I'm just going to put it out there that birth control pills are used for things other than contraception. They are prescribed for regulating cycles, mitigating terrible debilitating cramps, and treating PMS/PMDD symptoms.
If you are anti-birth-control coverage, then you are pro-PMS. You don't get to complain about women being crazy and hormonal and kicking you in the nuts while their bodies are going crazy.
This was the kind of response was going to write to Steve, but thought a female would be better at it.
I will say at my area, upper management has been furloughed and is not here. My immeadiate supervisor is here and if I take any leave it will pretty much be in an AWOL sort of status depending up approval of my supervisor.
For myself, upper and lower management is still around, but their minions are not. Anyone who falls under Administrative Assistant, Payroll, Human Resources, or a similar roll has been furloughed. I somehow doubt that, even if the worst happens, the rest of us would be furloughed. How about you, Ro?
I honestly wish I could be non-essential because then I can actually apply for Washington State unemployment benefits if this last longer than a month.
Have you checked with your supervisor? A lot of the people I work with have the same worry, but they've been told they can qualify for unemployment. I don't know the specifics, and it might be department specific, but it's worth checking out if you haven't.
Or to take the conversation another way; Who here has been directly affected by the shutdown so far?
We know that Ro is getting the short end of the stick. Is anyone else starting to feel some unpleasant impacts on a personal level?
Not getting paid sucks donkey dong, but I've got enough squirreled away that I haven't felt the worst of the situation. at least not yet. If/When we go over the cliff however...yeah, not looking forward to that at all.
I'm an essential employee who needs to work, but not get paid for it for the time being. Because I'm technically showing up for work, I do not believe I qualify for Washington state unemployment benefits. I'll have to double check on that. It's the people who are non-essential that get that benefit.
Yes, it makes no sense. I have much ire. Much much ire in me.
Maybe it's an Oregon thing then, though that doesn't make a lick of sense either. *shrug*
What are the odds on the non-furloughed workers getting some type of PTO equivalent to what the furloughed workers are getting?
Edit: I thought you were talking about OT and not paid time-off. According to my supervisors, we will be paid, eventually, as long as we keep coming into work.
What are the odds on the non-furloughed workers getting some type of PTO equivalent to what the furloughed workers are getting?
None from what I understand, it all depends on what Congress allows, but I heard that over the weekend they passed something onto the Senate to backpay those workers. Don't know the status of it.
I heard about paying the furloughed workers but what about the rest of you who are not getting the mini paid vacation? Seems very unfair to give the furloughed workers what is essentially paid time off and not give the people who are at work an equivalent amount of paid time off.
This is one of my gripes. I don't think there is a simple solution. I don't mind working, in hopes I will get back pay along with accrued leave that is due, however I also wouldn't mind a few days off.
Right now I really am trying not to rock the boat because I've only been at this job for 3 months now, even though I'm a vested 10 year employee with the VA.
Where'd you start at in the VA? I've been thinking of leaving where I am right now, but still want to stay with the government (though that might change depending on how this plays out).
Where'd you start at in the VA? I've been thinking of leaving where I am right now, but still want to stay with the government (though that might change depending on how this plays out).
The VHA (Medical Center) side. I was a lowly program support clerk that worked on the phones. Eventually I got promoted in the medical reimbursement portion of it. Now I work for the VBA (benefits/claims) side. Tons of upward mobility that is bargaining. Up to a GS12/13 bargaining. That's crazy.
On a related note... Is there anything in your union contract about the shutdown, furloughs and working without pay?
That's one of my concerns. We did not have union representation during the announcements along with handing out of paperwork. I need to read the Master Agreement to find out more information.
If they can force you to work without pay and everyone who was furloughed will be getting paid for the furlough time then why furlough anyone? Why not just call everyone back now?
Why is no one blaming Rym for sending the discussion in this direction? He's the one who brought up abortion and birth control.
No, the Republicans do on a regular basis. It's only an issue for them.
Apparently it's an issue for you. Steve simply said that they believe in restriction of Federal Government, which sent you spiraling off into Abortionland with no direct connection.
Well, there is a bit of a philosophical connection in that while the GOP claims to be against government interference in personal liberties, they make grand exceptions in these areas.
Well, there is a bit of a philosophical connection in that while the GOP claims to be against government interference in personal liberties, they make grand exceptions in these areas.
Exactly. The Republicans are the party of keeping government out of your lives unless you're gay, a woman, or a nonchristian, in which case they want the government to come down into your life like the fist of an angry god.
I feel like it's moreso the party of "harping on polarizing fundamental moral issues allows us to maintain reliable voter loyalty and predictability, making us a good financial investment for wealthy special interest groups."
Well, there is a bit of a philosophical connection in that while the GOP claims to be against government interference in personal liberties, they make grand exceptions in these areas.
Exactly. The Republicans are the party of keeping government out of your lives unless you're gay, a woman, or a nonchristian, in which case they want the government to come down into your life like the fist of an angry god.
