kannon8833
New member
I'm in FERS, about 2 yrs away from retirement. I keep reading article and article about the Super Committee's ideas on balancing the budget, many of the ideas about messing up our FERS benefits. Now - I understand there is a budget problem. And if you want to reform FERS, fine, but do so for new employees. I read some ideas that impact all current FERS participants,even those with very little time left till retirement.
When we accepted employment with the federal gov't, we were told of defined benefits and we made out decision on that. We have shaped our financial planning on those benefits. This is not fair.
Maybe next they will tell people who worked for the federal gov't at any time in their lives, that they have been pushed to the 50% tax bracket. Or raise our Social Security start to 80?
So what should we do - people on TSP Talk. I suggest we look up our Congress person and start emailing them with our thoughts. Get the world out to all federal workers to express their thoughts. We really need to work together.
Just sign me - frustrated FERS.
When we accepted employment with the federal gov't, we were told of defined benefits and we made out decision on that. We have shaped our financial planning on those benefits. This is not fair.
Maybe next they will tell people who worked for the federal gov't at any time in their lives, that they have been pushed to the 50% tax bracket. Or raise our Social Security start to 80?
So what should we do - people on TSP Talk. I suggest we look up our Congress person and start emailing them with our thoughts. Get the world out to all federal workers to express their thoughts. We really need to work together.
Just sign me - frustrated FERS.
Good luck on emails, letters, and angst in general. 2008 was the final tipping point. Even moderates not in favor of the current administration cannot bring themselves to reduce programs significantly or give up their favorites. The States, which are closer to citizens, and locals, always know best what they need, are now mere execution arms of Congressional/Lobbyist created programs and policies that breed fraud and corruption--corporate and personal--because they try to legislate criteria one size fits all. The incentive of local government employees is to find new recipients of benefits like free cell phones, not to restrict the free benefits to the truly needy that seek them. And to help everyone figure out how to qualify, even it means lying, just a tad. Remember how embarrassed Russel Crowe was to take "assistance" in the movie? I guess it's only fair, lobbyists get paid by corporations and trade groups who get their funds for lobbying by charging a tad more for a Milky Way or an AARP membership. Gotta keep those compensation packages up for the staffers and Legislators. 
