As Schmader mentioned in the Morning News, the deficit stalemate in the Senate left no time to sort out another stalemate regarding temporary financing for the Federal Aviation Administration, leaving 4,000 workers essentially unemployed. Leaving their jobs unfinished, the House then went on a month-long vacation. Then F.A.A. administrator Randy Babbitt was quoted in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday saying the agency is relying on the “professionalism” of airport safety inspectors to continue their work without being paid, because their jobs are paid for with money that is awaiting Congressional authorization.

You got that, employees? You're expected to continue working without pay while your elected representatives discontinue working with pay. Meanwhile if the stalemate lasts through Labor Day, as it's expected to, the government could lose roughly $1 billion in tax revenues from ticket sales, and dozens of F.A.A. Airport inspectors have been asked to "work without pay and to charge their government travel expenses to their personal credit cards to keep airports operating safely." You understand, employees? All of this makes perfect sense. You're professionals after all, God damnit, act like it!