Business

Starting Salaries for Fed Workers Higher Than They Have Been in Years

Remember when the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore wrote that we have “become a nation of takers” as opposed to a “nation of makers”?

What did he mean by that?

“More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined,” Moore wrote back April. “Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees.”

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills, Moore concluded.

Salaries for Federal Workers Highest in Years

Eight months later, it appears that his analysis may have been spot-on correct.

“Federal pay rose an average of 1.3 percent for the budget year that ended Sept. 30, according to newly released federal data,” USA Today reports.

By comparison, the wages of private workers rose 1.2 percent during the period, the same rate as state and local government pay growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Translation: now is a great time to be a Federal worker.

“Federal workers made an average $75,296 in pay last year, plus $28,323 in medical, pension and other benefits,” a USA Today analysis found.

“That’s about 60 percent more than the average private wage, a difference explained largely by higher education levels and more professional jobs in the federal workforce,” the report adds.

Salaries for Federal Workers Highest in YearsMany would find it odd that, during this time of economic instability, Federal compensation has soared in the past five years. Add to that the fact that the federal government in recent years has hired “several hundred thousand new employees, including many well-paid lawyers and doctors.”

With several recent job openings and a constantly swelling payroll, is it any wonder that the world of federal employment had become the “go-to place” for so many young people?

Consider these facts (via USA Today):

PAY:

  • A 20-to 24-year-old auto mechanic started at an average of $46,427 this year, up from $36,750 five years ago. The government hires about 400 full-time auto mechanics a year.
  • A 30- to 34-year-old lawyer started at an average of $101,045 this year, up from $79,177 five years ago. The government hires about 2,500 lawyers a year.
  • The portion of federal workers earning $100,000 or more grew from 12 percent in 2006 to 22 percent in 2011.
  • A mechanical engineer, age 25 to 29, started at $63,675, up from $51,746 in 2006. The government hires about 600 mechanical engineers a year.

JOB SECURITY

  • The rate of quitting has fallen 29 percent since 2007.
  • Ordinary retirements are down 11 percent.
  • Early retirements are down two-thirds.
  • Disability departures have dropped one-third

NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FIRED:

  • Under the Obama administration, layoffs from reorganizations have dropped by two-thirds to fewer than 300 a year in the 2.1 million person workforce.
  • Workers are 13 times more likely to die of natural causes than get laid off from the federal government.

What’s the justification for these pay raises? There must be some sort of explanation.

“The government is classifying more new hires — secretaries, mail clerks, chaplains, laundry workers, electrical engineers and wildlife biologists — as taking more demanding versions of their jobs and deserving more pay [emphasis added],” USA Today reports.

Apparently, the pay rates and the increases are supposed to reflect the fact that a federal cook, clerk, laundry worker, and wildlife biologist all have jobs that are “more challenging” than their private sector counterparts.

Shouldn’t the people cutting the paychecks be the ones to decide that?

(h/t Newser)

Comments (194)

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  • Lotus503
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:40am

    All those workers being paid all that taxpayers money…and they produce absolutely nothing but rules & regulations and contribute nothing to the economic well-being of this country.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:03am

      In ObamaLand… everyone works for the Government… and makes lots of money! Seem… Stupid or Silly? We are playing this Game!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:14am

      This is part of the reason for the massive debt. I don’t get medical benefits at all and my annual pay is less than their benefits alone. I load truck too. I bet I work ten times harder than 90% of them.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • book-fellow
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:27pm

      They deserve the money because they are so much more important than the productive enslaved portion of society – you don’t think so? Just as them!
      As soon as they return from November (no funding) and December (can’t do anything, out of funding, so lets party it’s Christmas ) break.

      Report Post » book-fellow  
    • TAXEVERYONE
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 6:52am

      Disgusting. These losers could not get hired in the private sector. They produce nothing.

      Report Post » TAXEVERYONE  
    • lvctry
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 8:14am

      don’t forget fed workers pay taxes too

      Report Post »  
    • aetoan
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:14am

      Man up, take your Grandfather out of the VA hospital “Government”. You should take care of him at home. So I don’t have to pay, some Government employee to do it. You should feed him, clean him, and turn him so he does not get bed sores. You should be there 24/7.

      Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:41pm

      It’s the bloody politicians that are at fault…and if you do get a gov‘t job you’re not going to make that much unless you have a masters degree or higher…and the retirement system sucks…Regan crippled the retirement system…it’s the same as any company 401.

      Yeah we should continue to contract out those low level skills so the large companies can get on the welfare train…they pay the wage based on the wage determination act and pick up their Overhead, G&A and profit…the employees remain the same but when the contract is re-competed the same employees simply report to another large business who adds in their OH, G&A and profit…

      Contracting out, began under Regan…the Goal was 50% but no one tracked the goal so we exceed the goal by more than anyone can find out…and that is just DoD…I worked on the DoD ranch for over 33 years as a contracting officer…Need I say more? Get a clue…and watch the balloon become inelastic…

      We’ve been down this yo-yo road for many years but under Obama the balloon is being pushed way to hard and fast.

      And yes I am a Christian and yes I am a conservative and I vote straight line republican…but I do know a little more about the system than some on here and it simply drives me nuts when the media uses the broad brush about government employees.

      IT’S THE BLOODY POLITICIANS, EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND LAWS THAT DRIVE UP COSTS.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • mashuser2
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:46pm

      Federal payroll + benefits, by any accounts that I’ve seen is equal to < 5% of the ENTIRE FEDERAL BUDGET. There's still 95% of the Budget to be pissed about that has NOTHING TO DO WITH FEDERAL WORKERS.

      Combine that with this comedy about 1.2% vs 1.3% and I have to wonder if Blaze is splitting hairs, being penny-wise and pound foolish, and ignoring the real problem – ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS and DEFENSE SPENDING.

