Burning Question: Should feds work on Columbus Day?

If you're a federal employee, it probably feels like you've got a big fat target painted on your back these days. Between calls for a hiring freeze and mandatory furloughs, amidst a seemingly endless debate over whether feds are overpaid, it appears that almost everybody has the the bureaucracy in their sights.

Is there any way of appeasing those who argue that coddled bureaucrats aren't doing their fair share to address the country's economic and budgetary woes? At Govloop, Sterling Whitehead has an idea: volunteer to give up a federal holiday. And he has one in mind: Columbus Day. "The truth is we serve the public," Whitehead writes, "and there's a popular perception that we are insulated from the Great Recession. As with most things, the truth is in the gray area." Under his proposal, Columbus Day would remain a national holiday, but feds would work that day. "I'm sure it's not the only sacrifice we'll be asked to make, but it's a good start," Whitehead argues. Let's Work on Columbus Day
(Govloop)

Burning Question is a recurring feature that looks at key issues and compelling stories being explored at other publications and social media sites.