Hey Rush, Hannity: Stop bashing federal employees

The North Star National ^ | August 30, 2010 | Gregory Lee

[Poundstone]

As a retired federal government employee, I’m offended when I hear Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and a host of other conservative talk show hosts bash all levels of government employees. It seems the all-time favorite government employee to bash works for the Department of Motor Vehicles.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal government employees in 2008 earn an average of $67,691 compared to $60,046 in the private sector. This doesn’t count the benefits all federal government employees enjoy.

Not all federal government employees make as much as their private sector counterparts, but many do. For example, a registered nurse working for the Veterans Administration might make $74,460 compared to a nurse at a private hospital making $63,780. However, a federal government optometrist makes about $61,530 compared to an optometrist working in the private sectors who makes $106,665 salary.

What people like Limbaugh and Hannity probably don’t realize is that there are downsides to working for the federal government. Employees face severe restrictions and sanctions on many things everyone in the private sector take for granted. Congress alone determines federal employee salaries and benefits, not the marketplace. Employee organizations lobby Congress, but it’s unlawful for employees to strike if they don’t get what they want.

[mewzilla]

Federal Employees Continue to Prosper

[USAF70]

I was a federal employee for six years in the USAF and I’m not at all offended by what they say. But then I only made $238.00 every two weeks.

[sitetest]

My own experience as a government contractor for 14 years, permitting me to see what was happening up-close and personal, while still looking from the outside in is:

- Some federal employees are good and competent, even conscientious.

- Many federal employees aren’t good or competent, and many are little more than thieves.

- Even many of the good, competent and conscientious workers are put to work doing things which either add no value to our society as a whole, or actually detract therefrom.

- The basic problem isn’t so much the workers as it is the illegitimate scope of the federal government.

- If you knew who to axe, you could eliminate 50% of federal workers and probably see a rise in overall productivity of the government as a whole.

- If you eliminated the bad, incompetent and morally-corrupt AND eliminated even only the most egregiously destructive parts of the federal government, you could reduce the head count by 70% or more.

- It really wouldn’t matter that much, as even if you eliminated the entire civilian workforce (while still magically “accomplishing” all the government currently does), you’d reduce federal spending by only about 10%.

[RockinRight]

Agreed. Abolishing public sector unions would go a long way towards reducing waste. Attrition would take care of reducing staffing without mass layoffs, which, public, private, or whatever, is the last thing we need.

[cripplecreek]

Except for the consumption of our tax dollars, that is.

There is no such thing as a government job that isn't a drain on the economy. Some are necessary, most are not.

[edpc]

What probably offends most private sector workers is that their taxes pay for the sometimes higher salaries of government workers. They forget that federal employees pay taxes too, so the direct cost to the government is reduced.

This is stupid. Without the private sector money paying the initial salary, there is no income to be taxed. You cannot hire an infinite number of government employees and say you're reducing costs.

[TexasCajun]

Seems the author can not bring himself to use the U-WORD, but rather calls them organizations.

...and his organizations aren't allowed to strike.

[Ev Reeman]

As a former federal employee myself, there is much to criticize about the federal government and federal employees.

But I am not saying that ALL federal employees are bad. They are not all bad.

The ones that are are typically the mindless paper pushing tenured bureaucrattx leaders with a sense of entitlement. It is in fact the massive government bureaucracy that is part and parcel the chief factor behind most of America’s problems. Returning power and restoring states rights would end federal bureaucracies and at the same time return much freedom and individual liberty to the people as well.

The more massive a bureaucracy becomes such as the federal government, the more waste fraud and abuse are able to find a home there...and thrive.

[bill1952]

Great qoute from Jack Nicholson

[Solson]

No...please KEEP hammering on federal employees except for those involved with the Security of the United States, i.e. - the Military, FBI, CIA, DIA, NSA.

The rest of the bloated bureaucracy employees should realize their role and why they should be being paid less than an equivalent private employee.

It's the constant CYA mentality of federal employees and the need to spend all money in the budget lest they not receive the same amount next year.... Reminds me of my ex-wife.

[RockinRight]

What you say is true.

HOWEVER:

There are a few differences. First thing, there are no minimum-wage jobs in the government, this skews numbers up, a little. Secondly, the cost of living in DC (where many fed jobs are) is atrocious compared to many areas.

Adjusting for that, benefits/salaries may still be high, but let’s make sure we’re making a fair comparison.

[Doohickey]

Sorry you couldn’t cut it in the private sector. And you’re welcome for your retirement benefits.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Not all federal government employees make as much as their private sector counterparts, but many do. For example, a registered nurse working for the Veterans Administration might make $74,460 compared to a nurse at a private hospital making $63,780. However, a federal government optometrist makes about $61,530 compared to an optometrist working in the private sectors who makes $106,665 salary. What people like Limbaugh and Hannity probably don’t realize is that there are downsides to working for the federal government. Employees face severe restrictions and sanctions on many things everyone in the private sector take for granted. Congress alone determines federal employee salaries and benefits, not the marketplace. Employee organizations lobby Congress, but it’s unlawful for employees to strike if they don’t get what they want.”

This is BS. Federal government employees have hit the lottery. They get 99.99% job security and short committing a crime cannot lose their jobs. Who get’s that? How could you run a business like that? A business that cant print money would go bankrupt fast. Eight weeks vacation plus sick leave.

They get yearly cost of living increases, JUST AS A REWARD FOR LIVING! If they actually do something they get merit raises on top of that. They get golden health care and taxpayer paid retirement. I live in MD the home of the federal employees (with Northern VA) and I hear stories that would make your hair stand up. I know those living in MD that get 70-80K for loading software applications, or turning screws and are direct government employees.

[SoFloFreeper]

As a retired federal government employee, I’m offended when I hear Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and a host of other conservative talk show hosts bash all levels of government employees...
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal government employees in 2008 earn an average of $67,691 compared to $60,046 in the private sector. This doesn’t count the benefits all federal government employees enjoy.

Someone call the Whaaaambulance. Offended? I'll tell you what offends ME: the truth. And the truth, if the USA TODAY (not a conservative paper) is to be believed, is that this guy's numbers are way off target.

Federal compensation is nearly double that of private compensation...and federal PAY has beat inflation by 33% since 2000. Ridiculous.

Sorry, retiree Poundstone. You did a fine job I'm sure. But you did it with my dollars. And no one--NO ONE--can convince me that the federal government isn't a bloated, blood-sucking tick that needs to be lanced.

"You don't know what it's like out there. I've worked in the private sector. They expect results."

[RockinRight]

Hmmm...perhaps it was checking off “White” that hurt me.

[pnh102]

Why is it wrong for private citizens to criticize government employees at any level? The latter is on the payroll of the former.

[mewzilla]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Sweet...

[tiki]

My husband is on a government board, not only are they hamstrung by the whims of those higher up but the employees are expected to do twice what they could possible do. Then they add in more stupidity than you can imagine and so no real work gets accomplished.

One recent example, things weren’t getting done to their satisfaction so all local offices were required to call in every 15 minutes and outline what they had done for the last 15 minutes! Insane!!!

[Big Horn]

80% sounds about right.

[Need4Truth]

As a private-sector employee, my job like most in my profession did not last until retirement age. Meanwhile, the government class grows and grows and grows. So government employees can be offended. I don’t feel your pain.