I would agree with you there! even 300 million might not do it.

The post was intended to reflect that the Govt. shutdown affects all people, not just those who are furloughed. The tone of the post by “Me” was indicative of a person who believes we don’t earn what we are paid. My response was to indicate that we (as in certain federal employees) do keep Americans safe by keeping dangerous criminals incarcerated, and take an oath of office to that effect when we are hired. Now, you can quote the constitution all day long, but that’s the way it’s set up now, and that’s what we are ALL living with. I did not say we SHOULD release federal inmates, only used that as an example of how non-military government workers do keep our fellow Americans safe. Don’t throw rocks at me because I work hard and get paid well to do a VERY difficult job! This last in reference to the “nice fat paycheck every Friday” comment. It’s actually every other Thursday.

Article I Section 8 mentions two specific crimes, piracy and counterfeit. The last paragraph gives authority to punish for crimes that are otherwise enumerated.

How many prisons do think that would take? It doesn’t say the [f]federal gov’t has to build prisons, just provide for punishment. Would it not be much cheaper to pay states for housing than to incur the cost of running a prison.

(Military prisons excepted).

Congress is empowered to make all laws punishing violation of assorted laws, such as counterfieting. Unless your only response is execution, that includes incarceration.

Suspension of writ of habeous corpus is forbidden. You can only ask to be arrested those in jail or custody.

Eighth amendment forbids excessive bail. Bail requires jail from which to be released.

Enough enumeration? Or do I need to go into concept of pardons?

David for rationality

To say [f]ederal employees pay taxes is somewhat misleading. They are paid from taxpayer funds; then income taxes are held out–do you feel ‘had’? After that, anything else that is paid is paid from taxpayer funds, too. You are not helping to subsidize government programs, but are a part of one.

To empty out [f]ederal prisons is silly; that is one of the agencies not being ’shut down’. Besides, chances are these inmates were arrested for violating an unconstitutional [f]ederal law, by an unconstitutional [f]ederal agency, tried by a court having unconstitutional [f]ederal jurisdiction. (For example, show me where prisons are enumerated in the US Constitution, please). They probably violated a state law and could have been tried at that level and received just the same sentence in a state system.

In truth, a majority of [f]ederal agencies are unconstitutional. The only Constitutional agency keeping me safe is deployed overseas and is otherwise unable to keep me safe from outside threats.

In truth, depending on which report one listens, only 25%-33% of the government is all that is shut down.

If one is a [f]ederal employee and is considered non-essential, shouldn’t one re-examine one’s relationship with one’s employer?

Your response to “Fedworker” is out of line. We do get paid (just not right now), but we pay taxes too! Who do you think is helping to subsidize all the Government programs? Not just you! We are too. Many of us are as unhappy about it as your are. We EARN every penny we make – public service is honorable and most people are very proud of what they contribute. If we are so worthless, in your eyes, how about we empty out the Federal Prisons of all the rapists, murderers, drug dealers and perverts – not to mention TERRORISTS and let YOU deal with them since we’re currently working without pay? Think before you speak! Federal Employees DO keep you SAFE. Don’t confuse us with the congress and exectutive staff in place now. We’re people JUST LIKE YOU!!