Wow. You just totally convinced me. How could I have been sooo wrong for sooo long? Not actually having to show up to work is EXACTLY the same as having to be at a fire station for 24 hours straight while training, cleaning, cooking, repairing and maintaining the apparatus and tools, conducting ship tours, designing and reviewing fire/hazardous material pre-plans, oh, and having to be in a constant state of readiness to respond to any emergency in 5 minutes or less. You are being totally reasonable and logical with your comparison. Please enlighten me with more of your intelligent and well thought out opinions. I'm currently arranging a cashier's check to return 90% of my salary for the past ten years to the city, gotta keep that last 10% to at least give the federal gov't something so they can pay people to stay home.