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"Hundred Year Old Law Doesn't Make Sense In Internet Age, Columnist Says"
by danielweber 13y ago
"Hundred Year Old Law Doesn't Make Sense In Internet Age, Columnist Says"
- eli 13y agoI'm not sure it's the law's fault. The Federal government is not designed to work without a budget. In fact it's specifically designed to not work without a budget.
- IanCal 13y agoI think it sounds like a good idea. If you're not paying people, you shouldn't be allowed to ask them to work.
- eli 13y agoAgree, it makes sense. But it's a real bummer that you're not allowed to work even if you really, really want to. Say, for example, you're an NIH researcher being forced to pull the plug on a long-running experiment that you'll have to start over again from scratch.
- judk 13y agoThat should qualify as essential staff not furloughed
- Nick_C 13y agoWe've got a world-famous scientist speaking at a global conference over here. A few hours before he was due to speak he was told he could not, due to the furlough. It's crazy, because he's already here!
- IanCal 13y agoYes, it is really messed up, but it's the only way of stopping employers saying "You don't have to work, but if you really love your work you can continue". I think when it's the government, there should be major consequences if they can't pay their bills. It's absolutely insane that this is happening at all, and ludicrous when you consider why this is happening.
- mseebach 13y agoThe law makes as little or much sense in the Internet age as in any other age. Pre-internet, you'd be just as barred from working on files or reports or whatever you might have in your home as you are from checking your work email. Casually breaking the law just leaves more of a trail in the Internet age and is thus a larger risk-surface vs. "No, really, I didn't make notes on the Foo-report during the shutdown".
- judk 13y agoIn that sense, the law makes MORE sense now, since it can be effectively enforced.