Essential Workers?

[bmg88201]

Not all federal employees just sit around shooting the bull. I retired as an RN a few months ago from the VA healthcare system. I worked my ass off. There is a national RN shortage. Hospitals and the media say that the units are full and can’t take anymore, that’s bull @#$&. It’s a shortage of staff not beds. Nurses from China, Korea, India etc are flooding in that can barely speak English. Once again we are being lied too.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Cash is still not accepted for these government debt and credit cards have a 2% convenience fee.

I am wondering about the legality of this practice. I ordered a meal at a restaurant and they refused cash would it be legal to just say "thank you for the meal" and then walk out. The bill says that it is legal tender for ALL debts.View attachment 721632

 

[Jchonline]

USFS‘s mismanagement of the hundreds of thousands of acres in my neck of the woods (60% beetle kill they didn’t bother to treat) resulted in over $20,000 of damage to my property. I had all of mine treated, but it didn’t matter. The fire on USFS land behind mine burned multiple acres. To throw salt on the wound, they bulldozed 3 fire lines through my property and forest. To my dismay they never cleaned it up. I had to do it all. I was also never allowed to get reimbursed for expenses related to the fire line damage repairs.

USFS might not be lazy but my experience has been they are very irresponsible, and not accountable for their actions. About like every other government agency.

 

[jyoutz]

USFS‘s mismanagement of the hundreds of thousands of acres in my neck of the woods (60% beetle kill they didn’t bother to treat) resulted in over $20,000 of damage to my property. I had all of mine treated, but it didn’t matter. The fire on USFS land behind mine burned multiple acres. To throw salt on the wound, they bulldozed 3 fire lines through my property and forest. To my dismay they never cleaned it up. I had to do it all. I was also never allowed to get reimbursed for expenses related to the fire line damage repairs.

USFS might not be lazy but my experience has been they are very irresponsible, and not accountable for their actions. About like every other government agency.

USFS only has funding appropriated by Congress and has hundreds of millions of acres to treat. There is a very limited market for forest product processing, and this means that the government must pay for removing excess trees and fuel on every acre. Congress has never funded for treatment of all the lands that need work. But even so we do treat millions of acres annually.

 

[ultrarunner]

I am a forester working for the US Forest Service. Every day my co-workers and I put in long days, often in the field doing physical activities or long office hours. We don’t get paid overtime; we just do what is needed to finish the job. Most federal employees are the same. Many of the people posting here seem to have no idea what the typical civil service employee does, and seem to think that we drink coffee all day.

No real contact with federal... just city, county and state...

Each year I write checks that include thousands for schools and libraries...

Libraries closed over 1.5 years...

Inspection and plan review severely curtailed... mostly limited to existing...

I manage Residential Rental property and burdened with more responsibility due to Covid but left with NO remedy due to Covid closure of court house...

Access to public records non-existent... I have spent hours at county offices researching property titles and have not been able over a year.

Of course Fire, EMT and police never caught a break... just like hospital workers...

 

[jyoutz]

No real contact with federal... just city, county and state...

Each year I write checks that include thousands for schools and libraries...

Libraries closed over 1.5 years...

Inspection and plan review severely curtailed... mostly limited to existing...

Access to public records non-existent... I have spent hours at county offices researching property titles and have not been able over a year.

Of course Fire, EMT and police never caught a break... just like hospital workers...

I am likewise perturbed at the lack of service at State DMV offices and county government offices. I consider going to these places to be a major ordeal.

 

[DK35vince]

I have a 10 acre undeveloped piece of property where i grow grass for the horses to graze. Its ag property worth maybe 300k . Taxed about $80 per year.

And I pay $2800 per year on 15 acres with a manufactured home (double wide)

 

[jyoutz]

And I pay $2800 per year on 15 acres with a manufactured home (double wide)

I pay about the same on 20 acres with a 2100 square foot home with basement and 2400 square foot barn. But I do get what I pay for (minimal county services).

 

[two_bit_score]

I am likewise perturbed at the lack of service at State DMV offices and county government offices. I consider going to these places to be a major ordeal.

Just like a lot of people view dealing with the Federal government.

