Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Crip Dyke's avatar

>> Would Washington or Lincoln have tolerated a federal government staying open for business? Apparently not. <<

I don't get why we don't make the case that the 13th Amendment precludes forcing government employees to work when there is no money or commitment to pay them. Sure, historically we have given them their back pay, but if a private employer said to me, "We're in a bit of a cash crunch, so we won't be issuing pay checks for the next 2.5 months, but trust us. We're good for it," there is NO WAY that they'd keep their work force coming to work every day. Some employees would show up, but not nearly enough to make the company run like normal, and they would be the ones who don't have a good option for finding another job, because an employer that does that to you once will do it again (as the federal government has).

This is a 13th Amendment issue. We need to make the argument if we're going to appear to live up to the words that we say supporting labor.

Expand full comment
Tin Kitty, Childless Lady Cat's avatar

One of my dogs just farted himself awake and then barked at his ass angrily. Reminds me of Ol' Chip here...

Expand full comment
287 more comments...

No posts