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Obama Proposes 0.5% Pay Increase For Federal Workers
America may be $25 million away from breaching the interim debt ceiling, it may have well over 40 million people subsisting on food stamps, and we may be reading all about this "austerity" thing gripping the country, but it sure won't be impacting Federal workers, all millions and millions of them, if Obama has his way. According to Washington Post, the White House will propose a 0.5 percent pay increase for civilian federal employees as part of its 2013 budget proposal, according to two senior administration officials familiar with the plans." Well as long as the president is adamant about increasing taxes on what is left of America's upper middle class (and let's not forget that half of America pays no taxes at all) to pay for this, we see no way that this proposal will irritate the class-war divided United States even further. And yet we can't help but wonder: why a pay increased? Haven't we been brainwashed day after day how the only threat is deflation, that prices are not going up, that nobody actually needs food or gas, and that people should in fact be grateful for a pay cut?
More:
The modest cost of living increase in federal compensation would be the first pay jump for federal workers since before President Obama ordered a two-year freeze in late 2010.
The proposal, which would require congressional approval, differs from Republican plans supported by lawmakers and presidential candidates that would freeze federal compensation for at least one more year.
But, “a permanent pay freeze is not an acceptable policy,” one of the senior administration officials said Friday. “While modest, a .5 percent increase reflects the belt-tightening we must do in these difficult times.”
The officials were unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter, but added that the White House notified agency budget offices about the decision Friday morning so that agencies could complete their 2013 budget requests.
The White House is expected to formally unveil its fiscal 2013 budget proposal in early February.
Did we mention that Congress has yet to approve the preapproved interim debt ceiling increase, according to which the US can not issue $1 more in debt as of right now? Oh yes, we did.
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Generous guy.
wow! this will totally offset the loss to inflation.
I would be so embarrassed to propose anything THAT ridiculous.
Desperation setting in. This guy can't even get a proper overseas conflict going...
farce.
Eat your peas (au gratin) bitchez!
The literal army of federal workers is one of Obama's biggest core constituencies, and the federal workforce is one of the last bastions and fortresses of union strength, also, home of the $74,000 per year with very generous retirement benefits 'administrative assistants' and $205,000 per year 'administrative assistant supervisors.' (i.e. the unfirables).
Obama will do whatever is necessary to ensure electoral college results in the Washington D.C.-Virginia-Maryland corridor, bitchez.
Federal workforce is a 4,325,000 member strong core (not including unofficial federal workers, for purposes of record keeping), and state level employees now officially equal 15,581,000 in number (many of whom owe their positions to federal mandates and programs).
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
This does not include the millions in the armed forces.
Every tax eating pig for themself at the trough! (This means 'private sector' contractors, too).
Rome is glorious, Maximus! Bread, Circus & Kraken!
O-Zimbabwe-bama has a lot of catching up to do to meet up with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's action during the height of their hyperinflation. At least recent history is teaching Obama that one needs to pay off the nationalist trough feeders in order to sustain some sense of order, and by order mean fucking the little guy.
On 16 February 2006, Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, announced that the government had printed ZW$20.5 trillion in order to buy foreign currency to pay off IMF arrears. In early May 2006, Zimbabwe's government announced that they would produce another ZW$60 trillion. The additional currency was required to finance the recent 300% salary increase for soldiers and policemen and 200% increase for other civil servants. The money was not budgeted for the current fiscal year, and the government did not say where it would come from. On 29 May, Reserve Bank officials told IRIN that plans to print about ZW$60 trillion (about US$592.9 million at official rates) were briefly delayed after the government failed to secure foreign currency to buy ink and special paper for printing money. - http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Hyperinflation_Articles/Zimbabwe_Hyperinflation_and_US_Dollar.asp
See NDAA and "the spiraling cost of healthcare for the DOD."
You neglected to mention the millions of retired government employees of all stripes....each willing to vote for the continuation and enhancement of the government payroll ponzi. The private sector taxpayer is seriously outgunned, but we already knew that.
Outfrauded, out"voted" (that's repetitious), but not outgunned.
+.223
"Man is the pie that bakes and eats himself, and the reciple is separation."