 

[jyoutz]

Just like a lot of people view dealing with the Federal government.

Definitely dealing with social security office is an ordeal. Those types of service centers don’t represent the vast majority of what federal employees do.

 

[Aquamoose]

I am wondering about the legality of this practice. I ordered a meal at a restaurant and they refused cash would it be legal to just say "thank you for the meal" and then walk out. The bill says that it is legal tender for ALL debts.View attachment 721632

I did just that at a restaurant that wouldn’t take cash AND called the law on me. When questioned, I asked the “inn keeper” in the presence of the deputies if they accepted cash. Upon hearing “no”, I calmly asked the deputy to read that particular line on the $20. He knew I was in the clear & allowed me to leave.

 

[two_bit_score]

Definitely dealing with social security office is an ordeal. Those types of service centers don’t represent the vast majority of what federal employees do.

But they probably do represent a vast number (maybe even a majority) of customer interactions with Federal government employees who are expected to provide a service to the taxpayers.

 

[two_bit_score]

I did just that at a restaurant that wouldn’t take cash AND called the law on me. When questioned, I asked the “inn keeper” in the presence of the deputies if they accepted cash. Upon hearing “no”, I calmly asked the deputy to read that particular line on the $20. He knew I was in the clear & allowed me to leave.

Good way to stand your ground!

 

[two_bit_score]

But they probably do represent a vast number (maybe even a majority) of customer interactions with Federal government employees who are expected to provide a service to the taxpayers.

Those customer service impressions left on the SSA or DMV customers are probably what drive some of the attitudes which negatively affect you.

 

[ultrarunner]

But they probably do represent a vast number (maybe even a majority) of customer interactions with Federal government employees who are expected to provide a service to the taxpayers.

Don't forget passport office and 12 weeks for a simple renewal...

 

[two_bit_score]

Don't forget passport office and 12 weeks for a simple renewal...

That and TSA at the airports. Personally Ive never had problems with TSA but the horror stories are numerous.

 

[ultrarunner]

If there is no one physically to accept payments it would seem hard to make it happen.

The county website said cash payment not accepted due to in person county offices closed due to Covid.

Preferred is e-check followed by check and for large amounts due must be wire transfer.

The permitted and taxed cannabis dispensaries are cash only business with lots of cash since banks deny bank services.

Stories of all manor of payments made in cash from these establishments which generates reporting requirements since it is cash...

Seems like ever closer to cashless society.

I have found getting in the car and showing up at the various county/city offices most effective but has not been an option since April 2020.

The Federal Government essentially ordered butchers/meatpackers back to work from what a friend had told me but no such clarity I can find in other areas...

 

[jyoutz]

Those customer service impressions left on the SSA or DMV customers are probably what drive some of the attitudes which negatively affect you.

You’re probably correct.

 

[jyoutz]

Don't forget passport office and 12 weeks for a simple renewal...

I know they say twelve weeks, but my wife and I received our initial passports in about one month.

 

[jaxs]

I believe what i have witnessed in person for decades and right up to today is relivent to this conversation. This link takes you to the location and legal discription. This link take's you to early history. This link take's you to April 2021 when a collective shout of joy arose from greatful North Texans. And here's an update. Two weeks ago my wife and I hosted a vacationing couple that grew up locally but hasn't returned since graduating high school,getting married and going away to college in 2010. We visited local landmarks and I told them what I recollected about their grandparents, families and Congressman Sam Rayburn. Our plans for the secound day included a picnic at Lake Fannin. When we arrived, entrance was restricted by an iron gate with a log chain and padlock the size of my fist. Beside the gate stood a bulitin board with U S Forest Service posters warning tresspassers how much fine and jail time they would be subject to. I have tons of first hand experience and those links I posted only touch the tip of an iceberg but furnish enough information for researching facts if desired. If nothing else,I ask you to note (A) Forest Service used the "NO FUNDS" excuse to close it and alow it to go to ruin (B) Local volunteers furnished funds and labor to restore the land and buildings (C) For their efforts,managment was signed over to state and county atthority to be carried out by volunteers. (D) U S Forest Service seized the place within hours and locked it up without posting a reason along with threats on their stinking builitin board.