Why do we have non-essential gov't workers?

[ViciousAequitas]

With the government shutdown now in 'full effect,' it begs the question (from an economic standpoint, if nothing else) as to why we have so many 'non-essential' government workers. Logically, it would seem that if someone's job is not important, then there really is no need to keep paying that individual to perform a job that is not needed. With over 800,000 of our government employees now deemed non-essential by their very own employer, shouldn't the American people be looking for a much better return on their investment than simply continuing to pay billions of dollars each year to those who are 'essentially' not important?



cnn.com/2013/10/01/politics/government-shutdown/

[Grizzly Willy]

Non-essential doesn't mean that they don't serve a purpose.

[Reeve]

There are lots of things the government does that are useful and good, but not "essential," especially in the short term. Like National Parks. Could the country continue to operate without them? Sure. Should it? Hell no!

[Spectral]

The term "essential" basically means, "if this person isn't here, something bad will happen immediately". Here's a few example of people that are "non-essential", but you'd probably regard as a reasonable investment of money:

- NIH Scientists
- NASA Scientists
- Smithsonian Curators and visitor staff
- Park Rangers
- Passport Administrators

[Stir]

Policy-makers are non-essential during a time where there is no policy to be made.
One could say that it's not actually the employees being 'non-essential;' it's your politicians hindering the work of otherwise essential functions.

[Grizzly Willy]

The term "essential" basically means, "if this person isn't here, something bad will happen immediately". Here's a few example of people that are "non-essential", but you'd probably regard as a reasonable investment of money:

- NIH Scientists
- NASA Scientists
- Smithsonian curators and visitor staff
- Park rangers
- Passport Administrators

Just means we need to shutter NASA and every park, nature reserve, and museum.

[Kraenen]

who are you to say what is essential or not?

[Spectral]

who are you to say what is essential or not?

That's kind of an odd answer. The OP asked an honest question using the phrasing that's used by the government. It's a fair enough question - if a position isn't essential, why should we have it? I think the answer is obvious once someone hears it, but maybe not beforehand. There's no need for hostility at this point.

[Duravian]

Non-essential doesn't mean that they don't serve a purpose.

No but it can mean that some of those purposes are a complete waste of money and effort to support.

[DrStiglit]

No but it can mean that some of those purposes are a complete waste of money and effort to support.

I just want to prove your signature wrong..

OT:

Like people have said, "essential" just means what they absolutely need to run. Think about what you do at work. Would your company shut down if you left? No? Then you are "non-essential". If it would then you would be "essential".

[vaeevictiss]

I consider the president and all the other DC bigshots to be non-essential yet they are continuing to get paid. Hell, the non-essential people were all people who actually work. When was the last time the President, Congress, Senate etc did anything that even resembled work?

They stopped paying the wrong people.

Hell i can pick some guys up on the corner in Woodbridge that can get more work done in a day than these flunkies do in a year.

[DrStiglit]

I consider the president and all the other DC bigshots to be non-essential yet they are continuing to get paid. Hell, the non-essential people were all people who actually work. When was the last time the President, Congress, Senate etc did anything that even resembled work?

They stopped paying the wrong people.

Hell i can pick some guys up on the corner in Woodbridge that can get more work done in a day than these flunkies do in a year.

I sit at a computer all day and play with numbers, does that mean that I also don't "work"?

[Kraenen]

That's kind of an odd answer. The OP asked an honest question using the phrasing that's used by the government. It's a fair enough question - if a position isn't essential, why should we have it? I think the answer is obvious once someone hears it, but maybe not beforehand. There's no need for hostility at this point.

who are you to decide that though?

[Self Inflicted Wounds]

Why isn't NASA essential? WTF?

[DrStiglit]

Why isn't NASA essential? WTF?

Because we don't need to explore space in order for our country to function?

[smelltheglove]

by "essential" they are only referring to immediate needs, not all needs. it's like the difference between living on vitamin supplements and eating real food

[chrisberb]

who are you to decide that though?

None of us here are deciding what is essential, the government has already decided who is and isn't "essential."
It seems the OP either doesn't understand what the term "non-essential" means, or this thread is a tongue in cheek stab at the government.
When NJ State Govt shut down a few years ago, being as I worked at the DMV, I was "non-essential", but the state police and people at hospitals went to work, as they are "essential".
I didn't decide that, the state did.

[Self Inflicted Wounds]

Because we don't need to explore space in order for our country to function?

I guess essential is rather subjective. They do a lot more than explore space he he =p

[Zecora]

With the government shutdown now in 'full effect,' it begs the question (from an economic standpoint, if nothing else) as to why we have so many 'non-essential' government workers. Logically, it would seem that if someone's job is not important, then there really is no need to keep paying that individual to perform a job that is not needed. With over 800,000 of our government employees now deemed non-essential by their very own employer, shouldn't the American people be looking for a much better return on their investment than simply continuing to pay billions of dollars each year to those who are 'essentially' not important?

Non-essential =/= non-important. Your sense of smell is non-essential in your everyday life, as is your sense of taste. Doesn't mean you'd function as well without them.

/thread.

[chrisberb]

Non-essential =/= non-important. Your sense of smell is non-essential in your everyday life, as is your sense of taste. Doesn't mean you'd function as well without them.

/thread.

Well actually, i'm completely blind and deaf, so I rely heavily on my sense of smell to help me when i'm driving or walking around through minefields with my army platoon.