Posted on 04/08/2012 5:24:33 AM PDT by Libloather
Despite recovery, U.S. public employees face more layoffs
By Lisa Lambert
Sun Apr 8, 2012 7:13am EDT
(Reuters) - Since 2009, the city of Chesapeake, tucked up against the Great Dismal Swamp in southern Virginia, has cut its workforce twice. This summer, nearly three years after the recession ended, the city of 222,209 has plans for a third round of layoffs.
**SNIP**
State and local governments for a time were able to shield public safety and education workforces from harmful cuts as the recession deepened. The 2009 federal stimulus fund helped offset lost tax revenue, but that money is gone.
Now, many cities and counties nationwide are facing the same dilemma as Chesapeake. Squeezed by depressed property tax revenues and cuts in state aid, they are chipping away at their workforces.
The result? The last three years of job losses at the state and local government level has been the most dramatic since Labor Department records began in 1955, according to a Reuters analysis.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Maybe because there isn't one?
Finally...
why assert the existence of a recovery if there isn’t one?
I did my first solo flight at the Chesapeake Regional Airport.
What recovery?
Local and state governments ought to be as big or small as their respective population demands.
I applaud, with great enthusiasm, the destruction of the octopus-like FEDERAL bureaucracy. Annihilate it. Yesterday.
“Maybe because there isn’t one?”
True. The recovery is a hopeful wish of Obama and his propaganda mouthpieces in the media. The latest unemployment figures showed a drop in the unemployment rate due to manipulation (reduction) of the employment base, not real gains. It seems almost every “positive” number is the result of contrived statistics, not real economic activity.
Hopefully most American voters are smart enough to judge the economy by their eyes and not listen to the lies of government and the media. Look at the empty storefronts and boarded up factories. Walk through any major store (Kohl’s, JC Penney, Macy’s, Wal-Mart) and count the few products made in the USA — millions of US manufacturing jobs lost due to the free trade policies of both parties. Look at the $4.00 per gallon + price of gasoline. Look at rapidly escalating prices in the supermarket, three to 4 times the government claimed inflation rate. Look at the pitiful 1% or less return on savings at the bank. Look at the fading for sale signs in the neighborhood as well as the number of real estate “price reduced” and “short sale” ads on Craig’s list. How many neighbors in their 50’s and 60’s have lost their job and “retired’ early due to lack of jobs? When was the last time you saw a major new employer move to your town? When was the last time you got a raise at work?
If the economy is so good, why hasn’t the government sold its shares in General Motors — can it be the company still can’t stand on its own? Why aren’t the food stamp rolls declining? If hiring is robust, why is the deficit still increasing — shouldn’t the tax revenues from all the new jobs be reducing the deficit?
Bwaah haa haa! Since when has the recession ended?
Since when is trimming public employees a bad thing? I don't know of a single government entity that couldn't use a little trimming. When it comes to our bloated, overbearing federal government the trimming could be done with an axe.
Really; trumpeting false news about the demise of the recession doesn’t make it so. Here in NJ we’ve already laid off a bunch of cops, firemen, and (mostly untenured) teachers; the bleeding isn’t finished, either.
Its their own benefits packages that are doing them in. The cost of pensions (especially) make it harder and harder to keep them employed.
You nailed it.
Cut every agency of government by 5 percent.
Do it again.
We need to lay off about two thirds of all public employees.
Including teachers, cops and a whole passel of politicians
This is purwe BS.
Publci employees are the biggest eaters at the trough and have swelled their ranks tremendously under Obama.
Paying for this group’s benefits including pension is second only to SSA and Medicare in the burden placed upon our country’s finances.
DESPITE THE LIES OF THE LEFT... AMERICANS KNOW THAT WE ARE IN A DEPRESSION.
LLS
Wonder how long it takes them to find out Obama’s presto changeo gig isn’t working?.
I like riddles. Lemme see...
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Because the lefty media is a campaign arm of Obama 2012?
Really? Can you name any govt department that shouldn’t be cut 25% immediately? They are all pigs at ghr trough. Fire them.
Department of Defense
I couldn't agree more! I worked for government. When they were forced to do obligatory cuts, it was cutting of open positions and targetting of whistle-blowers etc. The wasteful employees were always retained - people not contributing but kissing butt to others. Private employers cut whole sections and divisions to cut costs, and it works.
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