Molly, you are exactly right. As we ride past those McMansions we should consider that those who dwell in them may be just as tight for cash at the end of the month as anyone else.
Those federal employees, same as any other employee, not being able to manage a month without a paycheck simply means they were irresponsible in their finances to not having been prepared for a shutdown or any other loss of revenue for at least the short term.
How many in the prepper community have overlooked that as well?