      Wake-up, Sheeple.

      TEA.

      Report Post »  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:06am

      And people complain because Postal Workers make less than $45k a year and they are not paid by your taxes. They are paid by postage sales.

      Report Post »  
  • DesertRose1960
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:37am

    I’m a Federal employee. A colleague of mine went to a job fair with a friend and talked to a private sector recruiter who made her an industry average offer of compensation, she was offered $15,000 more to do for a private company what we both do for the taxpayer. I get no medical benefits directly, my husband’s policy is subsidized. I do not make that “average salary”. I got a promotion last year, but I won’t see any raises for the next two years: no step increase, no further promotions, and no cost of living adjustments. I‘m not complaining about the money I’m making, because I put service to my country over a higher pay check.

    Becket, I’m sure the folks here will get all fired up and outraged at people like me, but you weren’t honest in how you presented the information. Here are some quotes from the U.S. Today article that you failed to include:

    “The paychecks of federal workers grew at the slowest pace in a decade this year, held down by a partial pay freeze. But federal employees still did slightly better than workers in the private sector or at state and local governments, a USA TODAY analysis found.”

    “Federal pay rose an average of 1.3% for the budget year that ended Sept. 30, according to newly released federal data. By comparison, the wages of private workers rose 1.2% during the period, the same rate as state and local government pay growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

    None of the wage gains kept pace with inflation.”

    Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:50am

      Continued from the above post:
      And those “high paid” doctors you’re so offended by, went to work at the Wounded Warrior program, taking care of maimed and injured soldiers. Do you expect these highly trained specialists to work for free? Or maybe you just want the soldiers to be treated by green doctors, barely out of their internship program working to pay off their student loans? I thought you folks loved the troops?

      And no, you have misrepresented the information about laundry workers and clerical people. Federal employee pay is higher because lower level jobs like mail clerks and lower level clerical types have been phased out over the last thirty years. Many job series have college requirements just to be considered, mine for instance. It used to be that people in my job series were required to have 24 hours in Business, but now people in my three year internship were required to have a full college degree with at least 24 hours of Business, some people had Masters and CPAs, at least a couple are lawyers. My internship, half classroom/half on-the-job, was the equivalent of a Masters. My husband came into Federal service with a Masters and was working on a second one up until a few months ago.

      And when it comes to pensions, I rely on Social Security, what I put away of my salary into an IRA-like fund, with 5% matching from the Government and a 2% annuity. But my pension is at the whim of Congress and things could change. Most of Congress is on the sam

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:00am

      @desertrose1960
      Wow, im shocked, from all your past postings we never could have guessed you were living off the taxpayer, shocking, just shocking…..and if you got fired, would anyone even know you were gone. Nope…. Cut the Criminal Federal Govt. By75% and watch us BOOM ECONOMICALLY !!!

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:07am

      It’s OK Rose, we understand.

      You are a wee bit worried that the “Gravy Train” may be pulling in to the station for the last time soon.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:14am

      @Paperboy, I’m providing a service to my country. What are you doing? And yes, people would notice I was gone, people like you……well, maybe not, but those soldiers that you folks all claim to love would surely notice. You provide NO FACTS for your silly assertion, none at all, and you probably don’t even understand enough of how the Government works. I answered you, see your own posting below for a more detailed answer. Oh, by the way, the biggest item in the budget is debt service, and you can’t cut that if you want us to keep our credit rating. Entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare take up a huge portion, too. Do you intend to cut those? What about Granny? How will she survive? Oh, and Military pay? Do you want to cut that? How about equipment for them?

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:21am

      @desertrose1959
      Should’nt you be working ?

      Report Post »  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:24am

      @Rightsofbilly, It’s not alright, and you don’t understand. I‘m worried about idiots derailing the Government train and pulling up the tracks and then whining and crying like little brats when they realize that it’s broken and can’t be fixed. I think you‘ll miss the things you won’t get anything from the Government, you know, useless things like national defense and a functioning monetary system, or roads, sewage, and communications! And I’m worried about those same idiots arresting me or people like me for speaking our minds and practicing our faith but refusing to go along with their misguided dreck. But you’re sure that you understand what the situation is, when quite clearly, you don’t. I got a message from a Conservative friend last January. She forwarded a plan to help “improve” the Government, but it was suggesting reforms to Government retirement that had been implemented in 1984, and the rest of the suggestions were equally ignorant and misguided, but it sure sounded good to her. You can’t destroy the country and the Constitution to “save the Constitution”. It doesn’t work that way.

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:31am

      My you are in overdrive today, aren’t you?

      Why don’t you tell us what is REALLY bothering you.

      Tell me, are there any deserts in Tokyo Rose?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:33am

      And Rose,

      Rest assured, we will always get plenty of “sewage” from the government.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • bringiton
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:52am

      You’re just a parisite. Nothing more, nothing less..

      Report Post »  
    • umreb78
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:06pm

      Equivocate and rationalize to your heart’s content, but the fact of the matter is that apart from providing Constitutionally mandated national security, the federal government is little more than (in the parlance of private enterprise) OVERHEAD….Neither it nor it’s employees produce a darn thing or add one nickel to national economic growth.

      Report Post »  
    • Joan of Snark
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:12pm

      The Wounded Warrior Program is a federal 501(c)(3). A private sector-created and private sector-run charity. It has NO ties to the federal government except from a reporting perspective, same as all businesses. So using those patriots as some justification for the overreaching tentacles of bureaucracy or to compare their real service to a so-called career spent pushing a pencil for some busy-work task NEVER mandated in the Constitutuion is, in a word, crap.