(Alasdair Gray's Lanark)
My friend works for the gov't and got non-competitive pay increases to $72k per year, which he's now making at 26. He emails me on Tuesday and tells me he's done with his work for th week. He also says there is an elderly gentleman in the office who makes $72k per year and doesn't know how to turn his computer on. He stares at the screen all day and craps his pants in the bathroom. When Obama was first elected, they sent around people to 'trim the fat' so they literally were trained for an entire week on 'how to look busy' when the auditor came around. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Any pay increase, even 0.5%, is embarassing.
If they were industrious hard workers just think of the trouble they'd cause.
Damn skippy fine point.
But if only we could have them make min wage, it'd be so much cheaper.
Hell, pay them UE to stay home.
Sadly I can relate to that story. I have worked for individuals who literally cannot turn on their computers and, when those computers are powered up, they are unable to do anything beyond simple text operations.
The most sickening part was discovering how much the "office managers" made in my former line of work. One day I stumbled across a pay stub for one of our managers. I think he forgot to pick it up from the printer or something. Anyway, this guy, who was already drawing a fine pension being a retired Navy guy.....made upwards of $325,000/year for roughly 32 hours of work per week. I cannot think of a single instance where this guy was at work later than 3 pm.
Well considering most people work for the government now the cost of living for everyone will go up with the pay increase. Most government jobs are nonproductive and overpaid and if government jobs disappeared overnight there wouldn't be much of a middle class left.
*Source for number of state governors in the United States: President Barack H. Obama
TruthInSunshine
Hows that work?..............since we do not have 57 AMERICAN states?.
You been Omamaized?,confusing the US w/ the ME?
See asterisk, DZ.
Obama must be taking lessons from iron Angie: this is pure German public sector pay politics.
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/dar-thursday-34.jpg
Vote Ron Paul.
Haha! You fell for it: "and let's not forget that half of America pays no taxes at all"
None at all? No state/local income taxes, no property taxes, no sales taxes, no payroll taxes, no excise taxes, no gasoline taxes, no airline or hotel taxes, no license fees?
As a self-employed slob, I pay over 15% just in SE tax (social security payroll tax) whether I pay the bills or not. It should have read "nearly half of American households pay no net federal income tax".
That line about "half of America pays no taxes" is just class warfare propaganda from the Alinsky Machine. Apart from the welfare class (that includes both Wall Street and downtown Milwaukee), all of us are paying TOO MUCH in taxes.
Everyone transacting with dollars pays the Inflation Tax, although too few know it.
thank you! I was going to rant about that, but you beat me to it.
I guess most people here have never been working poor. Otherwise they would know that when you are on the bottom of the wage scale, payroll taxes are ALWAYS larger than income taxes. That's the way its always been.
No one that works pays NO federal taxes. It's that so many people make so little that they pay no federal INCOME taxes.
the problem is that the right-wing talking point carries so well, that facts have been left waaaaayyyyy behind.
Buying Votes. Soo Sick. Whatta tool.
everything obama does is to try and take away something from the private sector-- to grow the government sector-so this is no surprise.
the problem is that he isn't smart enough to look far enough ahead to see what that means in terms of ACTUAL consequences for this country, since all he cares about is buying enough votes to get reelected.
what a sad "leader" he is.
Insane...
Nothing else I can say
When since did compassion become herassy? Obama may not be perfect, but at least he has a heart for helping the most unfortunate members of society.
Fuckin' what?!?!?!?!?!?!
You heard me. I LIKE the current system - it helps the poor and gives me peace of mind. I don't have to worry about whether I'm doing my moral duty because the government is taking care of it. Obama understands this better than any president we've had before.
Your play is already being done much better here.
Jesus said: "suffer the spoofers to come among zerohedge"
Said... as only FRANCIS SAWYER can say...
"What a jerk"
" I don't have to worry about whether I'm doing my moral duty because the government is taking care of it "
Commie troll!
He forgot /sarc
"I don't have to worry about whether I'm doing my moral duty because the government is taking care of it" is the proof in the pudding that this is sarc. And a damn fine one.
you get a +1 for not running with the rabid herd.
Look -- It's MDB's offspring.
Well if by help the poor you mean they are losing ever more of their incomes through inflation, yeah, I guess it is helping them.
You gotta be a banker.
pods
Your pool of stupid is very deep.
@ms1408: It's interesting when I can't tell whether a post is satire or serious. You've just outlined the core of liberalism, forcing others to pay for your vision of morality, and removing any moral obligations for you as an individual.
