It was only a small percentage of baby boomers that "screwed up the country." Most of us are hard working, patriotic citizens. Be careful when painting with a broad brush.
Posted on 01/14/2007 8:47:45 AM PST by Sen Jack S. Fogbound
WASHINGTON — The federal government is targeting millions of retiring to replace the estimated one-half of their colleagues eligible to retire from federal service in the next few years, according to the Partnership for Public Service, an advocacy organization for federal careers.
Maryland retirees, in particular, are prime candidates for the second career push because of their proximity to the many federal agencies with homes in both Washington and Maryland.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That's great, hire the people that screwed up the country to begin with.
Just let the bloated bureaucracies cull themselves by attrition. A moratorium on hiring would be the best thing the Federal Government could do for America and the budget.
Huh? How about leaving the tens of dollars in my pocket and doing good by cutting back on government freebies.
This is a huge national problem and not just for the gov't. There are many gov't and industry jobs where people can retire at 55 years old. The boomers will leave a big hole to fill. And this hole can't be filled by low skilled immigrants (legal or illega).
So, baby boomers who work for the government get to retire, and they want to replace them with other baby boomers?
That's possible. But maybe they're looking for people who they didn't hire the first time because of quotas and affirmative action. You know, educated people with a work ethic who could actually do 8 hours work in a day, and do it well!
Yes! Exactly. Baby Boomers who work for the government are going to be able to take advantage of their much-better-than-95%-of-people pensions to retire early (and be well off).
Meanwhile, millions of older workers who have spent a lifetime in private industry have little or nothing in retirement benefits due them (in part due to government 'oversight' in industries like airlines and steel).
So you're late, but not to late to get on the bandwagon. In the immortal words of Pink Floyd "we call it riding the gravy train".
By the way, which one is Pink?
Hey! I can move to MD.!!
"Just let the bloated bureaucracies cull themselves by attrition. A moratorium on hiring would be the best thing the Federal Government could do for America and the budget."
Bears repeating.
There are jobs all over. I just looked through the offerings around the Chicago metro area, in fact.
You mean there are jobs illegals won't do?
LOL!!
I didn’t see in the article an intent to rehire retiring Federal employees, but rather the hiring of private sector retirees. I spent 20 years in public service at the county level and only saw half the picture. I spent the next 20 years as a private businessman and saw the other half. Needless to say, I now see the government, at all levels, in a different light, having been the victim of many self-serving and ill-conceived laws, regulations and decisions by elected officials and their minions. I think retired non-government workers could bring something to the table that’s too often missing in government; a practical and prudent approach to problem solving. As for the retiring government workers, they too should have an opportunity to work after retirement if they so desire, but only in non-government entities. I enjoyed working in my chosen field in both the government and private sector, but I think I may have handled something things differently had I had my private sector experience under my belt before working for the government.
I’m not sure the reduction of the government workforce by attrition isn’t a bad idea either.
Sounds like a scam to me: Retire, draw benefits, go back to work and draw benefits AND paycheck.
But seriously, the Government has come to this party late also. A lot of companies have had their boomer force retire, only to ask many of them to come back on at least a part time basis. The baby boomers as a group simply take up a huge portion of the work force. They can be replaced in small numbers, but the huge numbers cause a corresponding huge problem in terms of hiring someone who can even do their jobs! I'll give you a heads up on a subtle slam that is going to be directed at the boomers soon. "If you're a retired boomer, and you haven't taken another job, you're a slacker and a parasite." Watch and see if something like this comes about.
It's ripe for parody. If you're over fifty, losing your job means being age-discriminated right out of the work force or into minimum wage slots. The heavy hand of government on business being administered by the older guy the business wouldn't hire would be too funny.
I'm a federal government employee. In my particular specialized segment of the federal civilian workforce, I'm eligible to retire at age 50 with a full pension and lifetime health insurance paid 70% by the federal government.
Since I turned 50 a few months ago, I'm thinking seriously about retiring and getting another full-time job so I can get both my pension and a new salary. This will mean a big income boost for me and my family.
IMHO you are an a$$hole for making that statement !
you got it.
You might want to take a look at this. Touchdown! Bears
I have had a fantasy that we could solve lots of problems by just having the two sets of workers switch for a while. The private sector people would bring efficiencies and especially technology. The government workers would feel like they died and went to heaven in terms of enviornment but might really be surprised by productivity requirements. I too, have done both,
It was only a small percentage of baby boomers that "screwed up the country." Most of us are hard working, patriotic citizens. Be careful when painting with a broad brush.
Are we moving to DC now? ;)
There are many cases where the same individual is rehired to the same job on a contract basis. Some civil service employees have to retire at a given age, especially officers in the military. If they don't make promotions, they are separated from military service.
