Recession

[stray kitten]

In a recession where everyone has to make Difficult Choices, hard decisions and Obama SACRIFICES the Federal government employees now make 30k average over the average private sector wage. This is related to my sig, look below. When the president and congress and all the fucktards we elect say something, they mean us. Not them. And when they proudly lift their national socialist heads and proclaim in all that is socially just: "I am going to make banks and CEOs pay! No bonuses, no tax breaks no mercy" - they fuck the people that work for those companies right in the asshole. Its easy to raise taxes and roll back tax breaks and benefits when if PERSONAL.. SO in response I pay my respect...

[Bridget]

ok

[stray kitten]

I feel better now, thank you.

[GenghisTron]

In your rage, you were right about one thing. Public sector workers are (perhaps unknowingly) fleecing the private sector.

[stray kitten]

I was a little angry. Because I was doing some research on litterally how to keep the company I work for in business and read all the Labor statistics over the past 10 months. Then Obama's speeches popped in my head and I had a stroke of something. Stick it to main st, while 1 in 5 federal employees makes over 100k a year. Tax me for that. Over HALF a million people were hired for the census. Really half a million? It's temporary but.... half a million? Tax me that as well. Federal employees make, as rampaged, 30k MORE on average over the private sector. We definitely have to raise taxes on every one else with falling or stagnant incomes. That makes sense. I mean, we main street companies do have falling revenue just like the federal government, we cut staff, wages benefits etc to try and make it. Government says to many corporations, you can't give out any more bonuses, so that's gone. From the CEO all the way down to the dudes that clean the toilets. Then, THEN, THEEEEEEEEEEN the fucking government hires more people, gives GIGANTIC wage increases and all fuck of nonsense. Got to admit the dark abyss of power is temping. The Sith Lords drive a hard bargain. Give up a little freedom here and there to go make the same money for 1/4 of the work and better benefits at the cost of the middle class..... I can hear the voice: "come to the dark side". It's calling as the private sector I happen to work in, is systematically and quietly dismantled.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by stray kitten

The Sith Lords drive a hard bargain.

This made me LOL.

[Crazycarl]

I think the moral of the story here is get a government job.

[Dexter]

Originally Posted by Crazycarl

I think the moral of the story here is get a government job.

yes, I want to get on this train. even if one of those superfluous jobs created recently like dept of homeland security stuff

[stray kitten]

The Galactic Republic is in a period of decline, with its bureaucracy bloated and corrupt and its economy deteriorating.

Yes, join the dark side. Here is a warp portal.

[Dexter]

Originally Posted by stray kitten

Yes, join the dark side. Here is a warp portal.

Some of these jobs are incredible. There is even a TSO one in my town starting at 29k ffs

[GenghisTron]

The Government gravy train might not last much longer. Certain states (California, Indiana, New Jersey) are extremely close to defaulting (Which won't happen, the Federal Government will of course bail them out, but benefits will be cut, or even be done away with). Right now the financial situation is dire, if you listen to the media, they'll tell you we're recovering right now, and on the verge of going into a double dip, but in reality, we've never come out of the recession. The way the Government calculates all this shit is really dumb. GDP can be inflated by Government spending, the methodology used to draw up the unemployment number is laughably inaccurate, etc.

I mean, 5, 10 years ago would have been the perfect time to get a job in the Government. Combined salary and benefits, public sector employees make nearly twice as much as the average private sector job. But now, that might all be coming to an end.

We'll see.

[Innoc]

Fed is definitely different from State and Local when it comes to Gov't job pay and benefits. My Ex-wife is now looking at the second consecutive year of wage cuts to balance the county budget. Public safety and public services....all are being cut. Some day, perhaps, someone's going have that "come to Jesus" meeting with the Fed and it's going to be drastically reduced to get closer to living within it's means. Sadly, neither the Executive or Legislative branches appear to be clued into that...and that's not new.

[stray kitten]

States can't magically wave a wand and say "fuck you" to tax payers and common sense. Neither can local governments. However they are trying desperately to save their most costly and "precious" resources: employees.

We haven't had garbage collection at city parks for 2 years now, for example. And at the state level employees are granted furlough days vs. budget cuts in salaries and benefits. It doe save a lot of money salary wise by closing the state completely down on a Friday. Employees get a 3 day weekend several more time a year. But I am glad the federal government, is helping out by building a couple of bridges in town. And especially by making sure employers spend a shitload of time and effort to ensure employees know their rights to form unions via presidential decree. More savoury entitlements from the dark side.

For example, if I see you talking to some Italian looking dude in a black suit and sunglasses next to a 300,000 dollar stretch limousine, I can't ask you if that was a union boss you were talking too.

[Iggy]

Tell me, how does losing workers money help stimulate the economy?

[Innoc]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Tell me, how does losing workers money help stimulate the economy?

Are you viewing those who draw a salary from a govt budget as being equal to those derive their income from the private sector? Govt employees live off the financial results of the private sector and when that performance is as crippled as we are seeing it now govt jobs will have to be cut.

I would submit to you that making no change to govt jobs during bad economic times does not help stimulate the economy.

[Iggy]

The problem is, that it's the lowest of the bunch that are being cut back. That, and/or critical services(police, fire, etc)...

Taking money out of the "little guys" pocket, forces him to spend what money he has, on necessities rather than luxuries. That's not going to help stimulate the economy. The same problem goes with people who aren't getting raises at the companies they work for. They make the same they did last year(or even earlier), but that money isn't getting them as much.