What a cozy little existence. Maybe we can hook you up to intravenous feeding too, so you can lie in bed all day secure in the knowledge that your govt takes care of everything for you and everyone else.
Helps the poor? Are you out of your fucking mind?!?!! Unless you mean help as definied by keeping them in a constant state of subservience and a slowly eroding quality of life, as those payments do NOT keep up with inflation of staple needs. Get the fuck out of here. Seriously, just get the fuck out.
The call it Fixed income since it fixes one's ability to do anything with their life.
Guess yer moral duty doesn't care about getting Big Brother to point his gun at productive people to take their property. Some "morality."
When you say "at least he has a heart for helping the most unfortunate members of society" are you referring to the over paid and under productive civilian federal employees? Are you kidding?
Underproductive? These people make up the fabric of society, and are literally keeping this country afloat.
ZH already has several class act trolls. If you're going to try to compete, you're going to have to be much more creative.
you see? Spoof trolling is an Art...and you gotta walk before you can run with it...
Lol. I spent 8 years working with government employees (granted, in the UK, but I can't imagine yours are any less lazy?) and can say with total honesty; There's more work in a sick-note!
Go suck satan's cock, thanks. It's a better use of your time than writing your bullshit comments.
If it is true that they are the fabric of life, I wanna go naked.
Yeah, maybe we need another tax cut for the "productive" golfer class instead.
Idiots all, from the true believers down to anyone who couldn't tell you were trolling.
ah, a bankster shill, ok!
Iron my shirt. Now that's productivity!
"her assy" ....I haven't heard that word since Ted Kennedy checked out.
"When since did compassion become herassy? . . . . "
Since when did (non)-Amerikans become such (dumb)-assys?
It's "heresy".
Also, your point is idiotic.
THERES BEEN NO BUDGET PASSED BY CONGRESS FOR 3 YEARS WHY IS IT GUNNA BE DIFFENERT THIS TIME?
As I recall, Obama's last budget was voted down 97-0. Should we start a pool for this one? I'm taking 98-1 (McCain aye).
Obama simply knows how to bind his sheeple. The fact is: the Republicans had the chance to shut down government, by simply refusing anything until Obama cut down expenses to the bone. They didn't. So now the Americans are stuck with a spend-spend-spend president. His enemies are bystanders, doing nothing. #ObamaLandslide2012
Last time I checked both the Republicans AND the Democrats were refusing to cut spending for the Military Industrial Complex. Aside from Social Security, the MIC is the biggest money sucking hole I've seen since I've been with a prostitute.
Democrats want to recieve without working.
Republicans want to recieve without paying.
But they both love Big Brother.
@RKDS - good one.
I heard once the difference between the 2 parties is:
Democrats love to tax and spend.
Republicans love to borrow and spend.
(Guess what is the common denominator?)
Unfortunatelly, some (not all) of the so called libertarians, follow a similiar line to as you describe the republicans above...
...a few months ago, i in an article here was discussing with one of the more radical free market proponents, who argued that he should pay zero taxes, and not have to support any public program - not even infrastructure like power lines.
So, i proposed to him "okay, let's hypothetically make it optional. Either you pay for infrastructure via taxes, and get access for free. Or, you pay no taxes, but then like in every other private market have to pay if you want to use it. I.e. need access to the power grid, water grid, and so on? Then pay for it just as with phone companies. That, or you have to care about stuff like water supply and power generation yourself."
And his reaction was "NO WAY", and that he from now onwards DESERVES it without paying, because he paid taxes in the PAST.
Yeah, right...... happy to consume, but unwilling to work nor pay for it. Plain old greed.
Non-sensical comment. No self-respecting libertarian would subsrcibe to a borrow-and-spend mantra.
The "related" story is a non-sequitir, too - were you trying to equate the person in question with a free market thinker?
Services listed in your hypothetical can be provided by the free market. Allowing the government to provide these services ensures the worst of both worlds: poor quality and high prices. The free market works the opposite way....but you've demonstrated over and over again that you do not understand how the free market works.
A question for you, though - why do you think the government taxes people when it can just print all the money it needs to provide services?
