Faced with a shutdown, federal workers turn to prayer and preparedness

[cbayer]

Last edited Mon Sep 30, 2013, 11:50 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-workers-turn-to-prayer-and-preparedness/2013/09/29/6f7a6618-2943-11e3-b139-029811dbb57f_story.html


Behind the scenes of the shutdown debate: Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are scrambling before the Oct. 1 deadline. If a spending plan isn’t passed, many federal agencies will close their doors.

By Emily Wax-Thibodeaux and Lisa Rein, Published: September 29

They spent Sunday checking their bank balances. They talked with loved ones about which bills could be paid late. And they wondered whether working for the government was still a stable job.

For federal workers across the country, it was an anxiety-ridden weekend as the government came closer to a partial shutdown at midnight Monday.

The threat of an extended loss of pay is hitting a workforce already battered by a three-year wage freeze, months of furloughs forced by the budget cuts known as sequestration and a dimmed perception of government work among many Americans.

At Washington’s National Zoo, where thousands of visitors jostled to see images of the newborn panda, electrician Stephen Gripper planned to check the lighting in the Great Cats exhibit.

Then he was going to bow his head and pray.

more at link

[trotsky]

1. For every government worker doing that,

there are probably 3 or 4 right-wing Christians who pray daily for Obama and the government to fail.

Whose god will win?

[hrmjustin]

11. Hopefully the God of Goverment workers.

[Jim__]

2. Link?

[cbayer]

3. Thanks, Jim. Added it. sorry about that.

[Jim__]

4. Thanks. Interesting article - it shows how this shut down affects people.

[cbayer]

5. Exactly. It made it personal and that had an impact on me.

This is a shameful thing.

[skepticscott]

6. I'm sure you'll be back

To give god and the prayers of "liberal", "progressive" religionists all the credit if a shutdown is avoided. But no blame if it isn't. Or perhaps you'll give credit to a "coalition" of believers and non-believers. Anything to make this about religion and "faith communities".

[shraby]

7. If prayer worked, WWII would have looked a lot different.

[cbayer]

8. Agree, but it is a reflection of how afraid people directly affected by this are.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. In a more normal country a shutdown like this would have the people out in the streets protesting.

Not praying to fictitious sky beings.

[cbayer]

10. I wouldn't write off street protests just yet.

As to the praying, I think it is merely an indication of how anxious those directly affected by this are.

[dimbear]

12. Those who depend on the govmint for food might consider fasting instead of prayer.

More practical.

[cbayer]

13. Not funny. These are real people who may in fact have to fast

in order to get their children something to eat.

They are in a terrible position over which they have absolutely no control. They are not going to get paid.

If praying gives them some comfort, so what?

[dimbear]

14. Humor can give comfort too. If there was any there, however, it got stepped on. n/t

[cbayer]

15. I don't think the real victims of this are going to see the humor.

OTOH, they may get some comfort from their faith if they are believers.

And how does that hurt anyone?

[Hydepier]

16. Suddenly, each and every crass selfish experience by Chrisitan Congressional Republicans becomes

a moment for religion to show a bright side.

People faced with not being able to pay their mortgage, not being able to buy groceries this weekend

Somehow religion has something to do with this, in a positive way?

People who are desperate do what they have been taught to do since they were first afraid at 5-10 years old, Pray!

Somehow, some people feel that this is the best that religions have taught us in the last 3000 years?

Somehow, a very self-centered moment of Republicans in our nation's history becomes somehow infused with some sort of religious significance?

Why does this thread appear in a forum dedicate to the rational and infromational discussion of various religions? Are there any lessons to be learned here? For the faithful, for the people of no faith, what does a failure in Americans' system of governance have to offer us about the topic of religion, other than some people resort to primitive means to fix problems?

[cbayer]

17. I just got off the phone with my furloughed daughter.

It's really bad for a lot of people.

When people feel powerless and are being harmed by forces well beyond their control, they are welcome to take comfort in whatever helps them, imo. They are not even permitted to speak to each other or check their e-mails.

If it's prayer, so be it. If it's watching mindless movies, like my daughter plans to do, that's cool too.

What difference does it make to you personally?

The thread belongs here because it talks about how individuals that are being directly impacted are trying to cope with this and some of them are being bolstered by their faith.

Wouldn't work for you? No problem. Don't pray.