a whole is so caught up in political correctness and fingerpointing, that it boils over into politics and everywhere else. social media and technology ensures that slights that would have gone unnoticed or might have been ignored now blows up in front of a national audience quickly and regularly.

Because the government is now divided, you can expect even more gridlock than if all the power held by one party or the other.

Yep! It's very unfortunate. We really need to get past the Rs and Ds and assuming that if you are one of the other that you believe X. The name calling and outrage on both sides has got to stop. There is middle ground.

And to another comment in this thread about this being the fault of a two party system, that's not it. It's not the system that is wrong, it's the people who are within the system that have dug in their heels and have stopped working together. There are lots of laws and government programs that have come about with both sides coming together within a two party system. Blame the individuals involved, hold them accountable for finding a solution!

[Singuy]

Yep! It's very unfortunate. We really need to get past the Rs and Ds and assuming that if you are one of the other that you believe X. The name calling and outrage on both sides has got to stop. There is middle ground.

And to another comment in this thread about this being the fault of a two party system, that's not it. It's not the system that is wrong, it's the people who are within the system that have dug in their heels and have stopped working together. There are lots of laws and government programs that have come about with both sides coming together within a two party system. Blame the individuals involved, hold them accountable for finding a solution!

This is what extreme divisiveness will do. The senators can stop this and can override the president. They are afraid to because the extreme divisiveness causes citizens on both sides to be irrational and send out death threats if they find the person they voted for didn't hold their ground. I mean we had citizens already sending bombs to political targets. This is what happens when you have all these a-holes in Washington appeasing to tribalism, getting people to pick sides.

[disneysteve]

It is definitely true that both sides have moved farther to either extreme than they used to be. There seems to be no such thing as a centrist anymore. Another problem, which seems worse in recent years, is that nobody (on either side of the aisle) seems willing to do anything that might jeopardize his or her reelection chances. Nobody is willing to stand up and say, "This is wrong and we need to fix it" because doing so has become political suicide. Tow the party line or you're out at the first opportunity.

[Singuy]

That's the problem with the voting system in the U.S. If everyone was forced to vote, then that wouldn't happen. The problem is people are lazy AND voting days are not holidays. So passion gets you to the polls therefore you have to get people to feel strongly on one thing or another..and then instill fear into them for voting incorrectly. I see the 2nd amendment rights are notoriously used to gather passion. Vote blue and they will take away your guns!...which was said by no politician ever...

[disneysteve]

That's the problem with the voting system in the U.S. If everyone was forced to vote, then that wouldn't happen. The problem is people are lazy AND voting days are not holidays. So passion gets you to the polls therefore you have to get people to feel strongly on one thing or another..and then instill fear into them for voting incorrectly. I see the 2nd amendment rights are notoriously used to gather passion. Vote blue and they will take away your guns!...which was said by no politician ever...

I would love to see them reform the entire voting system. Encourage voting by mail (which we've done for years). Make voting a week-long event at least to give more people the opportunity. Set up voting online. It's 2019. We have the capability to do all kinds of sensitive and secure business online. Why not voting?

[WDELTA]

For what it’s worth I’m a federal air traffic controller working at what’s considered a “core 30” airport. I’m currently working my regular times with no idea of when pay will come and just the guarantee of back pay. Regardless of anything you hear there will not be a controller strike, we learned our lesson from when everyone was fired I’m the 80s. With that said, tension is rising in what is already a pretty stressful environment.

[james.hendrickson]

For what it’s worth I’m a federal air traffic controller working at what’s considered a “core 30” airport. I’m currently working my regular times with no idea of when pay will come and just the guarantee of back pay. Regardless of anything you hear there will not be a controller strike, we learned our lesson from when everyone was fired I’m the 80s. With that said, tension is rising in what is already a pretty stressful environment.

WDELTA. Whats your view on the whole shutdown? Is it impacting your personal finances?

[WDELTA]

I think it’s crazy to be forced to work (constant talk of disciplinary action just for calling in sick). I won’t speak on the politics because at the end of the day this shouldn’t be able to happen regardless of who is in charge. Our finances personally aren’t too bad. My wife has a good job where she’s actually getting paid. We have savings as well and have no worries of missing important bills for about six months as it is. Also have had some help, HOA let us defer our annual payment penalty free until the shutdown ends

However I have coworkers who just spent most of their savings to move across the country and start this job that are having a much worse time than me. We’re DINK with one on the way so my financial situation on average is better than most of my coworkers.