      As for your “losing” your precious greater-than-private sector vacation time, suck it up. Not many people in the private sector are afforded as much time off as any level of goverment employee, let alone allowed to carry it over from year to year. As for your paying taxes, that‘s just the old shell game of robbing Peter to pay Paul since you’d have no money to spend or be taxed if others were not producing real goods and services and paying the taxes that fund your salary to begin with.

      Bottom line: we don’t need 3/4 of our federal employees. They exist only to feed the bloated egos of progressive liberal politicians.

      Report Post »  
    • qz2026
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:20pm

      Rose, 2.1 MILLION federal workers and rising is enough for me. You can attempt to justify your earnings all you want but it won’t work here. Put 1.5 million of those 2.1 million in the private sector and there will be a boom. You and the ever increasing federal workers are no more than a drain on this country. Tell me what you produced for this economy last year other than paper and reports. There was a time when the government was smaller that we really appreciated the work government employees did. But, not any more. Your and your bureacratic machine continue to take our (the citizens of this country) rights away at an alarming rate. And most importantly, due to Progressive Congresses, Administrations and Judicial Branches have totally turned the people against the government. The left has done a very good job of dividing and conquering this country. And what will be your comment when the government goes bankrupt? Don’t look for any sympathy here.

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:28pm

      @desertrose
      Those restaurants you speak of, going out of bussiness, that rely on you and other federal worker to spend money there, what you fail miserably to understand, is the reason they are going under is because the govt is forced to steal more and more from them in order to PAY your salary, taxinig and regulating and fines and fees and penalties and interest , if everything isnt done like big brother wants it, and I know, cuz i own three restaurants…. Its your boss who is putting them out of business, but im sure you dont accept that FACT…

      Report Post »  
    • SecularConservative
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:36pm

      @DesertRose,

      I agree with you and don’t like the fact that most of these people have a whole opinion based on just reading the headlines. I recently separated from the Army. I didn’t join just to be on a “gravy train” or get a free ride. It was hard work. I was medically discharged and now I work for a contracting company. I continue to pay into Tricare because it’s cheaper than the “medical benefit” I could receive. Looking at glassdoor.com or salary.com I find I make the average salary. The jobs that pay well are the ones that require a skill. If you‘re jealous because you have to work 2 jobs to stay afloat maybe it’s time to look into a more desired career. Maybe you should have held off on having kids a few years or stopped using credit cards.

      Let’s start by cutting the pay of those taking up seats in Washington D.C. and cut back things like welfare and food stamps. If the gov‘t didn’t use tax dollars to hire workers then who would pay for things like roads and bridges or training for soldiers? using tax dollars for infrastructure is not the same as big-bank bailouts or welfare handouts.

      Report Post »  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:22pm

      Really, it’s not fair to bash those who do work for the government, it isn’t their fault that a position was available in the career field of their background. Now, with that being said, Just like the teacher, the federal employees had initially taken their job primarily for the benefits. This is the reason I chose “water Treatment” when I went into the service. I knew I could work for a water authority where the pay wouldn’t be huge, but the benefits were good. I put in my years and I could retie. The work didn’t pay like the private sector, but I also didn’t work like the private sector. Teachers I grew up with knew this getting in as well. However, this isn’t the way it is anymore. The government jobs want their pay to match or exceed the top paying private sector jobs and also get the great benefits. In essence , they want their cake and eat it too !. And this is only th jobs concerning efforts that actually do work, How about the countless agency‘s that don’t do anything productive ? You know, like one in my family’s job, where the government paid for them to get their Masters, of which, they were on salary while they went to school. How in the world could we afford to do things like this ? I recall getting lead paint abatement training in the service. A mandate had come down stating so many people per base were required to be certified. The class of 5days, cost $25,000 per person. 30 people in the class = $750,000, most of which, like me, got out in 4 years.

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • Patriot of My America
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:28pm

      What a Crock of LIES you must be a DemocRAT

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:29pm

      Just one trip to http://www.usajobs.com will tell you what salary government workers can expect. Right now in my area Physicians, Nurses, and other medical personnel are in demand. Office Automation, which is the new category in government jobs earn anywhere between 24,000 to 30, 000 per year depending on location and department. This I agree generally follows along private sector pay.

      DesertRose, I think what many are eluding to here is that the government is growing Federal workers by leaps and bounds more than businesses in the private sector. It has always been a fact that working for the Federal government had it’s benefits. Obama is trying to force the only jobs available are government jobs. He is creating policies that stifle the private sector from creating jobs. He wants to tax them on the premise that they make too much money and therefore need to be taxed more to support his Federal programs. We don’t need multiple government agencies doing the same work. We need to consolidate those no longer needed into one agency or eliminate the agency all together. The government is not here to take care of people; it is not their job. People should take care of people. The government has three jobs: protect the people (defense), maintain federal highways (Interstates); and uphold the laws of the land (Constitution). Nothing else. Obama is bankrupting America and if you can’t see that, God help you.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Veritas Libertas
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:48pm

      Interesting that what Rose has been justifying is the “too bog to fail” argument. The federal government is broke and the majority of state governments have become dependent on funding from the federal government thus bankrupting them. A perpetual cycle of debt and dependency has been created. The question still remains, how can it be paid for?

      The system is unsustainable, and the debate to raise the debt ceiling by another $1.2 trillion is now on the agenda. This increase will bring about another downgrade of the U.S. economy and ultimately the loss of the U.S. dollar as the worlds reserve currency. When that happens and the entire country, federal, state and private sector employees, will all suffer. This is a choreographed plan to collapse the U.S. economy in order to offer the solution of an international (possibly regional) currency and with it governance. This isn’t news to anyone and has been stated openly for years, most people didn’t want to believe it, or thought it would be a problem for some future generation. It‘s here and it’s our problem to deal with.

