Some douche from "The Free Enterprise Nation" is whining that gov't workers are paid too much.

[Hello_Kitty]

Total average compensation for government workers is over $100k and for private workers it's $57k. So what? Did they factor for things like education, training, and length of time on the job?

Conservatives just shouldn't be allowed near numbers. Period.

[kristopher]

1. I saw that and my impression was similar but

I first thought of the fact that the govt workers are actually just where the middle class SHOULD be if Republican Regeanomics hadn't gutted the middle class to give all the wealth to the uber-rich.


As an aside this is a great example of the Republican spin that Ratagan peddles under the guise of "independent concerned American". I can't believe how many people I see here falling for that garbage.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. That was my first thought too.

It's not that government workers make too much it's that private sector workers make too little.

I've read that Ratigan is hugely anti-union. If that's true I'm not listening to anything he has to say. They should give David Shuster his spot.

[fascisthunter]

3. let me guess... he works for the wealthy who hate paying taxes

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....

[Luminous Animal]

4. Where did he get his stats?

[Brickbat]

5. It always amazes me that people look at those numbers and say "Group A is being paid too much"

instead of "Group B clearly isn't being paid enough. Why not?"

[paulsby]

6. well, THIS govt. worker can understand that argument

my job requires only a HS diploma (i have a BA and some grad school, fwiw), and for a HS grad, govt. works pays very well (police work), and gives great benefits.

in an economic downturn, the pay seems especially good.

work a little overtime, and a cop with about 5 yrs on can easily make 6 figures and get great benefits.

i'm certainly not arguing for pay cuts :) but i can UNDERSTAND the argument

[Turbineguy]

7. Sounds like somebody

who needs to come down with e. coli

[C_Lawyer09]

8. There is too much disparity between government workers

and the private sector. Especially when you factor in most of the benefits that govt. worker get. This is an issue that is filling the military with contract workers. It is mainly an issue of benefits. The eight civilian contractors that now run an admin office do have the job that the Lt. Sgt and Specialist did. They roll in at nine and roll out at four, regardless of how backlogged they are. I take my hat off to retired Gen. Shinseki, and all he has done toward reforming the VA ineffectual bureacracy.

I'm not slamming all government workers, but it should be acknowledged; govt. has continued to grow exponentially has the private sector has shrunk. If 7/10 Americans are employed by business, this is the wrong answer. Now, Halliburton and the sweetheart deals, no bid contracts, etc. that is darned sure some bs. Having said that, it needs to simply be acknowledged that we don't have the Soldiers to do many of these jobs, unless we boost an op temp that is already untenable.

Until we revamp our manufacturing based economy(if we can)the exponential growth of govt. needs to be slowed. That is the hard truth. There is a reason many clamber for govt. jobs, it is almost impossible once hired, to be fired. In contrast, you can be fired from a private enterprise job for damned near anything. Anybody, feel free to fire me up, but one of the truths that has born itself out, is that govt. delivering on most type of programs is slow and wasteful. Why? There isn't competition. As you can see in the world of contractors, when things get dicey, it is because of the same reason. Govt. either artificially limits competition, or there is only one game in town, i.e. fighting the oil field fires during the first Gulf War.

I don't believe in gutting valuable arms of government, such as EPA or Dept. of the Interior, but just like the Fed, there needs to be oversight.

[Hello_Kitty]

9. Thanks for the CATO Institute talking points. eom

[C_Lawyer09]

10. If most of what I say is gleaned from personal experience

Why do you feel it right to throw that silly generalization at me. It's not right for somebody to bust their ass in the private sector, with limited job security, for half of what a govt. worker does, as the private sector goes to heck and govt. jobs continue to grow? That isn't a CATO talking point that is the truth. If you want to get butt hurt and make smart aleck remarks, go ahead, but it doesn't change the reality of the situation.

[louis-t]

11. My relatives used to say that.

"Those guys (auto workers) making $25 an hour are making too much. They should be making $10 an hour." At Christmas I told them "Congratulations, you got your wish. Now your house is worth $200,000 less than it was." Even in winter, you could hear the crickets chirping.