The reason they state, "That way we don't have to train someone new."
I have no desire what ever to go to work for the Imperial Federal Government.
I spent years jumping through their stupid, ridiculous hoops when I was in business. A more onerous bunch you'll never meet.
Personally, I hope they are NOT able to find replacement workers. IMHO, the govt could loose at least 55% of it's current employees and still function. Of course this would have two immediate effects:
1. It would expose the lazy inefficient bureaucrats for what they are.
2. It would also expose all the bureaucrats hiding behind the Peter Principle and just marking time till they can cash in on a fat govt pension.
Pissed? You bet I am!
Crapped on again....
There are noticable amounts in the Michigan government retire and go back as consultants. Or I should say many who know the right people.
25 years ago I was temping in Albany, NY and I was sent to a government office. For THREE days I went there and nobody knew what I was supposed to do. I sat there. I think I typed one document.
This may be a good idea on the surface but what I see has happened is that the cuts and early retirement enticements utilized to cut government spending and balance budgets has resulted in thousand retiring from Michigan government. I think it was close to 7,000 some years back and most were not replaced. Most of course does not refer to management and above. The ones that were not replaced were the folks that actually do the work. Workers who for example had caseloads regarding welfare and foster children were not replaced which put impossible caseloads on the worker. There are many areas where cutting employees has caused what I believe are increased costs due to loss of funds because of fraud in childcare, fostercare and various grants.
I believe that the money doled out would not be nearly as large if with a program there were sufficient personnel to handle compliance and an aggressive attitude and willingness to spend what it took to prosecute fraud.
When is the last time you saw a government fraud being prosecuted? I realize, prosecutions are expensive but until we are willing to spend the money to employee those who look for fraud and until the attitude regarding whitecollar crime is changed even a basic program costs far more than it should.
Our money is tossed at every type of program Legislators deem necessary solely to promote themselves to be elected or reelected. There is no "safety net" for the taxpayer who funds their folly. Most state workers I know are hard workers but after the Legislator gets his pet project he cares nothing about if the program works or if it is cost effective.
Government work is not about doing a good job or getting the work done--it is ALL about politics, getting elected or re-elected. The stationery changes alone are astronomical as the old gets tossed.
I don't see how anyone can blame the worker as the worker is doing simply what bloated management wants done. When management is in so many layers and a supervisor tells you when to go to the bathroom and how to wipe your butt what do they expect but to dummies who will do exactly as they want and nothing more.
We need look no further than former Congressman Tony Coelho, an icon of virtue within the DNC.
Are you comparing whatever this DNC person to the massive government fraud regarding programs within our government? Please explain what you are saying?
He is exactly the employee that gets hired back after retirement or he figures out a way to scam money to run some agency, foundation, or some other enterprise that spends or doles out government money. Only problem, is their work is not honorable and it usually does end up in their pocket. BUT when do they do REAL jail time. I never see it. The jail time is reserved for the poor sap not the so-called upright do-gooders with political connections.
No reduction in the mission... well some reduction, since there is no money to develop new stuff, which in turn means less "contract monitors", and other such positions. Of course that also means less new stuff for the troops. With the rats in control of the $$$, the military will be sucking hind teat for a good long time, even more so than under the Rockefeller Republicans.
For those who disagree with that statement, talk to senior accounting and finance folks. I'm not saying that we're being forced into minimum wage slots, but very few companies are hiring 50+ folks for their accounting and tax departments. Age discrimination is rampant, and probably always has been.
As such, thousands (millions?) have gotten used to working on a contract basis, with little in the way of benefits, but much in the way of stress and uncertainty.
Fortunately, my search has ended (for now), as I start in a new controllership role on Monday. The last three years have had more ups and downs than all of the roller coasters at Six Flags.
The Boomer Generation has deserved a lot of the hits we've gotten. However, it will be interesting to see how the economy reacts to the retirement of many millions of educated and talented workers.
As I'll be working into my 70s (20 years from now), my job prospects aren't likely to peak for a few more years.
I'd like to see a thread on "predictions for the US economy in 2010-2015", or somesuch.
Luckily, on finding myself evidently unhireable after a year of sending out resumes and personal interviewing, I was close enough to retirement age that I did just that. Those wrecked on the discrimination shoals with no retirement island in reach, I feel sorry for.
Another plus was that I had been laid off in Seattle, an area in distress at the time which extended my unemployment benefits for quite a long time. I think I prolly got back more than I ever paid in UI deductions. So take that, you bastards! LOL
Down here in "Big D", there's usually steady work, but it's tough when a contract is cut short in early December.
You know how the "feast and famine" thing goes. I had more calls in one morning last week than I had for the last three weeks in December. After I accepted my job offer on Friday, I received a call from a very successful CPA for a tax season position that I had interviewed for on Weds. She followed that with a very warm and complimentary email yesterday, advising me that she was hoping I'd sign on permanently.
