Federal employees earn 2% pay raise (gas price, Pelosi, gasoline, terrorist)

[saganista]

Originally Posted by old_cold

Funny that there was no need for a COLA for Social Security but there is one for government workers.
I guess they buy from different stores than retired people do.

No, the two COLA's are derived from different calculations. The SS COLA is derived from CPI-U in July, August, and September of the preceding year. If you'll recall, gasoline prices were in the $4.00 per gallon range in those months during 2008. SS recipients got a very large COLA for 2009 as the result, even though gas was back down to $1.50 a gallon by the first of the year. By the summer of 2009, gas prices were still way down from a year ealrier, and the rest of the CPI-U was falling as well thanks to the economic collapse of 2008. Thus SS recipients SHOULD get a negative COLA this year, but they will get zero instead. They may get zero in 2011 as well if the CPI-U for the summer of 2010 is not above that for the summer of 2008.

The COLA for federal workers is meanwhile based on a basket of private sector wage rates. These worker-citizen-taxpayers got a solid raise in 2009, but much less than what SS recipients got. This year, they will get a modest increase while SS gets none. Over the two years, the two groups will break about even, but the SS folks got their money earlier.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by Jadex

Heck maybe we should all become federal employees

Isn't the eventual outcome of a service sector economy? Eventually the only jobs will be government or grunt work, since everyhing else will have long since been shipped overseas.

But I'm sure you would turn down even a pitifully small raise like this for the good of the country, wouldn't you?

[Jadex]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

It IS to ME if I get the extra money.
I don't care what you call it.
It's still EXTRA money to the taxpayers - and less that they have to pay to the government (isn't that what YOU folks are always harping about wanting?)

Ken

Just dont want you calling it a cut when its not.

lol Dont act like you care about taxpayers getting extra money while you support federal employees getting their tax money while they are suffering.

If you really cared about taxpayers getting more money you would be agreeing with me that instead of giving a raise to a group of people that are keeping their jobs give it to the citizens and guess what that would include ALL people

[Sign]

Originally Posted by plannine

OK

So lets shut down the Government so everybody can feel the pain and you can be happy.

Army, Navy, Air Force - your all laid off
Border Patrol/Homeland Security/FBI/CIA - yup you too....get in the unemployment line
Federal Workers.... you too.
Congress - why not
DOD - your next.
Airports - I guess who every wants to can fly in and out.

Oh guess what.

States - you've got no money coming in from the feds since they've shut down. Schools - yup your next. Better shut down the roads, sheriffs hit the unemployment line....... (48 state governments are already collapsing....just two to go)

Cities & counties - ahhh too bad - you too, since you get much from your states and they have shut down too. Police, Fire and everything else


OK. You've got what you want. More tax payers losing jobs. Now what?

As deep in debt as America now is........a LOT of your suggestions to cut costs are worthy of consideration.

NO more Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.......means no more policing the world.
NO more Border Patrol/Homeland Security/DEA/CIA.........GOOD!
They haven't been all that successful at ANY part of their jobs more often than not!
Drug trafficking?.....Nope.
Illegal immigration/deportation?.....Nope.
Preventing terrorist acts?......Nope.
Corruption and temptation......claim many.
NOT even close to WORTH what the taxpayers spend to fund such ineffective and incompetent agencies!
Federal workers that shouldn't have the job they do.....SHOULD join many in the unemployment line!
Thousands and thousands of Govt. employees.....should come down to a level that they haven't seen or experienced. Certainly not what MANY a private sector worker has had to adapt to in recent times!
Congress......FOR SURE....ADIOS!

Not necessarily such cuts with the DoD though.
We HAVE the technology to make it a push-button "war" instead of relying on troops that are expected to serve multiple lengthy tours......indefinitely.
Maybe USE that awesome, highly accurate and destructive technology.......achieve VICTORY fast....with the lethal precision warfare we have invested so much money in already?

I see ENORMOUS savings possible with your suggestions.
Streamline the govt. /end all the red tape and put soooo much talent back out into the unemployed (private sector) workforce all in one swoop!
See if they get a 2% raise working for McDonald's.....THEN?
And still keep a smile knowing the taxpayers ain't footin the bill for their salary now.
Cushy lives must remain so.....for some folks.
WE......are forced to ensure this.

[Jadex]

Originally Posted by Chango

Isn't the eventual outcome of a service sector economy? Eventually the only jobs will be government or grunt work, since everyhing else will have long since been shipped overseas.

But I'm sure you would turn down even a pitifully small raise like this for the good of the country, wouldn't you?

I have done that actually. I have also shared bonuses with employees. I have thrown them parties for working hard out of my own pocket. Back when I was working. Guess thats why I've been blessed.

Sometimes you just have to do what is right no matter how hard it is.

I wouldnt have gotten a paycheck or bonus if not for the hard working employees that helped me.

I love though how you are trying to compare someone that doesnt work for the citizens of this country to someone that does.

[ringwise]

Originally Posted by plannine

OK

So lets shut down the Government so everybody can feel the pain and you can be happy.

Army, Navy, Air Force - your all laid off
Border Patrol/Homeland Security/FBI/CIA - yup you too....get in the unemployment line
Federal Workers.... you too.
Congress - why not
DOD - your next.
Airports - I guess who every wants to can fly in and out.

Oh guess what.

States - you've got no money coming in from the feds since they've shut down. Schools - yup your next. Better shut down the roads, sheriffs hit the unemployment line....... (48 state governments are already collapsing....just two to go)

Cities & counties - ahhh too bad - you too, since you get much from your states and they have shut down too. Police, Fire and everything else


OK. You've got what you want. More tax payers losing jobs. Now what?

Enough with the doomsday scenario. We just went through this with California's state employees. The state had to make tough choices, and immediately the shrieking started about law enforcement, education and healthcare.

There are PLENTY of places to cut costs at the federal level. Not every job is critical. Get real.

[Jadex]

I think it is very sad that those that sit here and approve of this raise are the same ones that dont approve of ceos getting a bonus with taxpayer money.

[ringwise]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

MOST Americans ARE working (80+% of the workforce is still employeed full-time).

MOST Americans WILL get a raise. Why should Federal workers NOT get what most Americans are going to get?

MOST Americans GOT a tax cut.

EVEN the unemployed have gotten additional Federal money in the form of several extensions of unemployment above and beyond what is available normally.

Ken

I'm assuming you're a federal employee?

[Jadex]

Originally Posted by ringwise

Enough with the doomsday scenario. We just went through this with California's state employees. The state had to make tough choices, and immediately the shrieking started about law enforcement, education and healthcare.

There are PLENTY of places to cut costs at the federal level. Not every job is critical. Get real.

Exactly we are just talking about they shouldnt be getting a raise.

That isnt going to cost them their job

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Jadex

Just dont want you calling it a cut when its not.

lol Dont act like you care about taxpayers getting extra money while you support federal employees getting their tax money while they are suffering.

If you really cared about taxpayers getting more money you would be agreeing with me that instead of giving a raise to a group of people that are keeping their jobs give it to the citizens and guess what that would include ALL people

Pretty much ALL people ARE getting more money.

Nearly everyone is getting a "reduction" in their taxes (whether you call it a credit or a cut).

Most of the people working (which is 80+% of the work force) will get a raise this year (as do most people every year).

Even all those people on unemployment got a RAISE in their benefits - PLUS have gotten several extensions to those benefits.
Give it up!

Pretty EVERYONE ELSE has gotten additional money from the government and yet you are intent on sticking it to the people like the border patrol and FBI agents who keep you safe.

Ken