Government shutdown "not a game"

I know there are a lot of people that are upset over the government shutdown and all the implications coming from that. There are a lot that don’t know when their next paycheck is coming and I find that incredibly infuriating. There are some that have been furloughed, some that are considered ‘essential’ personnel that have to work yet won’t receive pay and yet more that don’t know if they will actually get to go back to work. All over political parties inability to come to an agreement on a spending budget.

I had it brought to my attention tonight that even with the Pay Our Military Act signed into law that DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) is not paying any military members until they receive ‘further instruction’. I’m not sure how much more instruction an agency can get as to paying its employees. This was not the correct answer to give to hundreds of thousands of soldiers and their families. Unacceptable DFAS. Completely unacceptable. I’m glad you are aware of the Act, now you need to act upon that.

In other news, the members of Senate have been ‘forced to operate their own elevators’. I read this and my first thought was, “Well, the rest of us commoners must operate OUR own elevators as well.” Maybe that was the wrong attitude to have, but I found that statement to be completely emblazoned with a sense of superiority over others. To read that the Senators are ‘having to be amateur tour guides’ while leading groups of people through the Statuary Room upset me even more. Amateur? These are the very people who should know these rooms and the history encapsulated in those very rooms BEST! Rep. Steve King was quoted as saying, “You get a chance to talk to them and see how much they appreciate this building and this country.” Wow. You ‘get a chance to talk to them’. I’m sorry, but aren’t these the SAME people who helped get you to where you are? Shouldn’t THESE be the people you talk to?

And another Representative was saying that he was having to be his own receptionist and answer HIS OWN PHONE. Well, there’s a novel idea, chap! I vote you answer your own phone every single day. I bet your constituents’ would love to know that should they call and give their opinion on a bill, that it actually be their representative on the other end listening. It’s a crazy idea, I know! House Speaker John Boehner was quoted as saying, “This is not a damn game.” Yet, what was behind him? A brand new printed poster (apparently the print shop is considered essential) with #demandavote. Another one was #justvote. Yet another one was #letstalk. Funny Mr. Speaker, it sure looks like this is nothing BUT a game.

Congress is having a ‘rare’ weekend session in order to at least try to give the appearance that they actually care about the people of this country. I find it funny that they don’t have more weekend sessions. I firmly believe that if the average American is working six days a week, that our elected officials should also be working that much. I am of the belief that the people of this country need to have an awakening of our own and start shouting our voices and let them be heard! I know that I have personally called my representative and shared my own opinion. I have begun writing letters and signing petitions. I have a voice, it’s a loud one, and I fully intend on it being heard!

You are correct Mr. Speaker. This is indeed, NOT a game. So, STOP PLAYING IT LIKE ONE! For once, erase the invisible line that separates one political party from another and WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER OF THE PEOPLE YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE!