[Vigilanteman]

Good question. I've worked a very minimal number of government jobs in my lifetime, mainly duties of an elective office which are 2 to 3 paid days per year for a very long day. The rest of the time it is gratis.

The other 363 days or so per year, I work in the private sector. If you aren't essential, then you aren't employed.

[fireman15]

We were looking into buying a house on a small airport from a “survivalist guy”. He asked me what I did for a living. When I told him that I worked as a firefighter he got all agitated and said that I was part of the problem. I just shrugged and said that I agreed. I saw all sorts of what I considered government waste on a daily basis during my career. I also worked with entitled union people who had no clue about the challenges facing those who worked in the private sector. After our little talk the guy and I got along fine.