More people spending money, means companies make more money. Companies make more money, they can hire more people, and take better care of the workers they have. That means more money in circulation, and the economy gets better.

It's pretty simple, really. I can't fathom why the thought hasn't caught on, except for the excessive greed of those who "have".

[Innoc]

Originally Posted by Iggy

The problem is, that it's the lowest of the bunch that are being cut back. That, and/or critical services(police, fire, etc)...

Taking money out of the "little guys" pocket, forces him to spend what money he has, on necessities rather than luxuries. That's not going to help stimulate the economy. The same problem goes with people who aren't getting raises at the companies they work for. They make the same they did last year(or even earlier), but that money isn't getting them as much.

More people spending money, means companies make more money. Companies make more money, they can hire more people, and take better care of the workers they have. That means more money in circulation, and the economy gets better.

It's pretty simple, really. I can't fathom why the thought hasn't caught on, except for the excessive greed of those who "have".

This works (not really...just pretending to go along with you) until you give some thought to the fact that the bulk of "taxes" are not paid by those little guys. The bulk of taxes are paid by the "haves". So keep "sticking it" to the "haves" and you continue to stifle economic growth.

Govt has to cut too. If you don't like how it's cutting then speak up in a way that matters.

[Iggy]

Where did I say to "stick it to the haves"? They ARE greedy. They will protect their wealth, and damn everyone else. "Fuck you, me first" should be this countries motto.

I don't hate wealthy people.... I'm employed by some, who are in business to make a profit. Again, I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is rich people who put the screws to anyone and everyone they have to, to make themselves richer.

Everyone pays taxes. You pay taxes on what you earn, what you spend, what you borrow, and what you own. Unless you're homeless with no income, you pay taxes. The difference being, that those who have the least, can least afford to pay more.

I saw a story recently about the top wealthiest people in Germany, all paying (or at least, offering to pay) extra taxes to balance the countries budget. That's called social responsibility. It's also something we desperately need here, but are about as likely to see as Michael Jackson and Elvis being dropped off in Times Square by a UFO.

[Innoc]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Where did I say to "stick it to the haves"? They ARE greedy. They will protect their wealth, and damn everyone else. "Fuck you, me first" should be this countries motto.

I don't hate wealthy people.... I'm employed by some, who are in business to make a profit. Again, I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is rich people who put the screws to anyone and everyone they have to, to make themselves richer.

Everyone pays taxes. You pay taxes on what you earn, what you spend, what you borrow, and what you own. Unless you're homeless with no income, you pay taxes. The difference being, that those who have the least, can least afford to pay more.

I saw a story recently about the top wealthiest people in Germany, all paying (or at least, offering to pay) extra taxes to balance the countries budget. That's called social responsibility. It's also something we desperately need here, but are about as likely to see as Michael Jackson and Elvis being dropped off in Times Square by a UFO.

Iggy you throw a HUGE screw the haves vibe. You and I will never see eye to eye on this. I get the impression that you'd perpetuate bloated govt by sticking it to the haves. I come to that impression as you seem to be skirting the points raised by Stray Kitten and I. It seems like you push an agenda of anti-have social justice instead of discussing the focus on the govt reluctance/refusal to cut spending. Perhaps you should move to Germany if they follow a social model you favor? You would force this on the US?

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Innoc

Iggy you throw a HUGE screw the haves vibe. You and I will never see eye to eye on this. I get the impression that you'd perpetuate bloated govt by sticking it to the haves. I come to that impression as you seem to be skirting the points raised by Stray Kitten and I. It seems like you push an agenda of anti-have social justice instead of discussing the focus on the govt reluctance/refusal to cut spending. Perhaps you should move to Germany if they follow a social model you favor? You would force this on the US?

Actually, I am anti-big government. The problem, as I see it, is far too many people in power have allowed greed to take over thier lives. The federal government is regulating American life into extinction. You've fought for this country(at least I assume so from your pic), and so have relatives of mine. The sad fact is, this isn't the country they fought for. Freedoms are being limited by the dozens, on an almost daily basis. Income is down, taxes are up, and the people who actually DO the work are struggling to even survive. Where do you think this will lead? It will result in the same thing that has happened throughout history: revolution. Those who have not, will rebel against those who have. It happened when the Colonies broke from England, it happened many times in Europe, almost everywhere but Australia.

Yes, I'm generalizing here... but I think you are smart enough to know the difference between hating the rich, and pointing out the flaws of the majority of those who are.

Tell me, if you {were/are} still in the military, and desperate people were uprising so they could simply eat, would you follow the order to shoot them?

As for Germany, the gvt didn't ask them to do that, they volunteered to do it, all by themselves. That's the difference. The top rich people here will donate to charities, but mostly just to get their name on the news and a little recognition for "Hey, look what good I'm doing." Meanwhile, they are otherwise perpetuating the problems of society by allowing greed to rule their hearts and minds.

Oh, another point you made about gvt spending... Yes, the gvt needs to cut spending so damned much money. But, the gvt isn't capable of policing itself, and won't allow common citizens the ability to do it for them. Black budget spending is hidden... it's designed that way. People hear about the gvt spending $6000 on a toilet, and think "Well shit, that's fucked up." But then, go about their business without hardly another thought about it. Americans have been trained to just accept government bloat, and go about their business, because those people "know what they are doing."

I'm not saying it's Obama's fault, or even Democrats fault... nor am I blaming Bush or the Republicans for it. It's been happening for decades, and it's getting to the point(or maybe already is past the point) where it can't be stopped.