Public workers feel no pain in recession

NY Post ^ | February 14, 2010 | LISE BANG-JENSEN

[Scanian]

“It’s hard to believe there’s a recession,” a friend recently observed, as he navigated the jam-packed parking lot at a suburban Albany shopping mall.

While private-sector workers in the capital region have, in fact, suffered like everyone else during the downturn, many of those cars likely belonged to the favored not-so-few: state employees.

New York’s statewide unemployment rate in January hit 9%, the highest level in 26 years. New York City’s rate was 10.6%. In addition, untold thousands of New Yorkers have seen their hours or wages slashed, their health benefits cut, and their retirement accounts plummet.

But in New York’s capital region, the unemployment rate most recently stood at 7% — and around Albany, involuntary joblessness is mainly a private-sector phenomenon.

[sodpoodle]

Term limits for all local, State and Federal Government employees!

[dawn53]

In our municipality...pay cuts came almost a year ago, and they were across the board, from the mayor on down (except for unions, like police and fire.) No COLA this year, and there have been reductions in staff. So I believe local govts are scaling back. Just this week they started more layoffs, people are screaming because services will be cut back because of the layoffs, but the reality is, revenues are down, so costs must be cut.

[Wpin]

But the union workers maintain their pay increases and jobs not to mention their gold plated benefits...that is the problem, not the non-union workers.

[P.O.E.]

Don’t forget all the food stamp & Social Security money floating around out there. US is running up quite a tab.

[vetvetdoug]

What is happening here in the US is the same that has happened in Greece. The government workers kept getting fatter and the private taxpayers kept getting squeezed until the private sector was bled dry. When the money quit coming to the government via taxes because the private sector was bankrupt, the government collapsed. Unless something changes radically we are just within a decade of it happening here.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Classic Keynesian economics;

Spend, Spend, Spend. (By Government)

Consume, Consume, Consume. (By Private Sector)

The reason why this failed system cannot work is, the “Consumer” belongs mostly to the private sector, which has no guaranteed income and income is based on Market outcome.

When times get tough, the free market reduces spending, cuts back growth/expansion and saves. The Government does the opposite. Saving and reduced spending reduces consumption which completely defeats the Keynesian theory.

Increasing the size of Government in order to create a short term false economy is pure insanity. Not to mention extremely dangerous.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

At the rate this Government is spending, it won’t take any near that long......

[P.O.E.]

Keynes was naive. Problem with all the wanna-bees in today’s government. They think they’ve got some great theory, but ignore the lessons of reality and history.

[hal ogen]

Here in the WDC area it’s like an ever-lasting Christmas. This place is replete with government workers (fed, state, county, city), retired all-of-the-above and also those who make a living off the government. Kids who want to work part time make $8-$11 per hour. This is the epicenter of spending OPM (other-people’s money). LET THE “GOOD” TIMES ROLL!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Sooner or later, it will all come crashing down, like has happened in Greece. the private sector can no longer support the parasitic government there. They have taxed themselves into an economy that can no longer support their government.

Washington is booming on the glut of spending that has doubled the size and price of Government. But we all know how that story will end.

[dennisw]

What is happening here in the US is the same that has happened in Greece. The government workers kept getting fatter and the private taxpayers kept getting squeezed until the private sector was bled dry. When the money quit coming to the government via taxes because the private sector was bankrupt, the government collapsed. Unless something changes radically we are just within a decade of it happening here.

Through the force of lawful sweetheart labor contracts in cahoots with the fake negotiators (usually Democrat party hacks) on the other side of the bargaining table
In the private sector a new union labor contract means some real negotiations will go on. Both parties are very interested in what the outcome is

But w Gov't workers there is only one party that is very interested in what gets negotiated
The people they are allegedly negotiating against are just more Gov't drones who could care less about the outcome

[dennisw]

DC is the Imperial Capital that exacts ever higher tribute from the peasants in the outlying provinces

[jazzlite]

This system is going to collapse.

[puppypusher]

Public employee levals must be cut and those that remain should be subject to what the private sector is getting paid.Also these endless retirement pention increases must stop.Today the pentions these government employees get continues to grow even after the employee retires after 20 years.That has to stop or the homeowners are going to have their homes taxed right out from under their feet.

[sport]

They will. It will be further down the line, but, it will eventually get them also.Ditto the parasites that brought this on by electing Democrats and obama. They can believe all the media and Democrap about theression being over that they want. In fact, the “recession” has not even began in ernest. It will be followed by a depression as the government steals more from the producers in the form of taxes that force them to stop producing. Followed by a famine as the EPA forces the farmers out of business. As taxable revenue dries up, and investment companies go broke , thanks to government regulations, so will their pension funds including Social Security.

On November 4, 2008, the parasites and fools really did themselves proud. It will not be an instant death, but on that day they set in motion events that will kill the goose that laid the golden egg. For them. Their free money is rapidly running out. Perhaps they can eat their “change” to fill theit empty bellies.

[MuttTheHoople]

Not completely true. I was forced to resign from my job as a State employee for unauthorized internet usage (surfing the internet during down time, including sites like Freerepublic). No, it wasn't Freerepublic's fault I lost my job, it was mine.

The point is, I should've been sleeping at my desk, or reading a book, instead of surfing the 'net. Those won't get you fired. Actually, since State budgets are getting cut back, they're starting to clamp down on things that, during boom times, they would overlook.

[wally_bert]

I was more or less forced out myself because I said something very negative about the Kenyan being elected the day after election day. The normal coldness from the evil queen got a lot colder after that. I don’t regret it though.

Other people can take 2 hour lunches, run a retail business from their desk, key visitor’s cars, and pretty much whatever else they want. I made my share of screw-ups also. I do keep an eye out on my state jobs HR page and every now and then see something I am qualified for and even had one interview. If I ever wind up back as a state employee (have to think about it), it might be a while if ever.

[dbrew2u]

JFK should never have allowed the Government to Unionize....Period !

[MuttTheHoople]

I have less than 3 years until I can get my pension. I’m looking for something, anything to get those three years (lunch lady, bus driver, whatever). Right now, I’m opening for a fitness center (opens 4:30 A.M.) and putting in 32 hours at Wal-Mart. It’s not much, but the Lord provides. Also, it feels pretty good to be back on the free market.