      You and I have one final chance to change this course, but it’s doubtful that most of our fellow Americans will be brave enough to stand up and be counted. The creeping tyranny of the past has been ignored and grown from a buzzing gnat into a fire breathing dragon because of our avoidance to acknowledge it’s very existence.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:08pm

      @DesertRose1960

      It’s laughable, except for the moral disgust, when a Federal worker states they are “serving” their country. You’re an employee, and you’re compensated for your work. Don’t like the compensation? Quit and go work elsewhere. That chorus of angry people you’re hearing on the boards? Those are your millions of bosses disgusted by your attitude, your work-ethic, and your existence on our payroll. We just can’t figure out what to do to actually fire you. It’s like President Obama and Congress are one giant Union protecting your job.

      I want to relate a little story. I grew up with a friend who was a liberal. He want to a liberal arts college and got a degree in…Art. After graduation, he fooled around in different jobs for a while before going back to school to get a degree in….Business.

      A few years ago, he looked me up to reconnect, and told me how he was currently working for the Social Security office. My jaw dropped. Here was a guy who used to say things like “…workin’ for the man” who was now literally ‘workin’ for the man’.

      I asked what made him think of working for the SS office, and he immediately replied, “I just felt like I wanted to give something back.” Yeah, I laughed out loud over the phone at him, but now it just makes me sad to think there are so many Americans who genuinely think as he does.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • tootsie roll
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:54pm

      You mention that your husbands insurance is subsidized. That means that the taxpayers pay for your FULL MEDICAL AND PART OF HIS. Boo Hoo. And your on a pay has been frozen.
      So you think you are alone. This year is the first year my parents will get a raise in their SS. How have they existed for 2 years? As for buying clothes, cars, food and other shopping EVERYONE WHO IS ALIVE DOES THAT. And you can’t eat OUT AS OFTEN. How about others who are struggling to pay for their homes and GAS FOR THE CAR TO GO TO WORK? These people NEVER EAT OUT. OWS should start picketing the federal employees who live and work in DC Sounds to me like it is really HARD TO LIVE OFF YOUR SALARY.
      BY THE WAY WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHAT IS YOUR SALARY CARE TO SHARE THAT WITH US?

      Report Post »  
    • micromouth
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 5:06pm

      Welcome to la-la land.

      Report Post »  
    • Nvrat
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:10pm

      govnt hack!

      Report Post »  
    • coach mike
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:27pm

      I’m with you. I’m an Army combat vet and a federal employee who placed duty to country and a stable (albeit a substantially lower) salary, over the big bucks chased by many of my private sector buddies. Aside form the occasional 2% increase (or thereabouts), I havent seen a salary increase since 1996. At the same time many of my buddies made on average $75K more per year for the same job I do…along withfar better retirement and medical plans. They bought all the toys and the expensive homes, and some of them investied well. Unfortunately some did not, and now that the private sector is hurting, they look at me like I’ve got it great. Are you kidding me? I was struggling to buy a home (any home) and keep take care of my kids while you vacationed in the islands and bought new cars and boats. In addition, because I’m not a CERS employee (I was hired after 1985), I don’t have the sweet federal retirement that most people associate with federal employment. Yea, there’s alot of bad ino out there, and someone’s got to be the scape-goat.

      Report Post »  
    • comsense08
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:23pm

      Would that be the few workers who still had a job after obama destroyed the private jobs market? I do not believe you are a federal employee and if you are, you must suck at your job because there is way to much data out there that proves your stand otherwise! We have all witnessed government workers and quite frankly, none of you are being worked to death, that’s for sure, and you sure don’t return the value of the cost of your employment which is a hallmark in the private side of things. We could cut government by 1/2 and there would be no obvious impact to the rest of us out here in the real world.

      Report Post »  
    • Hail Storm
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 4:47am

      First let me say I work for the Postal Service we are NOT funded by tax payers dollars!!
      Second I lost 400.00 dollars a month after the last mail count because the PS picked the worst time to have a count. After 20 years of service I have never had a mail count that did not have a holiday in it.
      Third I make no where near what they say government employees make, and I work my tail off. I wished I did make 75,000 a year. I will not even break 50 next year.
      Forth the postal service has gotten rid of a lot of clerks mail handlers etc. and we had to watch a video from our beloved Post Master General telling us we will be loosing about 300,000 more people during 2012. Because they are shutting down plants and consolidating routes. My mail volume has not seen that much of a decline. Where I live people still write birthday cards get well cards etc.
      And last I notice that most of you were writing around 10 or 11 am. Why aren’t you at work? It’s 4:45 and I am on my way to work. Don’ believe everything you read or hear. That’s what they want divide and conquer!

      Report Post » Hail Storm  
    • hellgateshaker
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:40pm

      I agree with Desertrose on all the facts she has reported. My husband is a federal employee, and a Combat Vet. He is a hard worker, and gets tired of the “bad apples” He has to deal with. As for those who want to cut the doctors who work specifically with our vets, that isn’t going to work. What you don’t realize, and what isn’t reported is that 90% of our vets will not, or cannot speak with someone who isn’t a vet. And before you go ranting about them needing to be more willing to work with the private sector or some crap like that. Go and spend 6-12 months in Afghanistan, then we’ll see how you feel. Not to mention the fact that if they do that, then they will have to pay for the care through their private insurance. “The person that said that you should pull your grandpa out of the hospital and take care of him yourself.” You are just an ignorant fool, and need to spend some time with our troops and their families. Spend just one day seeing the effects war has on people, even after they get home, your mind will be changed. Get off your high horses people and realize that there are some federal jobs that are completely necessary. Do I think we need reform in the government? Yes, absolutely! I think it needs to start at the top though, with all of the czars that have been hired, and congressmans aids and such that aren’t necessary. Another fact that isn’t reported in this article, is the federal employees will not receive any raises for the next 2 years

      Report Post »  
  • KINGRUDDY
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:34am

    Can you say TERM LIMITS? Live the laws you pass…DAH!!
    Where is the common sense? Pelosi in a 10k per night hotel, Obama spends 4 zillion on his 17 day vacation!
    WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!