On top of that, I was in the midst of a second interview with another excellent company. Like I said, feast or famine.
As this economy continues to chug along, I would expect to see more anecdotes such as mine. Smart companies will look more at intangibles as work ethic, than strictly focusing on narrow skill sets, i.e. making sure that hexagonal peg fits exactly into that hexagonal hole.
Thank you. I happen to be temporarily unemployed so I think I will look into this........
Good for you and congrats on the new job!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I have heard that Homeland Security needs people on a temporary basis (up to a year of employment) for disaster reliefs. People are likely to be sent anywhere. Start at USA jobs.com and good luck.
Gen-X career progression:
Graduate College
out of work
Get hired, but not in your field
Layed off
Stop Gap job at 'Start-up' company
Company goes bankrupt.
out of work.
Boomers call you 'slacker'
Luck out and get job in your field.
Work for boomer managers.
Still in Jr. position at 40--still called 'kid'.
Congratulations, you're president of the company! They didn't hire anyone under 40 for 10 years and now they're all dead or retired!
Now figure out how to pay for their retirement and increasing health care benefits....
Everytime I read this article it pisses me off more.
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
I also believe that attitude trickles down to the lower levers where people are not as overtly corrupt but, where slacking, and other sub par performance standards have become the norm in many (but not all) instances and in their own way are a soft sort of embezzlement.
Tony Coehlo is an example of the worst type of the bureaucrat breed who gets exposed for big time graft or corruption and reappears in a short time in an even more influential and higher paying position.
Another example is Sandy Berger, a man who by all accounts should probably be tried for treason, but is still raking in millions doing business with foreign powers where he can use his influence and inside knowledge to sway clients and lobby for preferential deals. He will soon have his secret clearance back in time to become a foreign policy adviser and team member for the Hillary campaign and if she wins he will again be knee deep in crucial dealings with the U.N. and other powers hostile to our nation.
It is on this level that I am very disappointed with the Bush administration that I voted for hoping for some sort of moral paradigm shift in Washington that never happened. His justice department has done America no justice as far as I am concerned.
A good friend of mine has gone through all the TSA hoops including interview in Nevada, where he probably will be employed.
Tough choice to make after one has spend a lifetime here in Michigan........BUT, you gotta do what ya gotta do and here in S.E. Michigan decent jobs are few and far inbetween........
Reporters I wanted to use were not contractual and would not sign agreements with those who were awarded the contract. They did not want to increase their rates to pay the bid-winners their cut. Thus, I could not use them. I was required to use the higher cost service. It is this type of stuff that irks me. This is the manner in which these scam artists rape government. Think of the number of instances a reporter is needed in State Government and then think the contract was awarded to a few whose business was comprised of one or two self-emloyed reporters. These self-employed reporters apparently knew other free-lance reporters would have to come to them in order to keep the business. The award winners didn't even have to employ those doing the work. You would think contractual work would be cheaper. That is not necessarily true. It would seem this is a sure way to line your pockets if you know how to work the system.
Michigan also farms out to other states various services because they claim they can get the work done cheaper. At the same time they want the cheapest rate I cannot buy a pack of cigarettes out-of-state because they are cheaper. I am required to pay the tax. Michigan's budget is in such peril there is talk of adding fees to services. They already have a sales tax. I say, bring the government work back to the State and let the people pay taxes. Dancing all around the issues makes me mad.
All this competition regarding cost seems to me to be good only for government and/or business but it is not good for the citizen anymore (if it ever was). I am sick of the double-talk, lack of decency and growing number of self-serving politicians and yes some employers. In general, as you say corruption AT ALL LEVELS. It is a mindset and flows downward right through management. I respect employers for the gamble they take which presumably provides jobs to others but I also don't know of a single employer that does not skim. Is this the honorable employer that wants cheap labor? Isn't honor also honesty?
Any employer who complains he is getting dummies and cannot find good employees I believe has a management problem that is exposed within the community. I suggest, the good employees are going somewhere else. If the employer treats the employee as if they have no brains, they have no judgment, and employees are easy come easy go (have no value), why should an employee give their all and be loyal. Why would the employer expect what he is not willing to give? In other words, if cheap is what the employer wants he deserves what he gets.
If the public thinks government workers are grifters wait till they really make crappy wages. Every citizen uses government services. If the general public expects government to lower their pay standards (of course they understand this will happen only at the worker level) they deserve what they will get. Long lines at recreational State Parks and the Secretary of State's office for starters. LOL!
If I were younger and not banged up anymore I would apply.
I'm 56 and had almost 35 years with my company. I say "temporarily unemployed" because i am going to do whatever i can to become employed again.........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.