No i wasn't. Yes i understand very well what "free market principles" means (probably more than some self-declared libertarians). That also is why i would ironically NOT describe myself as a "libertarian".... even though i perhaps seek it's premises more than some libertarians: Free market premises, ironically cannot be guaranteed with a free market alone. I have switched to a mindset that does not fit any of the three polarities, precisely BECAUSE libertarian principles, and free market premises, are not achievable by the things, which a lot of selfdeclared libertarians and free market proponents, advocate. This is similiar to fundamental democrats and republicans: Even though there are movements for them, they kinda contradict their own premises.
I actually want the REAL DEAL, not some fake shit, and without any compromises or cheating - which is why i have rejected all of them, and instead settled for a mindset that is beyond most of the supporters of those ideologies.
But to get back to the topic:
What i was saying more was that some who claim to be libertarian, or support free market priciples, actually contradict both, even if on the surface they may seem like one of them (there's a reason why i put extra emphasis on "SOME" libertarians being like that, rather than "all").
And as for taxing versus inflation.... even though it has little to do with the topic...... i think that current western govs originally started out, with doing taxes at least someway honestly, by actually declaring them as taxes. Now that not even taxes can be with popular consent be raised enough, to halfway pay for the expenses, a transition is happening towards stealth-taxation.
(yes, both has been done for a long time - i'm talking about the distribution of the total tax, between both)
it's election time baby, why acting surprised
He is "forced" to give it up and blames it on the other side.
Obama = the first POTUS to occupy an alternate universe. It is not even parallel to ours. Banzai has it straight on with his "Brother From Another Planet" lampoons.
No one gives a shit, as long as that silent, unannounced QE Madman Bernanke Fed magic keeps the equity ramp going.
damn private sector...always complaining about your betters...get to work slaves...obama needs another vacation.
Just another election year pay-off. I sure Obama's spending spree (vote buying)
has just begun.
Gee thanks for the thought there Mugabe.
don't look now, but unicredit down -9% today and ity 10 over 7% again. yay, all well. raise for everyone.
Why not. Pedal to the insane metal baby.
I work around govt employees. Actually their salary has been frozen for two years except for maybe Cost of Living increases, but then their salaries were way out of line with private sector:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/library/chart-graph/historical-comparison-public-and-private-sector-compensation-levels
That is the biggest bunch of hogwash I have heard. Federal workers are over compensated ,especially when you consider the fact that the majority aren't needed.
Maybe if you had looked at my link you would see that is exactly what I was saying when I said "way out of line".
Until _your_ Very Important problem runs across their desk, then all of a sudden it's spare no effort or expense to get you what you want from the teat of Mommy Government. The "private" sector, too much of which also works for government and subsists on tax money, is a model of hypocrisy if I ever saw one.
Hey butt munch... the only important problem of mine that may cross their desk is caused by the useless eaters otherwise known as goverment.
News flash pal, the economy's _full_ of useless eaters and they're not all in the government.
Non sequitor. Useless eaters in the private sector would earn no FRNs and therefore starve, therefore the Govt must be supporting their "useless eater" lifestyle. Plus, you probably couldn't name this group of "useless eaters". No one's buyin' yer argument.
How can you see any "useless eaters" with your head so far up your ass?
Actually a very big proportion of federal employees are providing "oversight" of contracts with the big Beltway Bandit federal contractors. If you added in all the contractors, the federal government employee count would certainly at least double. They should be focused on keeping the Beltway Bandits honest, but the problem is the revolving door between the federal employment and working for a contractor. The conflict of interest in not irritating your potential future employer is obvious. Former Congressmen are the role model for federal employees.... Build up contacts and then jump to the other side to cash in.
Million Dollar comment there, congrats.
Being IN the gvt in elected office is on the job training.
They set up the sweet deals all the while targeting something or other to make the sheep numb and then jump to other side right into the easy money of the ones they ran out of town all the while braying about gays this and that one man one women this and that bomb bomb bomb this and that,
The sheep can never catch up , never.
99% can NEVER catch up.
Lucky you get peas bitch.
The military-industrial-financial/Wall Street-bridge2nowhere-UselessContractor brigade would certainly significantly swell the headcount.
I'm sure they can manage at least 2 more years. My wife and coworkers were told they were lucky not to get a pay cut this year.
I agree. The States are required to balance their budgets. They are lucky to have a job.
But as a side note take a look at the junks I got above. Obviously, they didn't visit the link which showed that govt employees were way overpaid compared to the private sector. A lot here junk first and read second.
I have never seen anything the size of any state or fed dept that could not stand at least a 15% across the board cut in each 4 year cycle.
