Republicans don't understand why unpaid workers are going to foodbanks and homeless shelters.

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interchange

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,022
2,872
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There probably are some people who would actually go get a loan to float them during the shutdown if they thought of it.

And the statement is either ignorant or morally reprehensible, probably both. The question, though is not so terrible. But only from the angle of "people aren't doing what I think would be reasonable in their shoes, so what am I missing about their situation or my understanding of people different than me"?
 
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FirNaTine

Senior member
Jun 6, 2005
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I think something like almost half of Americans are basically paycheck to paycheck and couldn't absorb a significant unplanned expense. I feel there is a lack of discipline in keeping a reserve fund, and managing your credit/debt so much so that a month's pay missing is putting folks into needing a food bank.

I recently had to absorb about $7k in unexpected auto repair expenses (risk of having two paid off vehicles with about 210,000 miles between them simultaneously need work). But I'd managed my affairs so that I could write a check for it (well two technically). I priced out personal loans to weigh using savings vs loan, and was offered $20k for 3 years around 6-7% (depending on up front fees) with my credit.

And I am a government worker (local) myself in my 30s with a wife (who I love but makes about 1/3rd of what I do) and a very soon to be teenager, two furry kids, a mortgage, etc. I am not some miser living on my own. Neither of us inherited any money or anything else like that either. Whenever something like that comes up, I immediately start working on way to replenish it, by working part time gigs, overtime (including voluntarily working Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's even if my shift is scheduled off), teaching for corporate clients, etc. Maybe some of the folks had drastic stuff come up recently and could not absorb another subsequent hit, but that should be a relatively small group.

Having said that, I'd be going absolutely ape shit about having to tap those reserves because I was being used as a political pawn in a partisan tug of war that is not damaging the players involved.

So I understand what they mean, but saying it that way is completely tone deaf, especially coming from a party not exactly known for being on the side of the average worker.
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,189
14,114
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hahahahhahahahahha...

well no, not really.

Right, not really. I guess this administration would be more comical if it wasn't real. If it was a work of fiction.

Peter Harrell, a senior state department official under Barack Obama, who worked on sanctions against Russia, said: “I’m frankly surprised. Maybe I shouldn’t be, given that with this administration, there seems to be a Russian in every closet.”

Is at least some of this a coincidence or did Trump intentionally pick Russian linked people for his cabinet?
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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If you show up for work, they will be back-paid. I guarantee it.

If you don't show up - you won't be back-paid for it.

I'm not saying this whole situation is right/wrong (see my first reply above) - but no-showing or claiming sick for work (ultimately) isn't going to help you much either. They are pretty much stuck between a rock and hard place - especially if they are broke (due to lack of savings) and have to pay for things like child daycare.

Workers may get the stink eye over calling in sick, but that's it. Normal rules apply & workers know the rules.

It's ridiculous not to pay them when others will get paid for not being there at all.
 
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Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
56,536
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This:
51210404_1505358449608880_99777987276177408_n.jpg
 

FirNaTine

Senior member
Jun 6, 2005
637
182
116
WTF I google Wilbur Ross to get more on this story, and I end up finding this.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/20...s-business-links-putin-family-paradise-papers

Is there anyone in this administration who doesn't have links to sanctioned Russian companies?


"Behind every great fortune is a great crime" is a somewhat simplified version of Balzac's quote, translated from its original French: "The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed."

Fill your cabinet with Billionaires, and you're probably going to be getting criminals along with it. I do realize he originally didn't associate every fortune with a crime, but few folks get that rich without at least shading the lines of what is legal. Some just don't give a shit and do whatever they can get away with.
 
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sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,231
5,806
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They should just move in with their Rich Parents! Stupid Libtards need to be told everything.
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,189
14,114
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"Behind every great fortune is a great crime" is a somewhat simplified version of Balzac's quote, translated from its original French: "The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed."

Fill your cabinet with Billionaires, and you're probably going to be getting criminals along with it. I do realize he originally didn't associate every fortune with a crime, but few folks get that rich without at least shading the lines of what is legal. Some just don't give a shit and do whatever they can get away with.

Yeah, but is every great fortune a function of crime involving Russia specifically? Ross is doing business with Putin's son-in-law. I mean, come on. These links to Russian oligarchs and spies are mind boggling.

The wonder is that I missed that story when it first came out. Then again, who can keep track of all this shit?
 

Lanyap

Elite Member
Dec 23, 2000
8,185
2,232
136
Tampa airport management has been bringing in a food bank group to help the TSA folks who have to work. I dont know what the pay is for airport TSA workers but I can almost guarantee that most of them were barely getting by financially, you know, paycheck to paycheck, no emergency fund, didn't have a spare $400 in case their car broke down, etc.
 