    Report Post » KINGRUDDY  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:33am

      @desertrose
      How did granny survive the first 150 years of the republic, and yes, as far as cutting all ss ponzi schemes. yes, and medical costs didnt start going thru the roof until the Criminal Federal Govt got involved, and that 21 trillion dollar war on poverty goin ? After 60 years , poverty is up by 2%, but it sure did buy lots of Democrat votes, didnt it ? Who cares if it ruined an entire race of people, and took a bunch of cities into the hellhole, as long as the poverty pimps stay in office, right ? Cut the Criminal Federal Govt. By 75% and watch us boom, i would bet you couldnt survive one month in the private sector, and yr hubby too …..

      Report Post »  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:46am

      @Paperboy, The poverty rate for senior citizens was 70% before Social Security, and Social Security cut that down by 70%. Many seniors had to live with their children, back in the 1980s, many lived on dog food. The poverty rate for children is up, but even in this dire economic time, seniors have been relatively immune from poverty, they are the only group that didn’t slump…well, them and the top 1%.

      Lots of Federal employees have “use or lose” at this time of year. We earned the leave and if we don’t take it, it just disappears, no compensation, it just gets erased. You have to have 6 weeks of regular leave on the books before that happens. Sick leave rolls over and gets applied towards time in service at retirement. I get no bonuses, just a straight salary.

      @Rightsofbilly, I am never anything less than honest and I have never suffered fools lightly. But I have to admit, I’ve had enough for today. My sufferance has been tested and my stomach is turning. It’s well meaning folks like you guys that always ruin their own backyards and then whine about not being stopped.

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • aetoan
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:17am

      Like I said, take your grandpa out of the government veterans hospital, you should take care of him at home.

      Report Post »  
  • BetterDays
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:24am

    I could never qualify for a government job for a multitude of reasons. First, I can’t wear poliester, secondly if I sit in one place for too long I simply must get up and do something, thirdly since I brush my teeth regularly my breath is much to “fresh”, fourthly I prefer not to eat doughnuts at a rate anywhere near what the government requires it’s employees to eat them, fifth, if I see someone doing absolutely nothing while I’m working I tend to make their lives a living hell by stealing their “red stapler”( I later as for forgiveness for stealing, lol.) and lastly, I can’t work for the government because I actually care about my fellow man and I know that taking such a job, a job that actually contributes nothing to society in terms of a profitable product, but one that does cost my fellows greatly in terms of debt, is in itself “stealing”, take that you doughnut swilling, poliester wearing, red stapler hunting, inert creators of greenhouse gas, with breath of a mammoth in it’s third week of decay, you, OH Goverment layabout are stealing, and stealing is a SIN. All of that and your mother has been reported to attack watch for birthing you, you wastrels in government employ./
    Can anyone name any product that government actually creates to sell at a proffit?

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:06am

      @Betterdays
      I think im in love, will you marry me ; )) that made my day !!!!

      Report Post »  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:01pm

      @Betterdays, Spit out the bitter pill, t’s fouled your nose and your breath. I don’t wear polyester, I wear wool, silk, and cotton. I haven’t had a doughnut in weeks and I brush my teeth everyday. I don’t have a red stapler, I bought a burgundy one with my own money eleven years ago, no one has tried to steal it or make me hunt for it since I left teaching.
      . I don’t know anyone with a red stapler. I understand the reference, but I’ve never seen “Office Space”, it’s a little too “twentysomething” for my attention span. You do realize that was a private company, though, not the Government? The Government doesn’t buy red staplers and my office has had paper shortages that have gone on for months (It’s called “Continuing Resolutions”).

      And what sort of thing do we produce? How about “national security/defense”? Oh, you can’t sell that for a profit, though. And, to think, I take pride in serving folks like you, but I do, and I genuinely care about my fellow human beings, which is really more than can be said about you. Federal employees are human beings, too. And not everything that is worth having or doing is for a profit. We would have no doctors or teachers or scientists if it were. There’s this thing called “the public good” but it must not be important because you can’t sell it, but I guess you think “the public good” is stealing. Tell me, what have you produced that marketable? What have you done for the public good?

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • SFYMP
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:31pm

      Rosie, Sweetie, Thanks so much for convincing more private citizens that you and your hubby with a masters are the problem You are a govt.stooge nothing more. I plan on firing you and your hubby and all your govt friends next year. Thanks for exposing your undying love of the govt. and bambam.

      Report Post »  
    • Joan of Snark
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:32pm

      “Federal employees are human beings, too.”

      And as the old song goes, they are more to be pitied than censored. For federal employees, too, deserve the Constitutionally-mandated and God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of their own individual happiness, complete with the natural consequences of making their own free-will choices. They do NOT deserve to have their fears of inadequacy or their overblown egos coddled by a lifetime spent forcing others to do anything not specified in the Constitution, aka all the rules and regulations and legislated morality (aka known to all good comrades as the “common good”) forced down Americans throats for that last 70-odd years by progressive liberals.

      Report Post »  
  • OneTermPresident
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:15am

    Meanwhile… the Occupiers remain CLUELESS under the direction of SEIU, Obama and Frances Fox Piven

    Report Post » OneTermPresident  
  • hauschild
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:10am

    The sham has been exposed for years, but nobody really seems to care.

    I still don’t understand how a public sector pension at a guaranteed amount can be justified, when the rate of return these days is near nil.

