# Is it true government workers are "not getting paid"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749 "2019-01-14T18:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/41 "2019-01-15T19:55:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > My post was merely a caution about making assumptions along the lines of: > > "Group A has a median income of X. Group B has a median income of Y. You forgot the “swallow all liquids and put down the cat” warning between the post I quoted just above and this one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/42 "2019-01-15T19:57:21Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Is health insurance also suspended while the government is shut down? Not that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/43 "2019-01-15T19:58:52Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Is this another bit of dumbassery, comparing “large percentage of grunt minimum-wagers” oranges to “mostly specialized-skill white-collar” apples? > > Oh, it’s **HD**. Of course it’s another bit of dumbassery. Let’s be kind. Oh, it’s _Huffpost_. Of course it’s another bit of dumbassery.😛 But as to your first point- yes, that is _exactly_ what was being done. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/44 "2019-01-15T19:58:57Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If we know that nearly 80% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck it is safe to assume that federal workers are not different from other workers and probably figure into that 80% the same as non-federal workers. > > Unless you can show that federal workers are substantially different from non-federal workers in some respect that bears on this. I have shown that they have substantially different income from non-federal workers. Do you think income might have some bearing on whether one lives paycheck-to-paycheck or not (or on how much one has in savings)? Or do you think the same percentage of one-percenters and those below the poverty line are living paycheck-to-paycheck? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/45 "2019-01-15T20:02:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “Group A has a median income of X. Group B has a median income of Y. Group A and B probably have similar median balances in their savings account.” > > I can spot the flaw in that reasoning even if I don’t know the balance of the median federal employee’s savings account. Can you think of a reason why government employees making the same salaries would have substantially different patterns of savings than their private sector counterparts? Because we know pretty well the savings rates of people at various incomes. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/46 "2019-01-15T20:06:08Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Can you think of a reason why government employees making the same salaries would have substantially different patterns of savings than their private sector counterparts? Because we know pretty well the savings rates of people at various incomes. Your post (#31) wasn’t comparing people “making the same salaries”. \<— that’s the whole point! You were comparing the median American with the median government employee. And those two have substantially _different_ incomes. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/47 "2019-01-15T20:12:01Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Your post (#31) wasn’t comparing people “making the same salaries”. \<— that’s the whole point! > > You were comparing the median American with the median government employee. And those two have substantially _different_ incomes. Was your point to nitpick my post, or contribute useful information? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/48 "2019-01-15T20:15:48Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Was your point to nitpick my post, or contribute useful information? Contribute useful information. The whole central idea of that post has a gaping hole in its logic. It’s an error that was repeated by **Whack-a-Mole** in post #39 (and somewhat in #35). ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/49 "2019-01-15T20:22:30Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Contribute useful information. The whole central idea of that post has a gaping hole in its logic. It’s an error that was repeated by **Whack-a-Mole** in post #39 (and somewhat in #35). And you believe your cite was a fair and accurate representation of all the various studies that have occurred on comparing public and private sector pay? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/50 "2019-01-15T20:28:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > And you believe your cite was a fair and accurate representation of all the various studies that have occurred on comparing public and private sector pay? I believe “all the various studies that have occurred on comparing public and private sector pay”, when looked at in the aggregate, show a substantial difference in compensation for the average federal employee vs the average American. **Do you agree?** (Note: I understand _why_ that is. You don’t need to tell me about “grunt minimum-wagers” vs “mostly specialized-skill white-collar” jobs. I already get that. It’s irrelevant to the point I was making.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/51 "2019-01-15T20:29:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I believe “all the various studies that have occurred on comparing public and private sector pay”, when looked at in the aggregate, show a substantial difference in compensation for the average federal employee vs the average American. **Do you agree?** That is a meaningless comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/52 "2019-01-15T20:35:18Z")
**[Moderating]** > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Is this another bit of dumbassery, comparing “large percentage of grunt minimum-wagers” oranges to “mostly specialized-skill white-collar” apples? > > Oh, it’s **HD**. Of course it’s another bit of dumbassery. Personal insults are not permitted in GQ. This is an official Warning. If you have an issue with an individual poster, take it to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/53 "2019-01-15T20:39:02Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Is health insurance also suspended while the government is shut down? No. But the premiums will accumulate and be deducted when you get paid again. [Cite](https://www.fedsmith.com/2019/01/11/opm-provides-fact-sheet-pay-benefits-shutdown/). If you get back pay, this presumably would not be a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/54 "2019-01-15T20:40:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That is a meaningless comparison. Earlier in this thread, I was told this: > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > … Unless you can show that federal workers are substantially different from non-federal workers in some respect that bears on this. Do you understand that having different incomes makes them “substantially different from non-federal workers in some respect that bears on this”? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/55 "2019-01-15T20:57:00Z")
Maybe you should start a debate thread about this. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/56 "2019-01-15T20:59:55Z")
As already pointed out, government workers have better job security than private sector workers. Which means they have less incentive to build up a cash saving for emergencies - because it’s highly unlikely for them to suddenly lose their jobs. A government shutdown resulting in more than one missed paycheck is unprecedented in US history. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/57 "2019-01-15T21:00:33Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Maybe you should start a debate thread about this. I’m reasonably confident that you, at least, have understood the point. I’ll drop it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/58 "2019-01-15T21:07:24Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m reasonably confident that you, at least, have understood the point. I’ll drop it. Apology gratefully accepted! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/59 "2019-01-15T21:08:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Apology gratefully accepted! :smack: perhaps my optimism was misplaced 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749/60 "2019-01-15T21:17:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > :smack: perhaps my optimism was misplaced 😉 Stop it, now you’re embarrassing me with all this fulsome praise. Ok, just one more comment would be fine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-government-workers-are-not-getting-paid/827749.md?page=4)