I visited the link and junked you. I misunderstood your comment as I'm sure others did. I changed my -1 to a +1.
Wow! Cool! Only 11.5% more to go just to keep up with inflation for 2011 alone. That is change alright, pocket change compared to what it takes just to break even.
Not that I am defending public employment, most of the rest of the US has dealt with catastrophe after catastrophe that just breaking even would be such a monkey off their back.
However, to those who have not yet been eviscerated, that is pretty paltry.
Who's vote is that going to purchase? Some I am sure...
"[their pay has not increased]...except for maybe Cost of Living increases"
Are you really this stupid?
"Signs point to yes!"
.25% if you are the normal friendless feds. If you are on the friends list I bet it's more than that.
Whatever the dictator wants the dictator gets. The populist er socialist revolution is on in spades. If you haven't figured that out yet.
Don't forget before that " 2 year pay freeze" he gave federal employees a generous wage increase of 10%.
correct - that's completely forgotten about now. the raise and subsequent freeze was nothing but locking in a bonus so it wouldn't be subject to the cutting block.
I propose an immediate cut in all federal salaries to the median of the pay in the good ol' U S of A. Failing that, I propose that the U S of A dissolve into 4 countries, East USA, West USA, SoWest USA and NoCen USA. Hey, if the USSR can break up because of an authoritarian thugacracy, why can't we?
Did we mention that Congress has yet to approve the preapproved interim debt ceiling increase, according to which the US can not issue $1 more in debt as of right now? Oh yes, we did.
Congress doesn't need to approve anything.
Increased chocolate rations for all!
He makes it rain, chocolate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA
He want's to irritate the class warfare divided society. He's walking out in the middle of the prison yard and picking a fight with everybody because he's the biggest baddest guy in the prison. And the guards, the ones who are responsible for the sympathetic unions and connections between all the various elements of the whole are practicing full on apartheid government trying to individually link people to the dominant aggressive whole that has been gathered up so far and trying to schedule the fights so that they win.
This was likely done during world war II as so many of aggressive actions taken were all isolated until everyone broke in and had their say in some theater of operation.
The problem is the aggressive force is a fractional reserve of it's enemies and won't shine true without a full on redemption which much like european and american banking doesn't want that. The other problem is it like the financial side it's leveraged way way too much.
TSA employees are gonna take more bribes and get more aggressive with the 'PAT DOWNS' to compensate
Obama should just propose a 2-3% raise and if Republicans say no, he blames it on them... wins their vote... and if it passes, he wins their vote. Win/Win.
A 0.5% raise is a joke.
Come on Obama, have some balls as Alexander the Great said... L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace!
Could this strategy get any more transparent?
In 2 weeks he's going to go on TV saying something like "the Republicans think Federal employees deserve to be poor" or something.
Hey idiot, how's about you try not hitting the debt ceiling for a change? That'll get you more voters than even the largest plan to bribe over-compensated federal workers.
Hey idiot, how's about you try not hitting the debt ceiling for a change? That'll get you more voters than even the largest plan to bribe over-compensated federal workers.
"Not hitting the debt ceiling" requires cancellation of some of the majority of the budget expenditures--Social Security and Medicare. Go ahead and threaten THOSE entitlements and for sure the voters you win will be outnumbered by the voters who start sharpening their axes.
Could chop Medicare D, but remember: that massive subsidy to the pharmaceutical industry probably helped win Dubya's re-election.
Let's see a 0.5 % increase in pay, uhm and the inflation rates is something like a true 4 to 5 %. Their COLA is based on a rigged CP!... their fearless Union leaders may convince them that they have a friend in Obamabi but if they actually belive it they are dumber than I thought. Their pay is higher than that of comparable private industry but soon 25% more used waste paper wont get you anything more. I wonder how many of them are buying PM.
>> half of America pays no taxes at all
Considering just how regressive the tax structure is in America, this kind of class warfare BS is totally uncalled for. Are you under the impression poor folks don't pay sales tax, sin tax, property tax, fuel tax, phone tax? I guess class warfare is ok when it's the lower class taking it in the shorts.
ok, he should have specified that he meant just income tax. but the larger point is lost on you -- if you don't pay income taxes then you have absolutely no concern over the size of the government and/or its long term solvency. if you have the power to vote yourself more freebies, and suffer no direct adverse consequences from that vote, why in the world would you stop voting yourself more freebies (to be paid for by others)?
