Working for Free is Not Free

Free Labor is Still Labor

Look closely at the image, as you are one of the only two people in an office.

Now, place a uniform on the two people in the picture — what do you have? U.S. Service Members all over the world are protecting America’s freedom without receiving the pay necessary to support their families, and what they earn. Place yourself in that picture: not being paid, but issuing Social Security checks, paying the government’s bills, and completing whatever tasks you are assigned. What is this called? Being an ‘Essential Worker,’ without the essential necessity of pay. Someone still has to labor.

The Reality of Government Shutdowns

The main people impacted by the government shutdown are the unpaid workers and the rest of us who fund the government through our taxes. Ponder this, if you will:

1. Why are we still paying federal taxes for services not rendered?
2. If the military and Essential Workers are working, why aren’t they receiving pay?
3. If Congress is in recess and has been for six weeks, why are they still receiving pay?
4. If the Congress and Senate are ‘Essential Federal Workers,’ why are they so much better than the rest of the GS workers and are still receiving pay?
5. Why are we still conducting costly and unnecessary federal government operations? Some examples are: rampant deportation operations and using the military as law enforcement tasks against other countries. Also, building a very ostentatious ballroom that none of us will ever be invited to.

Even the rumor of a shutdown negatively impacts people’s behavior. Shopping at the commissary as a young lieutenant on October 1, 1988, an announcement was made over the PA system:

“Military checks will be late and payday will not be until October 6, 1988, rather than October 1, due to issues with the CRA (Continuing Resolution Authority).”

Since it was October 1st, we looked at our shopping carts and then each other, and began walking away. Why, you might ask? Because junior Soldiers, their families, and junior leaders cannot afford to spend money they do not have.

Read what President Ronald Reagan said about freedom:

As you consider the questions above, also ruminate on the second, third-, and fourth-order effects of an extended government shutdown.

How does a government shutdown impact you? What are you willing to do about it?

#governmentshutdown #nopay #foodbanks