Did I sign up for this?

It's impossible to get away from the latest news of the government shut down. It's on every news station and social media site. The number one question most people ask what does it mean for me.

For military members and their families this could be devastating. Many military families live paycheck to paycheck. Some have the ability to save for a rainy day while others are barely hanging on to a rope. It's those same men and women who willingly risk their lives and leave their families for multiple deployments. Some with little dwell time in between. It's those men and women that the government is expecting to go without pay. (along with their civilian counterpart)They are being told that while they won't be paid the appropriate amount on the next payday (April 15) and along with not getting paid they can't take off work or simply not show up. Essentially they are being told that they are to risk their lives for the sake of others but won't be paid. Not only do they now have to worry about the mission at hand but they also have to worry about how their family back home is going to survive.



I have heard the saying that a distracted soldier is a dead soldier. In my opinion, if the government wants to play chicken with each other over the budget then so be it. But when it comes to the life of my husband and other service members it simply isn't fair. They need to realize that this isn't about a number on a page anymore. This is about the lives and well being of the very men and women that they have in harms way.

I would like to see the elected officials give up their salaries and go sit on the front line with a gun facing down the enemy while worrying about how their families are getting along. I'm sure it wouldn't be to long before an agreement came about a budget.

I urge everyone to call, email or stand at their local representatives office until they get the message that this is not OK. We are tired of the politics and simply want SOMEONE to stand up and take responsibility for this mess and fix it.