[saden1]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I perfectly understand your equal protection argument. You may apply "equal protection" when government workers take equal personal risk on behalf of those who are served. On this basis I would find it immoral if the government had shut down, depriving government workers of wages, while members of Congress continued to draw paychecks.

But military and nonmilitary workers do not take equal risks. Risks have to be balanced with rewards. Therefore the equal protection argument is nullified. Besides, there is an issue of compassion. Military families already have to worry about whether Daddy will come home; to deprive them of their wages in such a situation is just downright mean-spirited.

I am a government worker with a non-military job. I would have no problem if the government shut down, depriving me of wages, but the military still got paid. I don't take the risks that others do so I shouldn't be entitled to the same rewards.

You will be alright I'm sure, I wonder if the secretaries and janitors will be. There are a lot of low level government employees who will be hurting and I'm not interested in depriving them of a paycheck while paying military personal. The financial troubles of this country is partly due to the isolation of the military from any cuts and babying them at every turn in budgetary matters while throwing other government employees under the bus. Fck that!