Okay, but explain to me how that is relevant to the post you responded to:
Remember, the Republicans are the party that believes the federal government is inherently bad. Anything they can do to make it more dysfunctional benefits them in (their perceived) long run.
They push repeatedly for federal restrictions on gay rights, abortion rights, contraceptive access, planned parenthood, and so forth. They only push additionally in states because that is increasingly the last bastion of their bullshit.
They push repeatedly for federal restrictions on gay rights, abortion rights, contraceptive access, planned parenthood, and so forth. They only push additionally in states because that is increasingly the last bastion of their bullshit.
And now we have a connection. Now if we could have had this two pages ago, maybe the discussion would've made a tad more sense.
The Tea Party wing is like some weird neo-secessionist movement. I wouldn't call them the confederacy reborn because I don't think they are that smart and I don't think they want to form a new country out of multiple states leaving the union.
They have these strange and mostly incoherent views on the role government. Sometimes I wonder if they consider research to be looking at the first page of Google results. They also suffer from an inability to see the larger picture.
As for Rym's new list:
Gay rights: yes, they do fight against gay rights based on their view of morality cloaked in a religious blanket. They are coming along (albeit kicking and screaming) and have moved from direct opposition to the 'let the people vote on it' responsibility dodge.
Abortion rights: do we need to even discuss this? When two 'rights' collide who's rights trump whose? At least their stance is based on something positive and not simply the 'Republicans hate women's rights' BS some people believe.
Contraceptive access : really? Access? Since when is asking people to pay for something the same as blocking access? According to Planned Parenthood the pill costs about $15 to $50 a month. That is hardly a hardship and no Republicans I am aware of are trying to block access to the pill.
Planned Parenthood: this one is based on Republican's mistaken belief that PP is some kind of an abortion factory. It's like they think women are out there getting pregnant just so they can go to PP and get an abortion. Sorry, but I know women that have gotten abortions and none of them saw it as an enjoyable experience but they were glad a safe option was available. It probably doesn't help PP that they are politically aligned with the Democrats.
As for the 'repeatedly push for federal restrictions...' Are they pushing for new restrictions or fighting to keep the existing ones in place?
I feel like it's moreso the party of "harping on polarizing fundamental moral issues allows us to maintain reliable voter loyalty and predictability, making us a good financial investment for wealthy special interest groups."
Abortion rights: do we need to even discuss this? When two 'rights' collide who's rights trump whose? At least their stance is based on something positive and not simply the 'Republicans hate women's rights' BS some people believe.
Fetuses are not people. They do not have rights.
Contraceptive access : really? Access? Since when is asking people to pay for something the same as blocking access? According to Planned Parenthood the pill costs about $15 to $50 a month. That is hardly a hardship and no Republicans I am aware of are trying to block access to the pill.
$50 can be about four days' worth of food for one person, so it's not necessarily "hardly" a hardship for families with virtually no discretionary income. However, what's more important is educating people and making these things physically available (i.e. easy to find and acquire) so that people actually use them, which is a bit of a problem and something Republicans oppose because it's "promoting sex".
Among many dudebro-worthy parts of that post, this one jumps out at me. You're wrong, man.
Well I say! Mister Starfox, how can you have such contempt for the truth? Truly it is but a pittance to an enterprising young worker in our great and prosperous nation! Why, one need not even take the time to go to the pharmacist's oneself. Simply send a servant or batman to take care of the errand!
Comments
Yes, it makes no sense. I have much ire. Much much ire in me.
Right now I really am trying not to rock the boat because I've only been at this job for 3 months now, even though I'm a vested 10 year employee with the VA.
If they can force you to work without pay and everyone who was furloughed will be getting paid for the furlough time then why furlough anyone? Why not just call everyone back now?
They have these strange and mostly incoherent views on the role government. Sometimes I wonder if they consider research to be looking at the first page of Google results. They also suffer from an inability to see the larger picture.
As for Rym's new list:
Gay rights: yes, they do fight against gay rights based on their view of morality cloaked in a religious blanket. They are coming along (albeit kicking and screaming) and have moved from direct opposition to the 'let the people vote on it' responsibility dodge.
Abortion rights: do we need to even discuss this? When two 'rights' collide who's rights trump whose? At least their stance is based on something positive and not simply the 'Republicans hate women's rights' BS some people believe.
Contraceptive access : really? Access? Since when is asking people to pay for something the same as blocking access? According to Planned Parenthood the pill costs about $15 to $50 a month. That is hardly a hardship and no Republicans I am aware of are trying to block access to the pill.
Planned Parenthood: this one is based on Republican's mistaken belief that PP is some kind of an abortion factory. It's like they think women are out there getting pregnant just so they can go to PP and get an abortion. Sorry, but I know women that have gotten abortions and none of them saw it as an enjoyable experience but they were glad a safe option was available. It probably doesn't help PP that they are politically aligned with the Democrats.
As for the 'repeatedly push for federal restrictions...' Are they pushing for new restrictions or fighting to keep the existing ones in place?