We all deserve what we are paid. But most of us in the private sector have had our salaries cut and our out-of-pocket costs for benefits increased and our raises cancelled. We feel the pain when our company decides its time to tighten the belt. In times of $1.5 trillion deficits there is no reason why government workers should sail on as if nothing is wrong. A reasonable across-the-board salary cut is not an insult and not an attack on government workers. It is a prudent measure in times of fiscal crisis.
ONLY!
Federal employees received pay cuts during the period the politicians thought the way to solve the Great Depression was to balance the budget.
I could not help but notice that Obama just bought into that idea.
CLUE: It didn't work last time, and it won't work this time either.
The primary problem is overproduction, deflation, recent acceleration in the rate of technological change, and theft.
There is no will to go after the thieves ~ otherwise there are a number of members of Congress whose carcases would be hanging from Cherry Trees around the Tidal Basin.