Why I’m not attending any pity parties for furloughed federal workers

American Thinker ^ | 01/21/2019 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

Call me a hard-hearted, mean-spirited conservative if you will, but I am not bleeding from the heart over the plight of most of the furloughed federal workers. While I am certain that some of them have not bothered to accumulate savings, and thus are running out of money with which to pay important bills, the rest of us in the private sector have had to live with the possibility of our incomes being cut off for our entire careers. Moreover, federal employees, especially in the lower ranges of the income scale, make out like bandits compared to the rest of us with the same skills and responsibilities.

(source)

Kristin Tate elaborates in The Hill:

Federal workers receive pay that is 17 percent higher than private sector employees on average performing comparable work. That is on top of putting in 12 percent fewer hours. Furthermore, a Princeton University study found that when “taking differences in employee characteristics into account,” federal workers actually earn 34 percent more than comparable private sector workers.

They receive “cadillac” federal employees health benefits, 75 percent of which is subsidized. These plans includes medical plus vision and dental benefits. On top of that, federal retirees are eligible for covered health benefits at 57 years old, a rare luxury in the private sector. They also have generous pension plans and Social Security benefits. Such payments are three times higher than private sector 401(k) and Social Security benefits.

[Verbosus]

Interesting chart.
Thanks!

[bitt]

p

[Sequoyah101]

I think some of the local adjustments are up in the 35% range and usually about 17% or so. Not bad. Not bad at all.

The GS adjustment deals are much better than the military.

Get this. The USAF is so short on pilots they are offering GS-13 positions for training slots. GS-13 vs Reserve or NG or even active duty up to O-5 or even O-6 and a straight 8 hour day? Hmmmm.

[Sequoyah101]

“Now the shutdown has proven to them that for the last month, they are basically useless.”

It is a soul crushing event to find that you are not necessary.

Some of us found that we define the job and our utility. That it is not a given that we are useful or necessary.

I was usually replaced by three and not less than two people in any job I left. Not boasting, just the truth. Sometimes I felt the fool for working so hard but I never felt useless.

[Not A Snowbird]

Yeah....these federal workers should've been prepared. It's not the first time they've been brought to this rodeo.

That I completely agree with. This is about my fifth or sixth furlough and I know the drill. I can ride this out as long as it takes to get the wall, and you won't hear me whining.

[usconservative]

I’d have gotten up out of my seat and walked out of that church never to return.

[Hatteras]

"Non-essential are not poor people. I'm sure many have working spouses and/or family capable of helping them out. "

Sure didn't take long for them to find the local soup kitchen looking for handouts, huh? And dollars to donuts, they have yet to cancel their summer beach cottage rental for this year....

[xone]

Had a furloughed Fed worker lamenting her plight here in WY, her job? Counting eagles.

[hal ogen]

No one should be allowed to work for the government at any level for more than 10 years. Thee should be no pensions. Government employment is a scam on Citizens who get ripped-off in a myriad of ways by these parasites. All government “workers” will complain that they are overworked and underpaid...always. If it is so bad...quit. Otherwise, shut up. You have it made.

[GOPJ]

I care about these federal workers as much as they cared about out-of-work coal minders and steel workers... in short - ZERO.

[JimRed]

...performing comparable work.

The difference is that in private business if you slack off you risk unemployment. Seldom so in government.

[JimRed]

The non essential personnel love them.

Why are they even employed? Use temps from privately owned agencies as needed and save a bundle.

[bgill]

Not only is there free beer but there’s free high priced liquor on every gov flight served to family and friends on the taxpayers’ bill.

No sympathy from this corner either who hasn’t recieved so much as a cost of living increase for 14 years.

[JimRed]

30-40% of the could be RIFd by then... a good start!

[bgill]

And 31 days of paid vacation time this time around.

[JimRed]

What if this shutdown lasts till 2020?

30-40% of the could be RIFd by then... a good start!

[Citizen Soldier]

Exactly! No one in govt did anything when we saw jobs lost to China. We weee told by Obama’s it was the new normal.

[trebb]

As a retired military vet and also a retired (small stipend from 15 years follow-on) DOD Civilian, I also have no tears for any that get RIF’d. Managed to fire two while a Civilian Supervisor and it was a tough row to hoe making it happen. Lots of lobbying goes on to ‘plush” up training environment, which I was in and that can be streamlined considerably - especially if they contract out shorter term needs. And my area is a lot more sane than all the purely political positions that really drain our tax dollars...lots of good, honest, hard workers in certain areas and the shame is that they will likely be the ones RIF’s if it happens because the structure is political and the higher ranking folks are the most political - they will protect their own and get rid of the good ones wherever possible...

[PGR88]

It is a soul crushing event to find that you are not necessary.

Especially after sub-consciously suspecting such. To have it shoved in one's face really can rub you raw.

[redfreedom]

I share a common ground with federal employees in that I am drawing Social Security and get Medicare benefits. Now these benefits are not cut during the shutdown.

But there is a distinction I’d like to make. I am aware that anyone dependent on the federal government for a paycheck needs to have a reserve of cash or a completely separate “plan B” income. We do. When we worked we always had a reserve fund in case of layoffs.

My point is, I just cannot feel sorry for these people. Their whining is evidence that they are not capable of managing their own financial affairs. Especially being aware of past shutdowns and related consequences, these whiners should have something in reserve.

I cannot feel sorry for them.