Federal wage freeze is the opening salvo in an assault on the working class

[Karmadillo]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/fede-n30.shtml

<edit>

The move is the latest chapter in a concerted campaign of wage-cutting that began with the Obama administration’s bailout of GM and Chrysler, which was predicated on massive wage and benefit concessions to ensure profits for Wall Street investors. The federal wage freeze is at the same time the opening salvo in a far broader assault on the working class that will take shape over the next two years, using as a pretext the November 2 midterm elections, in which massive voter anger and disillusionment with the right-wing policies of the Obama administration led to a lopsided Republican victory.

<edit>

Needless to say, the “difficult decisions,” “hard truths,” “sacrifices” and “tough choices” referred to by the White House apply only to working people, and not in the least to the financial oligarchy that both big business parties defend.

The move is a craven capitulation to demands from the Republican Party, which made the claim that government workers are overpaid a theme of its midterm campaign. Obama announced the pay freeze the day before a meeting with congressional leaders, in order to demonstrate his willingness to “work with” Republicans―i.e., adopt their demands in full.

While taking away money from 2.1 million federal workers―and through them millions of children and dependents―Congress and the White House are colluding to extend tax cuts for the richest Americans. The tax cuts for the wealthy will cost $700 billion over the next decade; freezing the pay of government workers will save a tiny fraction of that amount, even if White House estimates are to be trusted. The pay freeze would save only $5 billion over two years―a tiny fraction of the trillion dollar budget deficit.

more...

[Skittles]

1. OPENING?

HELLO, we have been under assault for quite some time now, and it began LONG before Obama

[inna]

2. it started over 30 years ago, but it looks like it's been increasing exponentially lately.

case in point: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/taxes/top-us-incomes-grew-five-fold-in-2009-to-a-519-million-average/19688820/
Top U.S. Incomes Grew Five-Fold in 2009

not to mention, record corporate profits/Wall Street bonuses/etc. - while the working class takes one hit after another.

[Lasher]

3. Yep, three decades now and counting.

But it never seemed this bad before.

[Skittles]

6. I think what has changed now

is we have NO ONE looking out for us - the Obama administration is just aiding and abetting a crime that was already in progress

[Lasher]

13. That's exactly what I was thinking, Skittles.

Obama in particular is a supporter of neoliberalism, which started out as Reaganomics and looks pretty much like it. If it seems that he gives in to Republicans a lot, in many cases it's because he wants to.

[Skittles]

14. Teddy was a much larger loss than even we imagined

[kywildcat]

4. no-the opening shot was allowing tax credits

to companies for outsourcing their work. This article is inaccurate and is propaganda to further demonize this administration for what the past administrations orchestrated.

Giving credence to authors of this type does us no favors.

[Karmadillo]

5. Just to respond to the comments above, the WSWS is well aware that the working class

has been under assault for some time by administrations both Republican and Democratic. Check their website if proof is needed. This partiuclar article is simply focusing on the latest assault that began under the Obama administration.

[cornermouse]

7. Remember Reagan and the air traffic controllers?

That's when they became aggressive about dismantling unions.

[sendero]

8. Opening salvo?

The private sector suffered these wage losses a decade or more ago.

This was INEVITABLE as are similar cutbacks in state wages. In many states, these wages are totally out of control.

I'm sorry if you don't think government workers should have to live in the same world as the rest of us.

[flpab]

9. I am a Fed worker

All of our insurance has gone up this year, I am not a GS so make less than many Fed workers. I average 3% increase yearly and that does not cover cost of living increases. Yea, happy to have a job, insurance and benefits but to hit the middle class and not tax the rich is a thorn in my side. Very unhappy President Obama.

[Wednesdays]

10. Yeah, Cornermouse! Wake up...this is the REAL world, get used to it:

[Brickbat]

11. No, it's been going on for quite some time, on many fronts, in all countries.

[TBF]

12. Opening? Class warfare has been going on for centuries. nt

[amborin]

15. not the opening but rather one of many K&R