Should've but didn't and anyone who can think for themselves knows exactly why.
How about Obama and Congress cutting back on some of their perks? Congress could save money by reducing staffing costs and having less recesses (disruptions in service to our country). Anyway the "World Police" credit card has been maxed out and it is only a matter of time before the USD is no longer the world currency.
Once again, the 'fact' that half of Americans pay no taxes is not a 'fact;' it is a talking point.
Almost half of all Americans pay no income taxes but every working American pays Social Security and Medicare taxes. Any American crossing the Delaware River bridges pays a toll (which just went up for the second year in a row). Any American traveling the Pa. Turnpike pays a toll (which just went up for the third year in a row). Any American buying a good pays a sales tax. We pay taxes on airline travel, We pay gas taxes, etc. etc.
The amazing thing is that when the income tax was first instituted nearly 95% of Americans paid no income tax. It was never intended to be paid by most Americans, let alone half.
"... every working American pays Social Security and Medicare taxes."
Does Congress? Although a reasonable argument could be made whether calling what they do "work".
it should have been specified as income tax, not any tax.
but that's because income taxes didn't account for 45% of all govt revenues, which it does now - the govt funded itself through tariffs and sales taxes, with everyone obviously contributing. and the income tax rate was about 3% (though a little higher for the very top incomes). so you're of course correct that everyone who works pays into SS/Medicare (though its worth pointing out that SS, which is the bulk of that payment, is supposed to be your personal retirement savings and not a contribution to general revenues).
but anyone who doesn't pay income taxes now is receiving 50% of whatever our govt provides with no skin in the game. if everyone had to give up over 35% of their labor's rewards we wouldn't have our current budget insanity.
On the West Coast, could be on both coasts, most cops, teachers and a few other types of workers don't pay any social security taxes. So it ain't "Every working American."
"The amazing thing is that when the income tax was first instituted nearly 95% of Americans paid no income tax. It was never intended to be paid by most Americans, let alone half."
garch............
NOW that is a decent point.
Of course the country is so far gone down the shithole that rational thought is laughed at.
If you are a government employee you do not pay ANY taxes. Period.
Government salaries are paid based on taxes collected, borrowed funds, or inflation. Any "taxes paid" is more correctly viewed as a salary reduction because the money initiated from the government and is returned to the government.
(Murray Rothbard made this argument much better than I just did)
Let's see...
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=49651&sid=2
Federal salaries rose an average of 1.3 percent in fiscal 2011 compared to 1.2 percent average pay growth for private sector workers, according to USA Today
The average federal worker made $75,296 during that period, plus $28,323 in benefits, such as health care and retirement packages, the analysis found, adding that the government workforce has higher average education levels than the private sector and includes more professionals and specialists.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125175281072673759.html
President Barack Obama blocked large pay raises slated for tens of thousands of federal employees Monday, overriding statutory formulas to hold pay increases to 2% in 2010.
Invoking the "national emergency" declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the president said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that under pay formulas set in 1990, federal employees with pay levels set according to comparable local wages are set for average pay increases of 18.9%.
http://govcentral.monster.com/benefits/articles/4222
In case anybody hasn’t heard by now, the 2009 pay schedule will increase pay by 3.9 percent, since President Bush signed into law the proposal created by the senate.
According to GovExec.com, the average pay increase will be at least 2.9 percent in 2010
What, so it's public employees' fault that the health insurance industry, now officially a full-blown government welfare recipient itself, keeps jacking up the price of increasingly marginal quality service?
Let the vote buying begin? 0.5% at a time?
It's going to be an absolute dog fight! These 2 parties are at complete ends of the spectrum. Hopefully they can come to a compromise at 0.25% and not destroy the country with their stark partisan differences. I mean the difference between 0 and .5% is such a huge chasim.
Azz Whole
I stopped reading at "half of Americans pay not taxes at all." Why bother reading lies.
Take your Fox-News-inspired bile and shove it. That is one of the most dishonest class-warfare memes ever, and directed against the lower classes.
Just think THINK about it for a minute and you will realize that pure bullshit is coming out of your mouth when you say it.
Frankly, who care what happens in Washington anymore.
They are intent on grinding everyone into dust while they eat cake.
