Posted on 08/30/2010 6:15:33 AM PDT by Poundstone
As a retired federal government employee, I’m offended when I hear Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and a host of other conservative talk show hosts bash all levels of government employees. It seems the all-time favorite government employee to bash works for the Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal government employees in 2008 earn an average of $67,691 compared to $60,046 in the private sector. This doesn’t count the benefits all federal government employees enjoy.
Not all federal government employees make as much as their private sector counterparts, but many do. For example, a registered nurse working for the Veterans Administration might make $74,460 compared to a nurse at a private hospital making $63,780. However, a federal government optometrist makes about $61,530 compared to an optometrist working in the private sectors who makes $106,665 salary.
What people like Limbaugh and Hannity probably don’t realize is that there are downsides to working for the federal government. Employees face severe restrictions and sanctions on many things everyone in the private sector take for granted. Congress alone determines federal employee salaries and benefits, not the marketplace. Employee organizations lobby Congress, but it’s unlawful for employees to strike if they don’t get what they want.
(Excerpt) Read more at northstarnational.com ...
Miss Cleo says you will have an unhappy reaction to something you say today.
Hey federal employees, stop doing things that make you so easy to ‘bash’ and/or stand up to your fellow federal employees that do!
There are just too damn many of them.
No offense meant, but there are too damn many sucking at the public teat. Government spending is dragging down the productive class. Why is it off base to comment on this? And how exactly will government waste and spending be cut without reducing government employee salaries and benefits, or eliminating them from the payroll entirely?
About 80% too many by my estimation.
In the process of defending public employees the author makes a pretty good case for not being one.
Yeah, and while you're at it, quit bash those in public housing like Obama, poor guy.
Nothing wrong with federal employees ... just the “public-sector” unions. I want to abolish them.
Private sector employees have a right to dislike and disrespect public sector employees. We actually accomplish something while they collect pay checks and accomplish nothing of substance.
I live in VA, the federal worker capital of the world and I can tell you that 75% of federal workers wouldn’t last 10 minutes in the real world. They are worse than useless, they are users and takers who contribute nothing. State workewrs are just as bad. I think that about 25% seek federal jobs because they’re motivated to serve their country in some capacity but the vast majority are looking for an easy way out and unwarranted job security.
Where are the direct quotes of Rush or Hannity bashing federal employees?
interesting to note how many of this type of article start out with “...i’m offended...”.
isn’t that really saying, “...what’s most important here is ME!”
I understand both sides of this argument. I do think the number of employees and the benefits should be reduced to match the private sector, but not in one fell swoop.
I’ll also say that it is MUCH harder to get into the government than people think. I’ve admittedly applied for several Federal jobs, and the requirements are ridiculous to where anyone who has worked in the private sector their entire life doesn’t generally have the regulatory type experience the gov’t needs.
Except for the consumption of our tax dollars, that is.
Get your egos out of the way and stop trying to defend the indefensible.
It is completely disingenuous and dishonest to try and measure pay without adding in the benefits. Fed Workers are some of the worlds best cared for employees.
Sorry a lie by omission is still a lie.
As a private industry employee/small business owner, I’m seriously offended by a federal government that:
1) raises my payroll taxes
2) adds new pages to an already burdensome tax code
3) adds new regulations to an already over regulated industry
...all in the name of keeping a bloated,non functioning bureaucracy afloat for yet another year.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to people who rise and sleep under the blanket of the very revenue that I provide, and then are offended that I may disagree. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest government employees grab a private sector job or start a small business. Either way, I don’t give a damn that government employees are offended.
I was reading that some cities have transportation authority workers who do nothing more than monitor traffic while trucks making deliveries are unloaded in congested areas.
Only if you have what the feds determine is an undesirable skin color. Otherwise you can be an illiterate idiot with no communication skills and do just fine.
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