The thousands of public employees who’ve just been placed on furlough aren’t shedding too many tears over the government shutdown. From Washington, D.C., to New York City, they’re taking to the bars and drinking establishments, toasting their time off with beers and mixed drinks.
“I’m drinking beer,” said Amy Driskell, a researcher who’s been placed on furlough from the Smithsonian Institution. The New York Post met up with her at the Elephant & Castle pub in downtown Washington, D.C., where owners were giving government workers a 10 percent food discount and a “happy hour all day” rate for drinks.
“We worked for four hours for our ’orderly shutdown,’ as we are required to do, and we’ve been drinking since,” Ms. Driskell said.
And at The Exchange Sports Saloon, two blocks from the White House, a couple of Interior Department workers tossed back a few.
“What the hell,” said Ronnie Emery, a department liaison to Indian tribal governments, in The Post. “What else can I do? Go cry?”
Friend and fellow Interior Department worker Liberty Metcalf said: “I enjoyed the day off. We just have to wait until the idiots on the Hill get their [expletive] together.”
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In New York City, it was more of the same.
“We are drowning our sorrows today,” said one woman, deemed a “nonessential” employee and placed on furlough. “Hopefully, we go back to work as soon as possible.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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