Let me interject a little here. I am retired from the Army and currently employed by the Army in acquisition, although I actually work for each of you taxpayers. When I was hired into this job my supervisors bought my experience gained from wearing a uniform for 25 years and the integrity that I have always had. I have now worked in the acquisition field for about the past 15 years. It is my job to make sure that you, Mr Taxpayer, get your money’s worth from the likes of Lockheed Martin, SAIC, Booze Allen Hamilton, and others. They all have platoons of contract attorneys that write their proposals while collaborating with the lobbyists they have lurking the halls of Capitol Hill. What do we have? A young attorney right out of law school is my legal expert.
We do have our share of waste fraud and abuse, but there are those of us who are on the federal payroll who are honest, who work a full + shift, who are proud of what they do. My grandparents and parents instilled a sense of doing what is right in me from day one. Now I get to use that in doing my little part in keeping spending within the guidelines that congress provided us. I have not received a pay raise in three years, performance awards are not funded by the organization I work for. I do happen to be at a stage of my life where a pay freeze is not killing me, in fact I contribute more to my retirement (TSP) than 90% of the workforce does and have bumped my contribution up every few months for the past 3 years.
Where is this heading? For a total reform in the Federal Civil Service . Something that congress has long neglected to do. The Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) that I am under was a step in the right direction. Now, to look at our health benefits along with the life insurance program. When I had 5 kids at home I paid the same as a married employee with a spouse did. Now, my wife and I are paying the same as that employee with 5 kids. Is that fair? Not sure, you tell me. I have over $300,000 worth of life insurance for a few dollars every month. Wonder who underwrites the rest? Thank you Mr Taxpayer.
Off my soapbox now. Hope everyone has a great weekend and I really look forward to 2020 and having VP Ryan running for president. Wonder who he will pick for VP?
Now that's not all that common but did you realize the United States has one of the highest incidences of blindness in the world ~ it's the machine world, accidents, etc.
So, we patch 'em up and keep those eyes working so the people can "Get Around" ~ which is an official medical type term meaning "Get Around" ~ which is much better than being house bound, or bed ridden, etc.
With the magic of modern electronics I'm able to read and write on a computer through the simple expedient of blowing up the image and the letters so I can read them without the aid of additional lenses. Hey, give me the right sunglasses I can drive too, and as long as I can 'get around' I won't develop those circulatory problems that can lead to loss of limbs, and life prematurely.
Getting around is good. FEHB paid for it ~ of course I paid FEHB For four decades!