Tell me why I should be okay with the government shutting down.

I see threads and posts saying that the government should shut down for weeks, months, or even a year, and that federal workers are lazy and a drain on taxpayers. I’m conservative, so I can see the waste that’s happening. However, I’m also a federal “essential” employee as an air traffic controller with the FAA, and I think this is the narrowest and laziest thinking imaginable. I’m supposed to be fine without getting paid for these weeks and months, but I’m also expected to continue my work in helping to run the busiest airspace in the world? I’m just shocked at the blanket prejudice that’s thrown towards federal employees here. We aren’t all parasites.