What government would ever have unpaid positions? Nice red herring.

Now if you want to discuss the preposterousness of the lower end of some government pay scales - game on!

There are unpaid government/government-type internships. The UN is the most notable example. Most on Capitol Hill are also unpaid. Many local governments do it as well as they are cash strapped.

lol - those capital hill internships often result in K street positions. It’s why all those “unpaid” positions are HIGHLY contested.

Just curious - have you ever earned money directly for yourself or have you only ever gotten a paycheck from a company or other person?

> those capital hill internships often result in K street positions.

Isn't that kind of the point? Making these positions unpaid/underpaid is an artificial filter removing otherwise great candidates who can't afford to take it on.

I completely get why they are highly contested and were I an American and politically inclined, I would take one. People wouldn’t take them if they did not see a benefit. But they exist nonetheless.

Mostly paycheck. I occasionally do freelance work and innovation prizes.