To the Editor:
If you think the local economy is looking anemic now, just wait until we get sequestration (the legal inevitable result of our legislators reaching no agreement about our national budget).
In sequestration, all federal agencies will be forced to reduce their spending by 10 percent. And since military personnel will be exempt, DoD civilians will be trimmed by 20 percent. Layoffs, pay reduction and forced unpaid leave will all play a part in reducing the civilian workforce.
Think this is crying wolf? If it is, why are DoD contractors pressing now to get a firm sequestration date, if not to issue layoff notices (which they must do 60 days in advance) to their private-sector workers? Because, you see, sequestration makes many federal contracts impossible to execute.
Just imagine all the people out of work in the D.C. Metro area alone. Except to the top 1 percent (who have enough money to fund Tea Partiers elections and buy their yachts), sales of all big-ticket items will stop. Then employees on car lots, in grocery stores and in the offices handling the paperwork for them, will have no jobs, either.
As the Tea Party Congress’ primary goal is to show ( . . cue ominous music here . . ) Government Doesn’t Work, it has again kicked the can down the road so no budget agreement is possible until after the election. By then, they hope they’ll control the presidency as well as the House and Senate. And then let the fun begin.
Dianne Thomas
Fairfax