For Government, Let the Good Times Roll

Rich Lowry ^ | February 06, 2010

[Steelfish]

FEBRUARY 5, 2010 For Government, Let the Good Times Roll The Great Recession has practically been a boom, if you have a government job.

For most Americans, the Great Recession has been an occasion to hold on for dear life. For public employees, it’s been an occasion to let the good times roll. The percentage of federal civil servants making more than $100,000 a year jumped from 14 percent to 19 percent during the first year and a half of the recession, according to USA Today. At the beginning of the downturn, the Transportation Department had one person making $170,000 or more a year; now it has 1,690 making that.

The New York Times reports that state and local governments have added a net 110,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession, while the private sector has lost 6.9 million. The gap between total compensation of public and private workers has only widened during the downturn, according to USA Today. In 2008, benefits for public employees grew at a rate three times that of private employees.

[zwerni]

we all work for the government...

[whitedog57]

Many of the public sector jobs will be lost. Look at the state budgets for CA, AZ, Mich, Ill, FL, NV and NJ. There WILL be blood!

[EGPWS]

For public employees, it’s been an occasion to let the good times roll. The percentage of federal civil servants making more than $100,000 a year jumped from 14 percent to 19 percent during the first year and a half of the recession, according to USA Today.

Money doesn't grow on Washington tree's and fill obama's stash.

Those who support alligators eating only wait to be eaten last.

[atomicweeder]

There are a few government works (maybe 10-15%) who are selfless, hardworking, smart, dedicated public servants.

The rest of them are lazy leeches, pulling down huge salaries and benefits all at taxpayer expense. I strongly support the following measures: immediate firing of 20% of all government workers. Immediate 20% pay cut for those remaining.

[proudtobeanamerican1]

How in the world do they think they can maintain that with none of us working.......besides printing more and more and more and more.

[EGPWS]

The rest of them are lazy leeches, pulling down huge salaries and benefits all at taxpayer expense.

Most of them can be voted out of office on a scheduled basis.

The rest should be placed on notice that they will be shi!!ing tacks like we nongovernmental workers, the producers of wealth, who truly support their complacent attitudes toward income via taxes.

[EGPWS]

we all work for the government...

Since when?

When did the Constitution place power into the government instead of the people via federalism to create government as an employer?

[mc5cents]

we all work for the government...

A taxpayer is someone who works for the government without having to take a civil service exam. -- Ronald Reagan

[familyop]

The big default is coming! The reckoning is near! Spend! Spend! Ha, ha, ha! ;-)

[familyop]

"Many of the public sector jobs will be lost. Look at the state budgets for CA, AZ, Mich, Ill, FL, NV and NJ. There WILL be blood!"

Government jobs, "public sector jobs" supported by government: same thing! There will be blustering, then meek, fearful starvation, typhoid, cholera,...and a new beginning, where men support their real families with honest, hard work, unimpeded by the government, HOA, NIMBY hags of yesterday.

Welcome to the new third world. The consentingly misguided, rebellious fatherhood-hating leaders of today in every level of business, politics and academia brought it upon themselves.

[backhoe]