Monday, November 29, 2010

Hard Times for US Federal Workers? NOT!

NYT:

President Obama plans to announce a two-year pay freeze for civilian federal workers later Monday morning in his latest move intended to demonstrate concern over sky-high deficit spending. 
The president’s proposal will effectively wipe out plans for a 1.4 percent across-the-board raise in 2011 for 2.1 million civilian federal government employees, including those working at the Defense Department, but the freeze would not affect the naion’s uniformed military personnel. The president has frozen the salaries of his own top White House staff members since taking office 22 months ago.  
The number of federal workers making more than $150,000 a year has grown ten-fold in the past five years and doubled since Mr. Obama took office, according to a USA Today study earlier this month. Since 2000, federal pay and benefits have increased 3 percent annually above inflation, compared with 0.8 percent for private sector workers, according to data cited by the newspaper.
Just thinking out loud:  Imagine if the US had to implement the kind of austerity measures circulating throughout the world.  Leadership talks a good game, but did you read the increases taking place?  Seriously?  Now, take the amount they are being paid, add in their benefits and pension (remember, different plan than the bankrupt social security) and what do you have?  Its A Wonderful Life!

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About Me

A student of the markets that has held portfolio management, analysis and trading positions for over 15 years.