Summations Only

In my limited experience with government contracting which others are likely to disagree with, the contract period is funded at the time of the notice to proceed.So if the contract goes into effect on January 1 and is for 1 year, the work is fully funded for that year regardless of what happens on October 1 (start of federal fiscal year). But if the shut down hits like this year and the contract doesn't specifically cover shutdowns, the contractor may not get the January 1 renewal and won't be paid for anything between January 1 and when the contract is renewed.One option, if a shut down is foreseen, is to process the renewal way ahead but the money available to pay that contract is likely to be a problem. Usually the agency has to have available money left over from somewhere in the budget.The contractor might take the losses to keep future contracts or may just stop work until the contract is renewed. For something like a prison, I would hope they planned ahead and the contract would automatically renew with some kind of guarantee of payment when the budget is passed.

I think we are going to be suffering for this shutdown for a long time for a reason I haven't seen mentioned.Exodus of workersSince a major reason for working a government job is the security (why I work at a local agency after working private sector).Now that the shutdown has lasted so long, I expect an exodus of federal workers.a. Security is gone
b. Chief executive, political appointees, and some members of Congress denigrate the integrity and value of workers
c. Political correctness is more important than scientific processThose most likely to go are
1. Young as least likely to have the cash cushion to survive a shutdown and without the silver handcuffs of pension & 401k vesting or much vacation accrual
2. Tech skills in demand in private sector or more stable (prosperous) states & localities
3. Management skills in demand in private sector or more stable (prosperous) states & localitiesStaying
a. Those near retirement
b. Limited skilled that can't find other jobs
c. Those in remote areas with limited options without movingSo why should we care
1. Skills and institutional knowledge lost
2. Manpower needs may force private sector contractingI have worked federal service, private consulting, local agency. For work that is ongoing and doesn't need skills in very short supply, contracting out work is usually more expensive than inhouse government work. Contracting costs, oversight costs, profit and more generous salaries & benefits add up to more than the inhouse cost.

Yesterday a deal was struck between President Trump and Democrats in Congress to reopen the government until February 15th so that border security can be debated, here's the Fox News article: Trump signs bill ending government shutdownThis is a bad deal for America because Trump is just preparing to take another run at pinning the blame on Democrats for what will be the February 15th government shutdown. Democrats should have insisted that Trump reopen the government, period. No temporary reopening. If there is any doubt that Trump sees the February 15th deadline as another opportunity to get his wall, here is Mr. Trump in his own words:

quote:

---

As everyone knows I have a very powerful alternative but I'm not going to use it at this time. If we don't get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on February 15 again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency. We will have great security.

---

Most people are in favor of maintaining and improving security along our southern border, but in Trump's mind border security is a wall, and if he doesn't get his wall through negotiations then he will shut down the government again, this time hoping to set the stage for blame landing on the Democrats. Trump has no intention of negotiating in good faith. He will just hold out for his wall.What we should all want is not a win for Democrats or Republicans or Trump but a win for America. That means a funded government on the one hand, and the normal legislative process on the other where Congress and the executive branch negotiate legislation without threats and hostages.--Percy

The commentators talking about a far-right agenda to privatize all the functions of government (so that they can form those private companies and make tons of money) point to the creation of these situations as actions in support of that agenda towards their goal.According to the commentators, Trump's efforts to make working for the government increasingly difficult, miserable, and even unbearable results in early retirements, fewer recruits, and defections to private industry for better benefits. One (Thom Hartman?) had an air traffic controller supervisor as a guest on his radio show describing how the government is mismanaging them and the effects on morale and how that's causing them to lose personnel and to drive recruits away which in turns makes the situation even worse. The commentator described how that plays into the agenda to privatize in that it gives the privatizers more justification to privatize.Of course, another question is whether this administration is doing that as part of a long-range plan to privatize, or out of sheer incompetence.

So apparently Trump's recent rambling descriptions of women being tied up and gagged with blue duct tape, Mexican cartels with super cars crossing the border and a bunch of other nonsense is from the movie Sicario, the Day of the Soldado.CNN Investigates: Does Trump Get His Border Talking Points From Movies?More signs of the stable genius in action.

Thanks. You just HAD to bring that up.It's bad enough knowing he's screwing over the nation and the entire world. I really didn't need to know how bonkers this guy really is.Every time I think, "Really? Is this guy really that damn dense?" he comes up with crap like this.It scares me. Remember, we gotta get through two more years of this moron.Edited by AZPaul3, : No reason given.

then don't read the articles about his disagreements with the heads of his intelligence agencies. What an idiot

Yep, after the 1st couple weeks I started waking up, "wondering what new outrage he will commit today?"Now it's, " How many outrages will there be today?"And today McConnell says the Dems wanting to make election day a national holiday is a power grab.The Trump parasite has infected McConnell and is eating his brain.

Ahhh ... yeah ... too late.Maybe M'lady Faith is right and this is god's judgement upon a wicked nation.Sure feels like it. 'cept for the god part.

Well of course he did.Your just all full of good news aren't ya.

Ooo! ooo! Me... I know this one!Yes.Do I get a cookie?

quote:

---

And today McConnell says the Dems wanting to make election day a national holiday is a power grab.

---

Of course it is. Why do you think that the Republicans are trying to discourage people from voting ? (Especially poor people and ethnic minority people).

quote:

---

"From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!"
-- Woody Allen's Bananas (1971)

---

Reality has become so absurd, it's no wonder Woody isn't funny any more.

Yep, "government of the people ,by the people, and for the people is not something republicans believe or support.After all, poverty is a character flaw, and the wealthy have earned the right to control government.

I remember how, at one of Obama's SOTU addresses, a Republican shouted, "Liar!" Now we have a President who always lies, so how should that be handled?One thought would be for all observers to yell, "Liar!", every time Trump lies.Another thought comes from GoT. Have a nun stand before Trump with a bell. Every time Trump lies, she would ring the bell and shout, "Shame!"One thing that we absolutely must not do would be to turn the watching the SOTU into a drinking game, taking a drink each time Trump lies. I would not want to lose anyone to alcohol poisoning.