I just dodged a metaphorical bullet.

[arbusto_baboso]

My county actually managed to avoid laying off any welfare case workers, despite the huge California state budget cut. We'll be making our budget by attrition.

So....

I get to keep my job and paycheck and health insurance, but my job will just suck even more than it already does.

[Moondog]

1. Congratulations, I guess. Given the times, it could be a lot worse.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. True. I'm just tired of hearing the phrase....

"You should just be thankful you have a job."

While it is true, especially now, the only people who utter it tend to be the extremely anti-union assholes who want you to take all their shit and thank them for the privilege.

[Moondog]

3. I don't blame you. I don't mean it that way. n/t

[arbusto_baboso]

4. I know you didn't. I'm not angry with you.

It's the whole situation that pisses me off.

A lot of the time when I tell people I'm a civil servant, their reply is along the lines of "Well, you're on the gravy train now, aren't you? What, with that wonderful government pay, the great benefits, and the job security."

So, I launch into my diatribe about being a government employee because I *believe* in what I'm doing, and that I could make more money in the private sector (if I could, in fact, actually find a job there), that my benefits are distinctly average and more are being bargained away every year by SEIU - my worthless fucking union - and that there is NO SUCH THING as job security anymore, even in government.

Then the topic of conversation tends to change to something less touchy and/or controversial, like religion or sex.