I know a lot of DOD employees who are considering just that (even though unemployment really stinks right now). Most of the ones considering that are younger, though.
The trouble is that when you've invested a good chunk of your life, it's a lot harder than it sounds.
Do you remember back when companies actually gave pensions to their employees? My father (now RIP) was in a similar situation. As he started approaching retirement (and pension) age, the company he worked for (as a non-union engineer) started treating him like crap. The closer he got, the worse off it was. It was like they were intentionally trying to piss him off that he would quit on the spot (and forfeit his pension).
If you are in your late 40s and up...and have worked for the same company (or gov't agency) since graduating from college, the prospects of going out and finding another job are sort of daunting.
Some are going to end up finding out just how daunting the process is once they start getting RIFd (reduction in force).
Sadly, most of them are going to end up being "low information voters" about it and blame everybody except Obama and the Dhims.
And people who say "screw them, they're nothing but a bunch of damned leaches" around here are just going to reinforce that thought.