How Has Your Life Been Adversely Affected by the Sequestration?

[Indy Coug]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...006361834.html

Consider the numbers: According to the Congressional Budget Office, annual outlays peaked at $3.598 trillion in fiscal 2011. After President Obama's first two years in office, many in Washington expected that number to hit $4 trillion by 2014. Instead, spending fell to $3.537 trillion in fiscal 2012, and is on pace to fall below $3.45 trillion by the end of this fiscal year (Sept. 30). The $150 billion budget decline of 4% is the first time federal expenditures have fallen for two consecutive years since the end of the Korean War.

Place your anecdotes here:

[BigFatMeanie]

To the best of my knowledge, it's been affected not at all.

[Bo Diddley]

As a govt employee, perhaps I've been affected the most. We've had training shut-down due to the spending cuts. Everything seems to take longer when you're working with the DOD civilians since they've been working less hours. I'm still waiting on my promotion. I've also had my budget cut, so I've had to procure less this year.

I think the biggest effects will be down the road. There's going to be a lot of pressure on personnel accounts, to compete with the other operatrional and procurement accounts. So I expect to make less over time and through retirement than Iwould have without the spending cuts. That's not a complaint, it's just how it is.

[Guest]

As a govt employee, it's been greatly affected. Everything from furloughs to scheduling issues at work.

[byu71]

the market has responded nicely.

[wuapinmon]

The student loan issue was looming on the horizon, but Coker has record enrollment this year, so I can't say that it's hit me at all.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Two of my best employees at my last job just got laid off. They want me to hire them and I can't afford it.

[Surfah]

I was laid off because of it.

[Uncle Ted]

As a DoD sub-contractor things are getting tight with the government. The good news is we also have new money coming in from a private source.


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[Jacob]

Not one iota.
Keep the sequester! Then cut another 5%.

[happyone]

Yes,

I was one of those who got days off with out pay.

However the scheduled 22 days was reduced to 11 and last week they told us it was only going to be 6

[CardiacCoug]

So the only people adversely affected have been government employees?

The adage "Today's luxury is tomorrow's necessity" fits here. Big government types think cutting back will lead to a calamity. Turns out that there is certainly pain for government employees when jobs/hours are cut. But nobody else notices.

Government is bloated -- we can't afford as much government as we have. I'm with Jacob: keep cutting.

[Indy Coug]

I didn't start this thread implying that no one has been hurt by the sequestration, but I wanted to see how broad the impact has been and if there were any surprising effects that maybe we wouldn't have anticipated.

[Omaha 680]

So the only people adversely affected have been government employees?

The adage "Today's luxury is tomorrow's necessity" fits here. Big government types think cutting back will lead to a calamity. Turns out that there is certainly pain for government employees when jobs/hours are cut. But nobody else notices.

Government is bloated -- we can't afford as much government as we have. I'm with Jacob: keep cutting.

I tend to agree even though it could hurt me in the coming years. Most of the consulting work I do is for Departments of Transportation or Transit agencies. We still have plenty of work to chase right now, but if budget squeezing continues as I think is necessary, I imagine planned projects will start to get delayed. Although I also do work for freight railroads, who shouldn't be adversely affected by government budget cuts (but could potentially be affected by the Obama administration's war on coal). I do feel sorry for every person who is struggling because of the cuts. I want everyone who wants to work to have a decent job. But I think getting our fiscal house in order is a big key to long term health of the economy.

[Surfah]

So the only people adversely affected have been government employees?

The adage "Today's luxury is tomorrow's necessity" fits here. Big government types think cutting back will lead to a calamity. Turns out that there is certainly pain for government employees when jobs/hours are cut. But nobody else notices.

Government is bloated -- we can't afford as much government as we have. I'm with Jacob: keep cutting.

The calamity never came because the cuts that were anticipated never really materialized. Look at Happyone. 22 days to 11 to 6. My brother was in the same situation except they started off with 13 days and now will have 0 furlough days. Same thing for a buddy of mine who is a US Marshall who now have zero furlough days also. I agree that the cuts need to go deeper as there is a ton of bloat in the government, however the cuts that need to happen to get everything back in order will painful and not just for government workers. And I just don't think Washington will ever allow that much pain.