MRN: Obama PILE DRIVES Federal Workers

[joebaur42]

Run time: 03:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFzUHCSJk0o   Posted on YouTube: November 30, 2010 By YouTube Member: MildlyRelevant Views on YouTube: 1   Posted on DU: November 30, 2010 By DU Member: joebaur42 Views on DU: 676

 
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010. President Obama freezes wages for federal employees, so China can’t make play-dough out of our backsides.

Mildly Relevant Sources: http://mildlyrelevantthoughts.com/2010/11/obama-pile-drives-federal-workers/

[sulphurdunn]

1. What utter bullshit.

Freezing wages for federal employees is a purely symbolic gesture designed to pander to the Republicans and give Democrats cover for talking the talk about raising taxes on the uber rich without walking the walk.

[joebaur42]

2. What would you do?

I doubt that when they made the decision they said, "Let's make a purely symbolic gesture designed to pander to the Republicans," but you are of course entitled to your opinion. Reports say it will cut $5 billion and $28 billion in five years. Do you consider this simply symbolic? Regardless, what would YOU do to cut the deficit?

Cheers!

[sulphurdunn]

3. That $28 billion you tout

will amount to another transfer payment from the middle class to the very rich. It will defray a mere fraction of the cost of the $700 billion needed to extend the Bush tax give away and is another shot aimed at public sector employees. Personally, I would be content to see an end to the hypocrisy of the Democratic Party symbolically wringing its hands over the decline of the middle class while its leaders endlessly propose measures to hasten that decline in the name of shared responsibility that is not shared by the wealthiest members of society.

[joebaur42]

4. Not touting...

I'm just simply reiterating what the article laid out. It may not be as much as the $700 billion (which I also don't understand adding to our deficit), but it's something. We seem to have gotten into this mess partly because many of our leaders thought, "Eh! What's another few billion?"

As far as it amounting to "another transfer payment from the middle class to the very rich," can you prove that? As far as I understand, the money isn't going anywhere other than to pay off SOME of the deficit.

Of course it's going to be a very unpopular decision. The person in charge of taking money away from our pockets will ALWAYS be unpopular, but having that person is essential.

And now I'm sleepy...

Cheers!

[tedbear]

5. Fed workers freeze

Back in the day federal freezes were happening, I mean in the sixties and/or seventies. People survived nicely on govt paychecks in spite of the dreaded freeze. Plus, any effort is appreciated or should be appreciated.

The wealthy tax breaks have to denied - please say it isn't an option. Why isn't the Democratic Party getting tough with their people in high places about remaining mute publicly? The Republicans sure weren't ashamed of showing their greedy faces today in the press conference after the big meet with Obama.

[joebaur42]

6. Well said!

I'm not a Democrat, so I'm sure they could care less about my advice, but it would seem to me that they should be winning the "bi-partisan" battle, yet some Americans still think they're ramming stuff down our throat. Why not show Americans, "Look, we wanted to end the tax cuts for everyone, but we're willing to compromise on keeping the tax cuts for the middle-class. Republicans aren't budging. We're willing to do the unpopular thing and freeze federal wages in hopes of making a dent in our deficit. What're Republicans wanting to do? ADD TO IT!"

Know what I mean?

[sulphurdunn]

7. Who's we?

Please explain how taking $5 billion from the pockets of 1.5 million federal employees is equivalent to rescinding $700 billion in tax cuts for the approximately 3 million wealthiest people in America and why the federal employees should chip in when the others obviously will not?

[joebaur42]

8. I said...

That I agree that the tax cuts shouldn't be renewed earlier. I said I didn't understand adding that to our tab.

The private sector (those who have been laid off, received pay cuts) have already shouldered the burden. We're all in this together!

[sulphurdunn]

9. So, are you saying that becasue private

sector employees are suffering through no fault of their own that federal employees should too?

One night the Lord came to Igor in a dream and said, "It is a pity that your cow died. I have noticed that your brother Ivan's cow is still alive and well. Since both of you are good servants, and your cow died through no fault of yours, I've decided to grant you a wish. What would you like?

Igor said, "I want Ivan's cow to die too."