Freezing Federal Employees Salaries: Time to Be "Part of the Deal"?

[CountryBoy]

I remember the Carter freeze. It knocked me outta a gov't job, I had already been hired for and Dad groused for weeks about the Fed Gov't balancing the budget on the backs of the Federal employees.

As I've said, if ALL the savings don't go towards debt relief, then no way. We on this MB as smarter than the average bear and recognize the danger of the continuing climbing national debt and realize the reduction in this debt is better for us in the long run and growing our retirement funds. Not to mention future generations, I know I'm in the minority in this thinking, but if we aren't willing to do this, how can we expect the less inteeligent Pols and public to see the importance of this?

Oh well, I won't bring it up again. Out the split firewood and yard work, before the humidity makes it to hot.

Have a good one guys.

Rus

 

[Boghie]

Silverbird,

The vast majority of Federal expenditures will be salary and benefit.

Even France is actually slashing their expenditures. My guess - knowing France - is that there are/were lots of regulations and laws and wonderful feelings about state employees.

No matter, here comes the hatchet.

Folks, we are in a '4th Turning'. The last time we were in a '4th Turning' our Federal government was a minimalist and frugal entity that normally ran small surpluses or deficits. Now, not so much. When positions are cut (or never filled) and the folks out there either stop caring - or never did care - about the service provided than entire departments will be cut out of the budget to save necessary departments. If I were in one of the departments that was created in the last 40 years than I would be on watch. In that case, I would hope my department was exceptionally proficient, provided a needed service to taxpayers, and is well respected by tea party activists – yuk, yuk… :nuts:


P.S. The other half of the French austerity measure will come from tax hikes. My best guess is that another tax on folks paying in excess of 50% of their gross toward existing taxes will result in tax evasion - not increased revenue. I hope our apparently sightless Black Swan watches what is happening in Europe - and, realizes he and his administration are not the superheroes to actually make flawed socialistic ideas function in a national economy.

 

[clester]

I just did my part! I retired May 31!!!! Now they can pay me less.

The FAA froze controller salaries for the last 3 years (We got one this past jan.) and now my retirement pay is less than it should be. Glad to out of the FFA. However, I did enjoy most of my 26 years and it provided a good living for my family.

 

[Buffalo_Nickle]

Congradulations, here'd to you !

 

[Boghie]

Nothing happening here folks,
Move along...

Nothing happening here folks,
Move along...

Kalefornea: 'Public employee unions on the defensive'​

This is starting to sound like a Monty Python skit.

Are you part of it?

 

[Silverbird]

I came in during Reagan, missed Carter. No one told me about the pay freeze. All I got was all the heat being turned down to 65 or something equally silly in all Federal buildings, and everyone raising the electricity bill by bringing space heaters...

As for air traffic controllers, that's a drag on the pay!
Now whose idea was it to name National airport after Ronald Reagan when he hardly was a fan of air traffic (I understand the Trade Center, he *wanted* that building)?

 

[alevin]

all the years I was a northern Virginian-going to pick up my dad from trips-and flying in and out myself during the college years....it was Dulles. It will always be Dulles to me (but I haven't flown there in over 15 years-the parents relocated out of the area long ago now, and I don't ask for details there now that I could).

 

[Buster]

Who here remembers the 2080 hour work year?..But now we work 2087..I think Carter was the last time we saw a real raise 7+% IIRC (it was in October then too) and Reagan (hated the Federal worker..said it himself)..Froze us almost every year and threatened furloughs for almost his full 8 years and wanted the High 5 average..No love lost for him in my book.

18 more days And I can get out on 70%..Sadly I must work for 3 to 4 more years as a civilian to finish my SS eligibility.