    Private sector workers are probably three times as productive, and what do they get for it? Kicked in the nads, and then be told how they’re supposed to take it and like it. It’s wild.

    Report Post »  
  • FamilyVanMan
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:09am

    The POINT of the job protection and benefits in a government job was supposed to compensate for a low salary and few opportunities for pay raises. Now they are making more than anyone and still have the benefits. The congress needs to severely cut the budget of the executive branch, and let them figure out what they need to cut.

    Report Post »  
    • lvctry
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 8:29am

      right now the govt IS HIRING at an alarming rate, but what is nt being addressed is the fact that “many” of the young new hires DON’T STAY.They are smart young kids with the notion that govt is like a corp and they can fast track to that $100,000 salary in 3 yrs-NOT! When that dosen’t happen they quit! The govt pays about $40,000 for a security clearance for each hire, and they leave govt and use the clearance on a resume, that’s it. Govt cannot keep employees cause there is no job loyalty from new hires today. The idea of new workers is they won’t waste their tiime staying. Half never finish probation time before they leave, there is an awful brain drain in many agencies, and those ready to retire are not given any extra money to stay. In 10 years-no 5 yrs, the country is in big trouble, no one will really know what their doing. no continuity of information, should be a really scary enviroment, but don’t worry america, the govt employees won’t be on the payroll, cause there won’t be that many willing to go to jail for a mistake made.

      Report Post »  
  • bhelmet
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:02am

    Yet they are some of the loudest complainers about their jobs/working conditions.

    Report Post » bhelmet  
  • doomytram
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:59am

    The FEDS, under the Barrack Hussein Obama administration, in 2009-2010 were given exhorbitant raises, accross the board. From Michelle asst. to her hair and nails asst. to the asst, to all of the Ivy League Labor and unemployment rate majors at Harvard, Princton, and Yale. All raises…. this from ridiculous joke of an administration. This administration putforth an Obama budget that was voted down 97-0.

    Yeah, the labor guy – Chu and the administration came up with this amazing new budget 5 days after the ridiculous failed budge came out, while the president was on vacation.

    How come the president didn’t come out with this amazing budget a week before?

    Report Post » doomytram  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:33am

      And your proof for this is where, exactly? Would you even know where to find the information to research it? I provided public record websites for my information. Where’s yours?

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • doomytram
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:55pm

      Well @ Desertrose1960 I thought what I said was common sense obvious.. Do you not remember, as I do, that at the end of 2009 going into 2010 that Obama gave everyone on his staff big raises. YOU Google it, as I’m not wasting my time.

      Also, in April of 2011 the president presented his ridiculous budget that was voted down 97-0, you don’t remember? Also, refer to Meet The Press Archeives from the summer when Chu who is the president’s secretary of energy or another one of his over paid handlers. He had to save face for the 97-0 failed budget, and that is when Barrack came up with the miraculous new budget 5 days later, while the president was on vacation.

      It’s fact, and I can‘t believe you haven’t heard about this… where have you been HuffPO?

      Report Post » doomytram  
  • Mr. Oshawott
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:58am

    Sigh…This is really depressing, since it’s the taxpayers that have to cover the salaries of these federal workers.

    Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:56am

    When you’re looking at these figures and thinking back to the payouts for companies that have nothing to do with the welfare of the people, like the 500 million check they handed to Fisker car company, and the $737 million dollar check they gave to Pelosi‘s brother in law’s “former” business employer Solyndra. Then we look at the article about the wasteful spending of the NSF watching seafood running on a treadmill for 600k, and you see the figures here of how much these people make….

    I can’t resist asking myself, was Tim McVay right all along? Because a lot of what he said in the past, are the same damn things some of us are saying right this minute. Believe it or not. They’re living High on the Hog without consequence for their actions. And all we can do is sit where ever we are and look stupid. Remove one of them, they’ll just replace themselves through deception and denial. His final actions may have been wrong, but his thoughts at the time spoke volumes when you have the facts in front of you.

    If I were to look at our society right now from the outside looking in, it‘s akin to dealing with Chikan’s in Japan. You know they’re doing it, and you‘re helpless to even stop it thanks to society’s view of “making trouble that doesn’t concern you”. And all it takes is one bad moment where you lose your composure and go on a rampage, hunting these dirt bags down.

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:55am

    Time for lay-offs

    Report Post »  
  • starman70
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:53am

    This is just what Obama wants!!!!! The USSR was just like this – - IT FAILED!

    Obama and his Commie advisors want more and more government employees. They will impress heavily upon those employees that if any changes are made they might lose their jobs, so they better vote for the status quo. Every state and local government (Especially those states with almost un repayable deficits) are guilty of this behavior.

    Government workers are TAKERS. They don’t PRODUCE anything marketable. They don’t produce products saleable n the marketplace or overseas. They just use up tax money and create a labyrinth of paperwork to justify their existance. The paperwork they create costs businesses millions if not billions to comply with and causes the average citizen untold headaches to fill out.

    It‘s high time that the voters of America wake up and stop this government bureaucratic nightmare before it’s too late. In the Federal governemt: First on the list, The Department of Ecudation! Second:The Department of Energy! – - – Add your own to the list – - – there are many.

    Report Post »  
    • usnpops
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:11pm

      The government is the largest employeer in the country. They now employ more people than Wal Mart who used to have that distinction.

      Even though those Gov workers pay taxes, which is their justification for their jobs, they consume more than they and the actual producers pay into the pot.

      So when the Consumers of taxpayers money are in greater numbers than producers of taxpayers money, something has to eventually crash.

      Report Post »  
  • flfshrmn
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:42am

    If we elect the right person to the presidency all but one of the front runners has said they will cut several government agencies…..that would be a great start.