After the telcos got a pass from spying on everyone, it seems clear the government is no longer representative of its Citizens. The SOPA, NDAA, Obamacare, Patriot 2 are just window dressing to privatize more profits and socialize more losses.
Re-read the 'list of grievances' in the Declaration of Independence.
Its starting to feel a little more King George III around here instead of Thomas Jefferson.
These assholes in Washington, mainly the crypto-lobbyists that are writing private laws and taxes into being wipe these asses with the Flag everyday.
Just like some abusive boyfriend. After some point you have to say 'enough is enough.'
Ignore these guys and their games. What matters is your community and family.
When the Missouri National Guard comes to California to "restore order," you'll know what side you're on.
By that time, I am not sure the guard will have the vehicles to get to Cali to restore anything.
More Republican lying BULLSHIT! They may not pay income taxes, but they pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes .......
(and let's not forget that half of America pays no taxes at all)
That statement gets thrown around alot and its just not true. Many that constitute that "half" usually pay payroll taxes, which amounts to 15% of their pay(directly and indirectly, via employer contribution). 15% is probably still a higher effective tax rate than the 1% pay.
Just to add more insult to injury, those same 1% are virtually exempt from paying this 15% tax. It's like a scam within a scam.
What_Me_Worry
Yep, and where does that 15% go?.
SS,MC, FICA ............................so in essense, they pay NOTHING,to feed the kitty.
there are no lockboxes , never were.
It's all general funds backed(bwhaaaa) by debt.
Stop posting foolish crap, it makes you look BAAAAAAD.
Gotta make sure those FEMA camps gaurds are well paid...
I believe everyone needs to get used to this. It's being touted around political circles that for Obama to win re-election its a very simple matter: Is the economy improving, Yes = re-election; Is the economy not improving, No = no re-election. Get used to the fact that for the next 11 months, EVERY resource, tool, trick, ploy, group, dirty-deed, etc etc etc at this administrations disposal will be used to create the illusion of the economy improving. The minority of us who realize that every action the administration takes toward this end will simply be more kicking-the-can-down-road, is irrelevent. Statistics will be fabricated, money will be pulled out of thin air and given to whomevers votes it will buy, disinformation and misinformation will be broadcast daily, and more, ALL toward the goal of fabricating that Obama is somehow leading this country to recovery. Excuse me while I go hurl....
You have been in a deep sleep. ????
When has it been any different?
Clowns like obama and the rest of the slime on either side only worry about the spin the storyline the message.
To think it is just starting now or willl end at the next selection marks you as a tool of the Elite.
Just what one side or the other wants you to believe and broadcast.
IT'S THE ECONOMY ................STUPID.
All true. I guess it just feels MORE like this now than ever before. The polarity of the two sides - population getting more and more tuned out & TPTB becoming more devious and manipulative- has reached critical mass IMHO. It feels like the breaking point is here.
Even if the economy is NOT improving, Obama will win a second term unless the Republicans managed to accomplish something. That sure doesn't look likely.
Romney? Heh. Paul?
Maybe there'll be a last-minute entry.
Fuck You Obama! I'll just give that .5% directly to Dr Ron Paul who has more integrity in his middle finger than you do in your entire body.
Federal Worker.
Only if that contribution does not exceed the federally allowed limits. Remember, The Federal Government determines what you can do with your money or how much free speech you have.
Buying votes with public money.... and expecting loyalty?
"...(and let's not forget that half of America pays no taxes at all)..."
We all pay taxes, they just don't pay income taxes. Regardless of that constantly repeated inaccuracy, this proposal from Obama is offensive.
The article repeats the same old crap, falsifications., and elitist prejudices.
Apparently, despite all the ser-vile Obama has done for them, it still isn’t enough to satisfy many of the wealthy elite and their sycophant worshippers.
“Half pay NO taxes”.
Well, that’s only counting IRS income tax. Ignored are the regressive FICA and Medicare taxes, and all the regressive local and state taxes and fees. And only if one expects income tax to be levied on income providing the basics of food, shelter, and clothing INSTEAD OF only the discretionary income above the basics. Let’s not mention the giant corporations that pay “no taxes” despite billions of income and bonuses.
“a 0.5 %" pay raise!
WOW! Given actual inflation, that’s still apparently not enough of a pay cut for some. The government’s in arrears. That 0.5% could be added to the trillions handed to war merchants and financial tycoons. Let’s lambast the workers. The private sector wages have been lagging behind inflation. If the private sector workers don’t get pay raises, the public sector workers shouldn’t either. That’s fair. Besides, what kind of example would it set? Hell, if the government workers get 0.5%, what will the private sector workers be demanding?
