I find the diatribe from Congress as well as the general public an affront to every federal employee trying to make a living. We are no different than anyone else that has a job; we get up and go to work everyday without having a say in any of the policies that we are tasked with following. The private sector had the opportunity to hire me when I was interviewing many years ago; the fact that they did not does not now give anyone license to point out that I have it so much better than the general public when in fact, I could have been in your shoes but for the slash of a pen. It was not my decision that I work for the federal government, nor was it my decision that I work for the private sector and I will NOT apologize for the fact that the federal government hired me.