    Report Post » flfshrmn  
    • bhelmet
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:04am

      I love the sentiment – now we must ask the follow-up question – HOW are they going to eliminate those branches? The answer would tell us much about our candidates.

      Report Post » bhelmet  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:24am

      @bhelmet

      Exactly.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:44am

      obama said he would cut waste …. hope you not waitin on that.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:42am

    Hell, lets all work for the Criminal Federal Govt. Then unemployment will be zero ! Right ??? I mean all we need to do is print more money, its just ink and paper….

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:40am

    Nepotism and racism is a an all time high!!!!!. They have so many tricks, where they hire their kids as summer/christmas workers, for 10x what they should make, have them do nothing but surf the web, while committing the government to hire them once the graduate, no matter what the degree. Then they pay for them to get a bogus masters and doctorate, so they can 6 years out of high school be making 150k+, working 10 or less hours a week. If you are black, they do the same thing, but you don’t have to be kin to anyone, and they pay for your “schooling” anywhere in the world your lazy ass may want to lite one up.

    Report Post »  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:48am

      @Swampy, Pull your head out of your bum, you don‘t know what you’re talking about. When my children were in high school, we were overseas, on a military base. Any student 14 yrs or older who applied was given a job for six weeks at $5 an hour, $2.50 less than U.S. minimum wage. It gave them something to do and kept them out of trouble. Since coming back to the States, my daughters had two summer hire jobs making just about minimum wages. When they graduated there was no job waiting for them, there was never a promise of one, either and there was a hiring freeze, which there still is. Had they found jobs, they would have been hired as GS 05s, and making about $27,500 in most parts of the country and that is with a college degree.

      As to your remarks about African Americans, well, they are disgraceful, and you should be ashamed of yourself for spouting such crap. The African American women who sit next to me came to work with Masters degrees already, paid at their own expense. I’ll bet you wonder why Liberals think TeaCons and Beck fans are bigots.

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:39am

    Fed Govt gets TOO MUCH MONEY

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:39am

    The goal of the Marxist is the destruction of capitalism so increasing the size of government by paying them more is logical for the Marxist.He believes in central planning and government is the answer to all our problems.We’ll have the uber rich and the poor,that’s called a Marxist utopia,the change he was talking about and it’s coming soon.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:45am

      I think it’s here.

      Report Post »  
    • qz2026
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:27pm

      Fascism is a religion of the state. It assumes the organic unity of the body politic and longs for a national leader attuned to the will of the people. It is totalitarian in that it views everything as political and holds that any action by the state is justified to achieve the common good. It takes responsibility for all aspects of life, including our health and well-being, and seeks to impose uniformity of thought and action, whether by force or through regulation and social pressure. Everything, including the economy and religion, must be aligned with its objectives. Any rival identity is part of the “problem” and therefore defined as the enemy. American liberalism embodies all of these aspects of fascism. Jonah Goldberg, 2007.

      Need I say more?

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:20pm

      @QZ2026 Nope. I read the book and he’s spot on.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • quiltgal
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:31am

    Government challenges new hires: Find creative ways to look busy even though you have nothing much to do.

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:45am

      They have to invent crap to do or impose on us to justify their exsistance, then hand us the bill.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:47am

      And, find more ways to spend money. Even if there is nothing to spend it on.

      Because if you don’t spend every dime of your yearly budget allowance, you won’t get a larger one next year.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:30am

    Why not? It’s not our money. China is paying for it all. Just raise the debt limit again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again…

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • bhelmet
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:06am

      I think the Fed now holds that destinction.

      Report Post » bhelmet  
  • owdi
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:29am

    Yes,but mention that fact to a liberal and they will call you a liar.

    Report Post »  
    • Dodot
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:41am

      Spot on I’ve been called worst by liberals

      Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:28am

    ObamCare is gonna heap on all of this the first week of Jan…patient center outcome institute…research to determine which treatment will be better…it’s on us baby…we pay the tax for it…get with it soon or lose it…forced substitution…

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:25am

    And ask yourselves, why is that…?

    Under Regan there was an EO to contract out 50% of the work force, leaving only the higher paid salaries. You see he too hated federal employees. And what skill sets do you contract out?

    And did anyone ask if they meet the 50% standard. NO! In 1995 someone asked, “how much have we contracted out?” Way over the goal sir, way over!!!

    Only the high grades in DoD were left…as a matter of fact they tried to contract out the Contracting Officer’s Position…and later found out that they can’t contract out that position as it is directly tied to the commitment of appropriated funds. Tried to put the fox in the hen house.

    So yeah, I can believe the salary is higher and I also believe that the older folks are staying in longer since the bloody economy is sucking wind.

    Wait a few years and it will go down. This is just food for the fools who think that by electing someone that the salary will go down…it will go down by itself thru attrition and hiring of lover level skill sets…which Obama is glad to do…

    And the end run on the game will to be run up the debt clock by lowering the average salary. You can only cut an agency so many times…right now DoD is dysfunctional. No secretaries and mid-managers.

    You have no ideal of the waste. Forget the hammer, toilet seat and the mr coffee…that’s nothing. And what did they do when the Coffman letter hit the street, they hired 500 buyers…Increased the debt with lower wage

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:00am

      @Samiamtwo, My husband is a career Federal personnel officer. He was part of the government during those Reagan years. What you don’t see is the escalation in costs to the taxpayer that all that “contracting out” caused. Yes, Federal grades did go up, well, not really, but the average pay slid over because all the low paying jobs were contracted out. But we also contracted out some high paying postitions, too. And we cut the Defense Contracting agency to a third of its strength and expanded the workload exponentially with all the contracted positions. We literally can’t put a single soldier onto the battlefield without an army of contractors to feed, cloth, and shelter him. And we took embassy guarding away from the Marines and gave it over to contractors, too. And contractors ALWAYS cost more than Federal employees. Some of the earliest contracts guaranteed a profit percentage and ALL EXPENSES (since made illegal). Yep, there’s waste all right, and you pay for it, but not directly, it’s in the contracts.