Obama is duplicitous about the causes of economic malaise and federal budget deficits. Some 60% of federal civil servants work for the Pentagon, Homeland Security, or the CIA (and that’s not counting all the “contractors”). But whether Obama advocates a pay raise or a pay cut won’t make him consistent, won’t make him sincere, and won’t begin to fix anything.
The 60% figure was extracted from info at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_civil_service
I don't know about anyone else, but my wife is a kindergarten teacher with a BA in Psychology and an MA in Education. She works like a madwoman, usually leaving the house at 6:45 AM and returning at 6:30 PM because she has constant prep work to make sure the kids are all challenged. Because there is little money for supplies and no money whatsoever for any extras, she spends $750 - $1,000 per year on her students' materials for the classroom.
Last year, due to budget constraints, the school board cut all the salaries of teachers by 10% and cut headcount by another 10% (she has now been working for 19 years and makes about $69,000). When I compare how hard she works, and what kind of value she adds to people's lives, to the efforts and effectiveness of faceless bureaucrats, or highly skilled professionals like our mail-carriers (cynical comment), it is a disgrace that Obama (and the powers that be) are talking about a net raise for government workers, especially since they have advanced constantly over the past several years.
My conclusion: aim for mass mediocrity and reward the masses for their contribution to dragging us all down to a lower level! This is a far cry from the values and aspirations I was raised with from the late 50's -early 60's. God help us (not politically correct, but accurate).
she has now been working for 19 years and makes about $69,000
Teaching's a bitch, for sure, but you do realize that's a terrific salary, right?
That doesn't even touch on the notion that someone gets to do something that can even be considered rewarding and important to society.
How much is 0.5% in Amero dollahs.
I am so fucking sick of hearing this (throughly debunked) meme that 'half of Americans pay no tax at all'. It is such utter fucking Grove 'Douchfuckingbag' Norquist nonsense that it makes me want to go on a violent rampage at these fucking taxpayer asshole think tanks. They do not even have the fucking courtesy to clarufy that they are speaking specifically of Federal Income Tax. And they also don;t bother to mention that anyone not 'paying tax' is at or below the poveryy line and has dependents. And since the utterly miserable failed 'conservative Republican' policies have put record amounts of our fellow citizens on the dole, WHAT THE FUCK DO THEY EXPECT?!
For one thing, everyone pays FICA.
For another, every one pays any myriad of FEDERAL AND STATE taxes if you say, for example, buy beer, cigarettes, tires, gasoline, use a toll road, use a cell phone, or a land line phone, or take a deep breath after a shower.
Then there are all the myriad state taxes: property, sales, luxuray, gas, more on beer and smokes, and on and on. Poor poeple may pay less taxes, but if they paid any more they wouldn't have TWO FUCKING NICKLES to rub together. So all you fucking talking point meme cocksucker that spew bullshit without an ounce of thought ot ANY fact to back it up can GO FUCK YOURSELVES!
"For one thing, everyone pays FICA."
No. Everyone does not pay FICA. The employed pay FICA. The unemployed, including those pernanently on welfare do not. So if you're going to ride your high horse about the half pay no tax meme when everybody already knows that refers to federal income tax, you could at least be accurate in your other statements.
And what are the people with barely two nickels buying, that they need to pay "luxuray" taxes?
I aplaud anyone that can avoid paying Fed/state/local taxes.
Hero to me.
Salute!
Let's not forget the 4% step increases. They're annual for the first four years, then every few years after that.
He could CUT FEDERAL SALARIES BY 2% EACH YEAR and the salaries for those cockroaches ... those parasites ... it would still increase. This .5% bump is only about buying votes for the war maniac.
mispost
well, per the federal reserve there is virtually no inflation, so maybe for once we should all just assume the Fed's numbers are spot on and give the nipple suckers no raise. i'm done with this conversation.
I work in the private sector, I got no raise. For the second straight year.
Health Insurance up 29%. Food up 10%. MBTA fares going up 43%.
But the DOW is up!!! Economy is turning around the corner and everybody is getting (temp) jobs! Lindsay Lohan is nude in Playboy!!! Everything is OK!!!!111