Top 10 Most Annoying NoVA Complaints/Whines (Great Falls: layoffs, college, live in)

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by guyincognito

I can say as an engineer I took at $20k pay cut to go from defense contractor to government and I work way more hours than I did as a contractor. The reward is having control/direction over your work, as well as more training opportunities.

For most government employees in the defense world, they can make more money as contractors.

I took a lateral to go from a contractor to a government worker. I did it because I was tired of not having any control over my work, or having days where I didn't have ANY work, and many other reasons that have a lot to do with job satisfaction. I don't regret my move at all, especially when I see my old cohorts who have too much time on their hands during the day. I know that sounds like a 'dream' to some but it doesn't work for me.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by qmoosa

To All complainers
there is a list of "Ghost cities" in usa i think these complainers need to move there and live there then they realize that without job and economy there is NO life. NOVA is the best place to raise families specially Loudoun county. Loudoun and Fairfax are 2 richest counties in USA and booming. even with Recession there is a steady job pace, very LOW un employment rate in Loudoun and fairfax, money is rolling, people make big time money and spend big time too. so stop crying like a Lil B**** and start putting your head together. Simple thing dont like NOVA get out and go live in Detroit MI. I dont live in NOVA i am from mid west but heard good things about NOVA. proximity to DC, Mountains, Oceans, other near by cities, 100s museums mostly free, 100s parks Free, bike, hike trails, proximity to Blue ridge parkway, Baltimore great school systems. Loudoun county is family oriented. more people bring more stimulation, economy, jobs, etc etc but it also cause rush traffic hours so just bare with that. Dont like rush hour traffic then move to Montana or Alaska there are lot of empty places in USA but No Jobs. remember to gain something you have to loose somthing. People talk about sun belt cities but remember too much sun is also harmfull for your skin after a while all these sun loving people start missing 4 seasons. NOVA has moderate weather and 4 seasons and mild winter few hard snow days but eventually it melt though. lots of hustling and bustling in DC, Lots of Tourism in DC, lots of jobs, Dulles Technology Corridor, Federal government, 1000s defense contracting companies etc etc etc. yes the houses are over priced but just look around try to find a good deal or look for REO, Foreclosure which is hard to find in Loudoun because most have jobs.
I will be moving sooner to Brambleton, Broadlands or Leesburg, Lasndowne VA.

Why does it need to be NoVA or "ghost cities"? There are other places besides NoVA that have decent amounts of jobs. The big cities in Texas are doing pretty well plus much more affordable. Please stop making it seem like it's NoVA or nothing.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by JEB77

I

3. I don't bother to vote in elections, but I can't understand how you reactionaries voted Cuccinelli into office.

Based on your first line in #3 you have no right to gripe regarding your second line in #3.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Based on your first line in #3 you have no right to gripe regarding your second line in #3.

Based on your failure to understand sarcasm you have no right to gripe about his amusing post.

Lest I not be accused of throwing stones I'll admit I completely missed the point of this thread, which is really a NoVA version of this:

Moderator Cut

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Do you have ANY idea how much commercial pilots make?

I was asked if I had looked lately at what UAL pilots make. So I posted their pay scales by aircraft. Were you meaning to claim that those data were incorrect?

Originally Posted by Denton56

After flying for 10 to 15 years, it's about what you would make as a GS 14 or GS 15. Pilots do not make the big bucks. Are you saying that pilots do nothing?

Well, putting it on auto-pilot is a BAD thing in most jobs. Meanwhile, pay for a GS-14/15 in the DC area is currently frozen at between $50.41 per hour and $74.51 per hour. They don't get paid for much of the work they do either.

Originally Posted by Denton56

Someone on Capitol Hill, the top chief of staff, makes what a GS 13 would make.

Get real. A GS-13 here makes between $89K and $116K. A top chief of staff will be paid only slightly less than the member he works for and will likely have additional compensation from commiittee and campaign positions that serves to cut into the salary disparity as against what he or she could command on K Street.

Originally Posted by Denton56

A handful of those people become lobbyists, after age 50.