[~bs]

It is definitely true that both sides have moved farther to either extreme than they used to be. There seems to be no such thing as a centrist anymore. Another problem, which seems worse in recent years, is that nobody (on either side of the aisle) seems willing to do anything that might jeopardize his or her reelection chances. Nobody is willing to stand up and say, "This is wrong and we need to fix it" because doing so has become political suicide. Tow the party line or you're out at the first opportunity.

exactly. If you attempt to cross the aisle, you'll get creamed in the media (who thrives off of conflict) and on social media.

The only politicians that can step up and work with the other side without hugely negative repercussions to their careers, leading by example, are the most senior politicians. But nobody is willing ot that that chance. If you give in on a current issue, then you'll be immediately attacked by voters on both sides as someone weak and someone that will give in again later instead of being seen as a good compromiser.

[~bs]

This is what extreme divisiveness will do. The senators can stop this and can override the president. They are afraid to because the extreme divisiveness causes citizens on both sides to be irrational and send out death threats if they find the person they voted for didn't hold their ground. I mean we had citizens already sending bombs to political targets. This is what happens when you have all these a-holes in Washington appeasing to tribalism, getting people to pick sides.

Also to be fair, the house can stop this and go along with the president.

To be honest, I was surprised that they hadn't already compromised on a smaller amount. Say 2.5 billion to start construction on the wall in the most heavily trafficked area.

[~bs]

House Democratic leaders said today that they were prepared to offer President Donald Trump a substantial sum of money for border security — perhaps even the $5.7 billion he has requested — but not for a wall and not until he agreed to reopen the government.

“We are going to be talking about substantial sums of money to secure our border,” Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, told reporters.
------------------------------------
and now this is the level of stupidity we're seeing. they're offering him the funds he's looking for, but needs to be spent on security measures excluding a wall.

[Thrif-t]

I'm not against the wall, but the longer this goes on, and the more I read and think about it, I find myself asking is there another way to protect our border?

Not to sound dumb or ignorant, but it is the 21st century, hasn't anybody invented a force field yet.ha

I mean it seems like there should be something more technologically advanced that we could use besides building a wall. Lasers? I don't know, something??

I hate to see a wall built and then it just get blown up and we have to fix it all the time.

Really there isn't any advanced technology for this situation? I don't know, I'm asking.

[Scallywag]

I'm not against the wall, but the longer this goes on, and the more I read and think about it, I find myself asking is there another way to protect our border?

Not to sound dumb or ignorant, but it is the 21st century, hasn't anybody invented a force field yet.ha

I mean it seems like there should be something more technologically advanced that we could use besides building a wall. Lasers? I don't know, something??

I hate to see a wall built and then it just get blown up and we have to fix it all the time.

Really there isn't any advanced technology for this situation? I don't know, I'm asking.

Not to my knowledge, no, and I have no clue what alternate option there are to the wall - how else are we supposed to secure our borders ??

I think this is really about politics and individual egos now and has nothing to do with reality anymore. We have the right to protect our borders and we need the wall, so I disagree with the Democrats (and I am saying this as a loyal Californian).

However, even more basically, I don't want my son's benefits and the benefits of the other vulnerable people like him held hostage because Congress can't act like adults. I honestly feel that we have a bunch of highschoolers in charge at Washington and I want this farce over yesterday ! We're embarrassing ourselves globally !

[disneysteve]

I think this is really about politics and individual egos now and has nothing to do with reality anymore.

Much of what goes on in DC and in state houses around the country has nothing to do with reality

Folks, I'll throw in another reminder to not get into the political side of this. The question wasn't "should the wall be built?" It was "should federal workers strike?"

[~bs]

I'm not against the wall, but the longer this goes on, and the more I read and think about it, I find myself asking is there another way to protect our border?

Not to sound dumb or ignorant, but it is the 21st century, hasn't anybody invented a force field yet.ha

I mean it seems like there should be something more technologically advanced that we could use besides building a wall. Lasers? I don't know, something??

I hate to see a wall built and then it just get blown up and we have to fix it all the time.

Really there isn't any advanced technology for this situation? I don't know, I'm asking.

this is just my opinion, if youre trying to secure a border, a wall is ideal, along with other security measures. A wall, like other security measures like fences, alarms, cameras, door locks, security bars, etc makes it harder for an intruder to break in. The whitehouse has a huge wall surrounding it, along with lasers, guards, etc etc. because forcing someone to climb over it, tunnel under it, or break it down hinders their progress in crossing the border. The berlin wall was a despised, yet effective barrier, and far more effective than a painted line on the ground with drones and guards would be.

So enormous cost aside, yes a wall is an effective deterrent against someone trying to cross the border.