FirNaTine

Senior member
Jun 6, 2005
637
182
116
Yeah, but is every great fortune a function of crime involving Russia specifically? Ross is doing business with Putin's son-in-law. I mean, come on. These links to Russian oligarchs and spies are mind boggling.

The wonder is that I missed that story when it first came out. Then again, who can keep track of all this shit?

Not specifically, no. But I'd imagine if you looked at holdings/dealings of other billionaires, you'll probably find many other questionable deals, with say Chinese companies that also have close ties to a not entirely friendly foreign nation.

I believe it's money over morals for the vast majority of them. With the possible exception of a Warren Buffet type is giving away the vast majority of his wealth, and encouraging others with similar means to do so also.
 
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Indus

Lifer
May 11, 2002
11,868
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What I don't understand is when 11 years ago.. the banks were desperate for cash and the American tax payers helped them out.

Why don't the banks help out the people not getting paychecks?

No quid pro quo?
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,189
14,114
136
Tampa airport management has been bringing in a food bank group to help the TSA folks who have to work. I dont know what the pay is for airport TSA workers but I can almost guarantee that most of them were barely getting by financially, you know, paycheck to paycheck, no emergency fund, didn't have a spare $400 in case their car broke down, etc.


Trump and his people should be thanking these charities instead of just telling the worker's to suck it up. The more misery they experience, the worse it is for Trump and the GOP. Polls are showing that Americans blame Trump and the republicans over the dems by a wide margin.
 

Indus

Lifer
May 11, 2002
11,868
8,282
136
Trump and his people should be thanking these charities instead of just telling the worker's to suck it up. The more misery they experience, the worse it is for Trump and the GOP. Polls are showing that Americans blame Trump and the republicans over the dems by a wide margin.

But.. but..

1548365418278.png
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
What I don't understand is when 11 years ago.. the banks were desperate for cash and the American tax payers helped them out.

Why don't the banks help out the people not getting paychecks?

No quid pro quo?

I'm sure they will to some extent, for a fee, of course. If your credit isn't the greatest, sux to be you. Otherwise, suck it up. Eat shit. Real men can take it. Vote Republican because reasons.
 

VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
7,017
8,545
136
Can't they just get some money from daddy? Or maybe a loan from a Russian oligarch?

Ross mentioned that there are ads for loans for these people. Has anyone else seen any in the wild?

1. Shut down government.
2. Stop paying workers.
3. Offer payday loans to these workers at usurious rates.
4. Profit!
 

esquared

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 8, 2000
23,985
5,128
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Another Wilber Ross statement:
https://news.yahoo.com/wilbur-ross-...rs-turning-food-banks-shutdown-154529250.html

"“I know they are, and I don’t really quite understand why,” Ross said in an interview on CNBC.
Ross, whose net worth in 2016 was estimated to be $2.9 billion, said those workers should seek loans because “the banks and the credit unions should be making credit available to them.”
“True, the people might have to pay a little bit of interest,” Ross added. “But the idea that it’s paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea.”
"
Hey man, no problem. I can just go out and get a loan.
What does this doofus not understand about not getting paid? --->>>>>>>"" But the idea that it’s paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea"

Larry Kudrow:
"Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow repeatedly referred to the government shutdown as a “glitch.”

Kudlow also said that employees working without pay during the impasse were “volunteering.”

Aha, another "glitch". Is this the same "glitch" that cheeto told us when the stock market fell 3,000 points the last month?
Volunteering, I mean every furloughed worker should be outraged at this asshat's insensitive, tone-deaf comments. :rolleyes:



They can now just get loans, to cover for their volunteering which they ride out this glitch.
 

Aegeon

Golden Member
Nov 2, 2004
1,809
125
106
In other news Trump thinks can go to your local supermarket today and run up a tab for groceries which you will pay some time in the future... (We're talking about the grocery store apparently specifically directly extending credit to its customers.)
"Local people know who they are, when they go for groceries and everything else...they will work along."

Clearly the suggestion that Trump is in any out of touch with regular people is utterly preposterous...
 
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Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,119
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If you show up for work, they will be back-paid. I guarantee it.

If you don't show up - you won't be back-paid for it.

I'm not saying this whole situation is right/wrong (see my first reply above) - but no-showing or claiming sick for work (ultimately) isn't going to help you much either. They are pretty much stuck between a rock and hard place - especially if they are broke (due to lack of savings) and have to pay for things like child daycare.

Yes, historically workers have been back paid, but there is no legal guarantee. Thus, to work without guaranteeed compensation is either volunteering or slavery.
 
Nov 8, 2012
20,828
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Yes, historically workers have been back paid, but there is no legal guarantee. Thus, to work without guaranteeed compensation is either volunteering or slavery.

Pretty sure it's a law that if you work hours you must be compensated for said hours.

The only exception would be if a company were to declare bankruptcy... So in the case of the government... there is no exception, they will be paid, end of story. No need to fear-monger.