August 2006 Weddings
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Re: I'm a little disgusted that Congress went on vacation
Again, this is where you have to think in terms of our typical American citizen. You want to send the message that this is NECESSARY NOW, then dammit you don't take a holiday. No one here truly believes Congress isn't doing something but lots of people do. I can guarantee it. I don't care if you fake a damn session, lock the door so no one can see what you're doing and and instead light the menorah for two days. At least appear that you're working given the fact that SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. Look like you're doing it.
Heck I take "holidays" at my desk every once in a while, like today for example. LOL. But if a superior comes in, I at least LOOK busy.
I don't know the specifics, as I'm not Jewish, but I don't think strict guidelines are limited only to Orthodox Jews. My boss isn't Orthodox, but she left yesterday in time to get home before sundown and isn't expected into work until tomorrow around 1:30.
So even though I mentioned it earlier, it may not be fair to just say it's "Orthodox" Jews.
This is why I'm really torn. I know that I've been awfully disappointed when I've had to work on days like Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Those aren't exactly festive days like Christmas and I've always wanted to make sure I could attend services with my family.
It's a big reason I can't fault Congress for its recess. I understand the urgency and wish they were doing SOMETHING, but I also know how frustrating it can be when your job does interfere with your religious beliefs. We have a few Jewish reps in South Florida (including my representative) so I can understand their predicament. That said, I still say there should be some things going on with folks that are NOT Jewish. I'm encouraged to read here that things ARE happening and maybe that means when everyone comes back, they can get a bill that works and vote on it. I'm going to be optimistic.
I did until this thread. I had no idea recess = people still work. When I hear "congress is shut down" I assumed that meant congress was shut down.
I know you aren't caden....and I can completely understand where others are coming from here. Perhaps I'm just a bit suspicious of anything the Congress/our government does or doesn't do.
Yeah, part of me is not buying that this is a super-massive crisis that must be acted upon right this minute or we all face certain economic DOOM. A holiday break isn't helping that perception.?
Exactly.
Well this is a huge holiday. Even though christianity doesn't require a day off work for christmas everyone does b/c it's an important day for them. I don't think a requirement is necessary to be excused from congressional duties b/c a celebration of this type is legitimate in and of itself.
I'm not sure, either, but even if not Orthodox, I have issues with requiring someone to work on their religious holidays, especially if their employer is the U.S. Government. That sets a really bad precedent. Do I think Congress should've taken a recess entirely? No. But forcing people to do something that contradicts their religious beliefs? That makes me uncomfortable.
Isn't Joe Lieberman Orthodox? I remember his Sabbath observance it being an issue when he was on Gore's ticket.
Recess does not mean Congress is shut down, the lights are out and everyone is taking a vacay. Staff still come to work, Members are usually in their districts having meetings, making appearances, touring business, non-profits, schools, etc. Sometimes they stay in DC for events and meetings. No committees are meeting and there are no votes on the floor, but people are still working.
I worked on the Hill for a number of years. Recess time is when we were able to catch up on our constituent mail, do memos for our boss, work on drafting legislation, etc. There is a lot going on when Congress is in session and it can be very difficult to keep up with those day to day things when you have back to back constituent meetings, committee meetings and are dealing with votes on the floor.
Since it's a crisis, I don't think a majority of members would take off. I think they would work around their holiday. Like what I would do - go to a service then head back to work. But I'll play.
If they don't have a quorum then there couldn't be any votes even if the minority wanted to. I don't know if Congress has rules for debates/working on bills without a quorum. I still think there should and could be work done while people are off celebrating even if a majority is gone. The majority could still make its sentiments known and representatives could be chosen to debate in their absence.
I hope they're just working around the clock on getting something better written.
I don't care what the hell holiday it is. I think God will understand that you have to work because your country is headed for economic ruin. Seriously?!?!
Well I'm not saying that there should be a law requiring them to work. I just think that they ought to be feeling enough pressure either from their constituents or themselves, some sort of ethical obligation not to be taking time off in the middle of a crisis.
If they didn't want a job that could possibly interfere with their personal obligations, perhaps they should not have run for office. But IMO, when you are elected to public office, you are committing to doing your job for the American people no excuses, and when those times of crisis come, you put everything else aside and find a way to make it work. You attend services, then you go to work. Something. But don't just say "well, sorry, it's my day off, see ya!"
Even if they are actually working behind the scenes, the fact that they are taking a recess sends a very, very bad message to the public. And this is not a time where people need to be doubting their government's commitment to solving this problem.
"There are currently 13 Jewish lawmakers in the 100-member Senate and 29 Jews in the 435-member House." from the AP. Not sure how many are orthodox or conservative. I'm pretty sure Sheldon Silver, who is the speaker on NY's state assembly, is orthodox, so it doesn't seem that out there that there would be OJ congressmen/women as well.
But yeah, to clarify, I don't think anyone here is suggesting that we require those who are celebrating/observing to work today.
I agree. I do think the Jewish people in Congress should make some sort of compromise... or just personally taken the time off without Congress as a whole taking a recess. I think the entire Congress taking a recess right now sends a very bad message. But, I'm not going to fault those in Congress who take their own religious holidays off..
According to Wikipedia he is. Aww. This makes me like him even more, as inappropriate as that probably is.
The reason I asked the second part is because I think there's a difference between someone's religion saying "you absolutely CANNOT work today" and someone who simply wants to spend an important holiday doing certain things. One is forcing someone to choose between their religious dictates and their job, the other is choosing their job or something they want to but don't necessarily HAVE to do.
Under normal circumstances, they shouldn't have to be in either situation. But this is not a normal circumstance, and I would think that unless I absolutely CANNOT work according to my religion, I would feel ethically obligated to be at work during a time like this.
Exactly. We're not saying force them to work on their holy day, but there's no reason Christians and atheists need to be off.
Oh, definitely. That's why I said Orthodox...but I think it may also be true for Conservative Jews as well (not as familiar with Conservative Judaism).
Maybe our Congress isn't as worried about this as the general public is....or maybe they really don't think a day or two will make that much of a difference. Wouldn't they be worried that their constituents would be pissed off about their not working too?
Something about all of this seems really strange to me.
Really hoping the "but I'll play" was just poor wording on your part.
I'm with you. And the bullsh*t that they need to hear to do their jobs is ridiculous. They have to pride themselves on being "historic" and "saving the country" before they do anything apparently. Some of us are able to go to work without hearing "I'm a hero" first. Last week I heard a clip of Harry Reid just emphasizing how horrible it was for reps to have to come in on Monday (yesterday). Where's the sense of duty?
?
it's just a figure of speech. I was saying I don't think that would be a problem for a majority holiday but I wanted to respond to your hypothetical scenario anyway. : )
Sorry Caden..I'm probably being oversensitive right now.
I understand this, but as I said before, the fact that they have officially recessed sends a very bad message, IMO. Like it or not, an awful lot of our economy is based on consumer and investor confidence - psychology, basically - and for Congress to say "eh, we'll take a break and get to it next week" at a time when?the word "Depression" is being tossed around and?the average American is, quite frankly, freaking out is NOT confidence-inspiring. ?