The Sequester Strikes its First Victims! - Page 4

piercehawkeye45 · 03-15-2013, 09:27 AM

I think it was a bad idea for Democrats to cry out that the sequester would lead to the apocalypse. That obviously is not true but the sequester cuts will further the slow disintegration of our foundation, which, in my opinion, is even more dangerous for our country. A few job losses here and there won't produce an emotional reaction but they do add up and can be very damaging in the long run...

I personally know a few people who lost research positions (healthcare related) because of the cuts..

glatt · 03-15-2013, 09:59 AM

I have a friend who is a captain in the Coast Guard, and he had a planned trip to London for meetings there. He's in charge of the branch of the Coast Guard that oversees port security, including international supply chain stuff. I was talking briefly with him last night at a concert our kids were putting on, and he said the London trip had been cancelled due to the sequester. I suppose he can make phone calls and send emails instead of doing those meetings in London, but I think there is something lost when government leaders don't talk to their colleagues face to face once in awhile.

I could give you half a dozen similar stories from various friends I have here in Arlington. Mostly they are making cuts like this that aren't super painful but that do slightly harm the mission of these government agencies.

Griff · 05-03-2013, 05:20 PM

So the Head Start kids we provide therapies for are losing 2 weeks of class. We are still contractually/legally obligated to get them their services for the full time period. That means my department is going to take the financial hit to bus the children in, provide supervision, put together a classroom for kids with that on their IEP's, and whatever else pops up. I found this out after I had to send my aides home this week when their kids didn't show. We used to just put them on overhead for the day, but the squeeze is on, but at least no rich white guy had a flight delay.

IamSam · 05-03-2013, 09:19 PM

Those reports on the cuts in the Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors are true - at least here. I went straight to the horse's mouth and called up the Director of the Montezuma County program. She told me the cuts were starting to hurt quite a few of our elderly folk here who depend on it. Everyone was rescued at the last moment (for now) when a compassionate businessman with the money to donate, gave our County meals on wheels program $10,000, so they could keep going another 6 months. Nice to know that there are human beings out there who don't share Congress's attitude of "Let the eat airline meals."

Griff · 05-04-2013, 08:04 AM

I'm less annoyed by the sequester than by the attempts to opt out certain powerful constituencies. McCain whining about cuts to our absurdly large military etc... At this point with the way we do budgets a meat ax is probably preferable to targeted cuts.

Clodfobble · 05-04-2013, 08:30 AM

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the sequester was the plan all along? Both sides knew they needed to cave, both sides didn't want to be seen by their supporters as being the ones to cave, so they work together to draw up a doomsday plan that is actually pretty similar to what it would look like if they both caved, but set it up so that both sides could completely blame the other guy for making it happen.

Too conspiracy-theory?

Griff · 05-04-2013, 08:36 AM

It certainly became more palatable than doing actual work on a budget. Maybe so.

IamSam · 05-06-2013, 11:28 PM

And now, everyone who is unemployed, come on down! I just got a letter informing me that due to the sequester, unemployment "benefits" will be cut by close to 19% - for starters. The letter said they'd keep us posted on further developments. Good of them, I'm sure.

Let's see; gas to go look for work or pay the electricity bill? Decisions, decisions. At least I won't have to worry about flying anywhere any time soon.

BigV · 05-15-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

snip--

We used to just put them on overhead for the day, but the squeeze is on, but at least no rich white guy had a flight delay.

THIS grinds my gears.

infinite monkey · 05-15-2013, 01:39 PM

It is gear-grinding, but honestly I was trying to understand what was being said and I thought Griff was saying that on flights they would put something (kids?) in the overhead (compartment) for the day.

Sorry.

03-15-2013, 09:27 AM	#46
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	I think it was a bad idea for Democrats to cry out that the sequester would lead to the apocalypse. That obviously is not true but the sequester cuts will further the slow disintegration of our foundation, which, in my opinion, is even more dangerous for our country. A few job losses here and there won't produce an emotional reaction but they do add up and can be very damaging in the long run... I personally know a few people who lost research positions (healthcare related) because of the cuts.. __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

05-03-2013, 05:20 PM	#48
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	So the Head Start kids we provide therapies for are losing 2 weeks of class. We are still contractually/legally obligated to get them their services for the full time period. That means my department is going to take the financial hit to bus the children in, provide supervision, put together a classroom for kids with that on their IEP's, and whatever else pops up. I found this out after I had to send my aides home this week when their kids didn't show. We used to just put them on overhead for the day, but the squeeze is on, but at least no rich white guy had a flight delay. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

05-03-2013, 09:19 PM	#49
IamSam Now living the life of a POW Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: The Lost Corners of Colorado Posts: 202	Those reports on the cuts in the Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors are true - at least here. I went straight to the horse's mouth and called up the Director of the Montezuma County program. She told me the cuts were starting to hurt quite a few of our elderly folk here who depend on it. Everyone was rescued at the last moment (for now) when a compassionate businessman with the money to donate, gave our County meals on wheels program $10,000, so they could keep going another 6 months. Nice to know that there are human beings out there who don't share Congress's attitude of "Let the eat airline meals." __________________ This space left intentionally blank.

05-04-2013, 08:04 AM	#50
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I'm less annoyed by the sequester than by the attempts to opt out certain powerful constituencies. McCain whining about cuts to our absurdly large military etc... At this point with the way we do budgets a meat ax is probably preferable to targeted cuts. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

05-04-2013, 08:30 AM	#51
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Am I the only one who thinks maybe the sequester was the plan all along? Both sides knew they needed to cave, both sides didn't want to be seen by their supporters as being the ones to cave, so they work together to draw up a doomsday plan that is actually pretty similar to what it would look like if they both caved, but set it up so that both sides could completely blame the other guy for making it happen. Too conspiracy-theory? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

03-15-2013, 09:59 AM	#47
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I have a friend who is a captain in the Coast Guard, and he had a planned trip to London for meetings there. He's in charge of the branch of the Coast Guard that oversees port security, including international supply chain stuff. I was talking briefly with him last night at a concert our kids were putting on, and he said the London trip had been cancelled due to the sequester. I suppose he can make phone calls and send emails instead of doing those meetings in London, but I think there is something lost when government leaders don't talk to their colleagues face to face once in awhile. I could give you half a dozen similar stories from various friends I have here in Arlington. Mostly they are making cuts like this that aren't super painful but that do slightly harm the mission of these government agencies.

05-04-2013, 08:36 AM	#52
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	It certainly became more palatable than doing actual work on a budget. Maybe so. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

05-06-2013, 11:28 PM	#53
IamSam Now living the life of a POW Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: The Lost Corners of Colorado Posts: 202	And now, everyone who is unemployed, come on down! I just got a letter informing me that due to the sequester, unemployment "benefits" will be cut by close to 19% - for starters. The letter said they'd keep us posted on further developments. Good of them, I'm sure. Let's see; gas to go look for work or pay the electricity bill? Decisions, decisions. At least I won't have to worry about flying anywhere any time soon. __________________ This space left intentionally blank.

05-15-2013, 01:39 PM	#55
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	It is gear-grinding, but honestly I was trying to understand what was being said and I thought Griff was saying that on flights they would put something (kids?) in the overhead (compartment) for the day. Sorry.

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