There isn't an age limit, and the Hill generically is a young person's game. Lobbying at the federal level is a $3.5 billion industry annually. There are about 14,000 active lobbyists -- roughly the same number as Hill staffers. Your supposed "handful" of people is actually a steady flow back and forth.

Originally Posted by Denton56

Kinda like a handful of government workers who make SES status, if they are women and minorities.

31% of SES is female, 18% is minority. Did you want to state an actual point?

Originally Posted by Denton56

I have no idea what people in mining companies make. How many can there be?

Again, more than a handful, and they make much more in their corporate positions than they did in their government positions.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Isn't a debate over private industry versus government pay a bit off topic? The OP is asking what are our top 10 whines.

I totally agree. Actually, the way I read it, the OP is asking which Nova complaints are the most annoying. Since he asked, here is my answer: The most annoying complaints are the ones that are used to hijack threads on other topics.

So, IMO, this year the never ending debate over private industry versus government has taken the #1 annoyance spot... and it's probably going to keep the #1 slot until the election is over. Just my opinion, but I think this endless bashing of government employees (including teachers and police) is the latest political strategy. I see it happening on a lot of forums. So we're going to see this poor dead horse beaten again and again.

Can we start one master thread for debating the merit of government employees? I've seen a few other forums do this, and we might want to consider it, too. It's a worthwhile topic, but do we really need to see it everywhere? Just a suggestion.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Isn't a debate over private industry versus government pay a bit off topic? The OP is asking what are our top 10 whines.

Seems that the whine over government workers being paid so much to do so little is at least threatening to crack the Top 10.

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I have three. First is the food scene here is mediocre. Second is that the Potomac is too dirty to swim in. Third is people drive like the GW Parkway is a 70mph freeway.

You'll have trouble maintaining 7 mph on the Parkway inbound during the morning rush hour. I have swum in the Potomac on many occasions and seem to have survived to tell the tale. Note, however, that it's illegal in the District (roughly Chain Bridge to the Wilson Bridge), rather risky between Great Falls and Little Falls on account of the currents and debris in and under the water, and a bad idea anywhere for a week or so after a heavy rain due to elevated bacterial levels from all the runoff. The food scene everywhere is mediocre. Like everywhere, however, the metro area has many delightful islands of excellence. Even the pickiest palate should have no trouble in locating a variety of them.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

It proves that despite another poster's assertion that government workers can't make it in a private firm, they do in many cases and often for a good salary. Need I explain further?

LOL. Shouldn't have needed to go that far. The original premise was bunk on its face. Popularized by some elements in "the media" though, so it manages some currency nonetheless.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by saganista

You'll have trouble maintaining 7 mph on the Parkway inbound during the morning rush hour. I have swum in the Potomac on many occasions and seem to have survived to tell the tale. Note, however, that it's illegal in the District (roughly Chain Bridge to the Wilson Bridge), rather risky between Great Falls and Little Falls on account of the currents and debris in and under the water, and a bad idea anywhere for a week or so after a heavy rain due to elevated bacterial levels from all the runoff. The food scene everywhere is mediocre. Like everywhere, however, the metro area has many delightful islands of excellence. Even the pickiest palate should have no trouble in locating a variety of them.

After posting them I realized those whines on my part could be considered annoying compared to what less fortunate folks in many parts of the world would have to complain about (no clean drinking water, not enough food, malaria, repressive dicatorships, etc.).

[saganista]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

After posting them I realized those whines on my part could be considered annoying compared to what less fortunate folks in many parts of the world would have to complain about (no clean drinking water, not enough food, malaria, repressive dicatorships, etc.).

No doubt, but if all the complaining has to be done only by the sickest person in the world, the poorest, the hungriest, or the most repressed, then those poor people aren't going to have any time at all left over to party, and the rest of us are going to have far less to say around the water cooler.

And I never see this point turned around. Since most if us have many more problems than say, the Sultan of Brunei does, why don't we all have the right to complain about whatever it is that bothers us?