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:17am

      You are spinning and playing Alinsky games with us Rose.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:31am

      @Rights, No, I’m telling you straight facts. And if you really look at who’s playing the Alinsky Game, you might want to look at Beck, Karl Rove, Fox News, the Conservative blogosphere. The truth is, as a life-long Liberal, I NEVER heard of Alinsky or Cloward and Piven until I started paying attention to the ravings from the Right. I’ve never once gotten a memo from George Soros, let alone a paycheck. You folks make all sorts of stories up about folks like me, but they don’t resemble anyone I know, let alone me. But, I have found that when people are making this stuff up, it says more about what‘s going on in their minds than what’s happening with the targets of their imagination.

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:39am

      Yo have been trained well by your handlers.

      I’m sure you will be compensated handsomely.

      For now, that is.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:50am

      @ROSE,

      I find it rather puzzling that both You & JZS, that claim to be such well educated and well read individuals, both are now publicly declaring that they NEVER heard of Coward & Pliven until just recently.

      Either you are liars, or really big liars.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:51am

      @desertrose
      First of all the federal govt has no business in 75% of the things they are into, 2nd we dont need troops in138 different countries, cuz you maybe didnt get the memo that we’re broke, third, the true national security threat is on our southern border, not Germany, japan, etc.. Fourth, the cost of the debt service you speak of is the very reason to make drastic cuts, fifth , the founders warned us of this massive octopus of a central govt. And purposely kept it tiny, sixth, i now know why the rest of the world hates us, and its not because of what the town council, in Peoria Ill. Has done to them, its what this out of control Criminal Federal Govt is doing around the globe, in our name. 7th please please tell me your daughters dont work for the govt also…..WE ARE BROKE….

      Report Post »  
    • qz2026
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:30pm

      Rose, you wouldn’t get a memo from Soros. You’re a peeon who thinks she is important.
      Soros deals at the Obama level dummy.

      Report Post »  
    • SFYMP
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:38pm

      Rosy is a classic example of stupidity in govt. folks. Please take notes on blind followers like tokyo rosy.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:34pm

      I’m sorry, I must apologize to JZS.

      If my memory is correct, it was Alinsky that he claimed he had never heard of, not Coward & Pliven.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Folks desertrose has it right…you are missing the point…now go fetch or forever be doomed by the media…who never digs any deeper than an inch to get people all riled up…

      The big ranch is like a balloon, you push it here and it pokes out there…been said for many years and still yet no one gets it…but under Obama it is being pushed harder and faster than ever to make it inelastic…

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:23am

    Why is this a suprise? The Fed wants to dominate under the Progressives leadership so to ensure their loyalty the govt needs to pay the “enlightened elite’ better than all others.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:25am

      Exactly .. two classes .. Fed employees and welfare.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:41am

      And what you see is the “new world order”. We are futher in than most realize. All these people are dependant on the government. Heck… good pay, good benifits, job security, why not.

      It is all set up to be appealing … it is the bait in the trap.

      Let us take care of you and you will be fine !!!

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:21am

    Cut the CRIMINAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT by 75%, and watch us boom economically….

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:47am

      First cut the unemployment weeks back to what they were before. Then cut the employees. ;-)

      Report Post »  
    • DesertRose1960
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:07am

      @Paperboy, you do realize that Federal employees are taxpayers, too, don’t you? You realize that we put our money back into the local economy by paying local taxes, as well as Federal, sending our children to local schools, buying groceries, eating in restaurants, going to the movies, buy clothes for work and for our children, buying cars to get to work, buying houses. If you get rid of us, what will happen to all the people who depend on OUR incomes to make theirs? Do you think the economy will boom then? I’ve had to cut back on my spending since the economy crashed in 2008, just two months ago, my favorite Chinese restaurant went under after 11 years in business, lots of the restaurants I used to eat in aren’t there any more, and lots of the stores I used to go to are gone, too. I live in the D.C. area, there are lots of Federal employees here, if we all lost our jobs, what would happen to all those other folks, my neighbors?

      Report Post » DesertRose1960  
    • doomytram
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:15am

      @Detroit Paper boy is right, 100%

      Report Post » doomytram  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:18am

      The lady doth protest too much methinks.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • bringiton
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:02pm

      @ Billy: You don‘t think she’s feeling guilty for being a bottom-feeding parisite paying her“taxes” with taxpayer money, do you?

      Report Post »  
    • Joan of Snark
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:26pm

      Gosh, all those federal employees might have to come up with something creative and productive to do for which other people might actually WANT to spend their money. Kinda like all the small business owners paying their salaries today.

      Report Post »  
    • qz2026
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:44pm

      Rose, we don’t want to get rid of you, just the bloated government. You need to be in a job that produces something tangible that people will consume thus energizing the economy. But you simply don’t understand economics, let alone Capitalism. And it is Capitalism that made this country what it once was – the economic power of the world. To think that because you pay taxes and purchase goods and services justifies your job is rediculous. This is one of many fallacies those on the left would have you believe. And, I suggest to you that YOU don’t understand the government and how it works. To think that the government is filled with leftist idiots as you is truly scary. You need to read a bit of history beginning with the Federalist Papers and how socialsm/communism/fascism has always failed. You are seeing it now in Europe and will soon see it here. Sure we are not a Socialistic state but the tendencies and idiology of your heroic leaders are pushing us there because that is surely their goal. And, it seems to me that this idiology trickles down to the peeons.

      Report Post »  
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