Comments on: It's A Good Time To Work For Uncle Sam

[cyberties]

All of you discussing whether the pay is more or less than the pay of equivalent private sector jobs are completely missing the point. When you work for the government, it is very difficult to be fired for doing a mediocre to poor job; you can retire with FULL pay and be hired on as a consultant at 150% to 200% of your government pay; you have all the wonderful medical, dental and other health care benefits MY tax dollars can pay for. That is why people flock to these jobs. It ain't the pay its the perqs (pronounced "perks" - short for perquisites).

[db-dawg]

"My father could support a stay at home mom with 3 kids.

--Posted by JediRockk"

Jedi, you are a fool. The reason you father could do this, is because prior to the Great Society in the 60s, the tax burden on Americans (federal, state, local), was uner 25%. Today that number is over 50%. I could support a wife and 3 kids if I could keep 75% of what I make. Sadly, there are people, like the president, who think I work to have my income redistributed to others. That is the problem, not the solution. Geet government out of the way, and people prosper.
I really don't want to work my private sector job, so government can tax it away, to make useless government jobs, for political payback.

[fontbonne]

"We need federal, state and local laws that require government pay and benefits to be no larger on average than private sector pay and benefits. "

No law necessary. Government jobs inevitably and invariably pay less than their private-sector equivalents.

[JediRockk]

Their pay in nothing in comparison as the outrages pay of corporate management, CEO's and Bankers. That a decent salary for any American and I fully support it. Our wages have been drowned out since Nixon's "wage" freeze. My father could support a stay at home mom with 3 kids. Now not even a two parent income can keep up. We lost the value of labor, human dignity and a decent days pay. Look at all the poverty in the richest country and all the inhumane crap that goes on here. The top 1% owning 50 percent of the countries wealth. Greed is sickening. "Labor is primary to capital for Labor creates capital." - Abraham Lincoln

[westwxwoman]

One thing many people do not understand about working for Uncle is that all the less well paying jobs have basically been contracted out. It would blow many people's minds to find out how many federal workers there actually are - if you count the people who do contract work. For example, your Medicare reports come from a contractor. Your IRS forms are initially handle by contractors, and on and on. Even some airport's towers are operated by contractors. None of whom get counted in the federal employment numbers or pay average.

Leaving aside, as specified above, the Post Office and Dept. of Defense, most federal jobs remaining under the Civil Service pay umbrella are for specialists of one kind or another, or for people who can manage multi-million dollar contracts. Such people do not come cheap.

When I worked we had trouble recruiting the necessary specialists because they could get better money elsewhere. Well, the worm has wiggled a bit and now federal jobs for white collar specialists are attractive. Probably based on health insurance alone. Which, by the way, I understand many federal contractors do not provide.

[Solarrays247]

Federal employees typically make less than their private sector counterparts. The primary reason to work for the federal government is the job security and benefits, not the pay. As a person mentioned the salaries are not tied to a product they are tied to a service and of course they are not tied to profit, if these jobs were profitable they could be done by private companies instead of the government (that is part of the reason the jobs are done by government because they benefit society but do not generate any direct profit. That is kind of the point).
Posted by gsigas at 8:08 PM : May 12, 2009

I was recently approached by a young relative of mine seeking advice on whether to stick with his federal government position or go the private sector route. This young man has just earned his MBA and is continuing a rapid rise in his chosen field. He has been approached by headhunters from the private sector with offers that are much more lucrative in the short run. However, he has decided that because of the current economic uncertainties, he will stay put for the added job security that he currently enjoys.

[Solarrays247]

I'm a Federal employee, and I can guarantee that when I remind co-workers that it's the "taxpayers" money footing the bill, I get either a blank stare, a churlish smirk, or a hint of indignence. You better wake up people, you're being led by the nose...Americans being led by the nose by politicians! God help us.

Texas
Posted by vega4me at 7:16 PM : May 12, 2009


Unfortunately, I know first hand that what you have stated is true, and it has been going on for many, many years, not just recently. I learned first hand when I used to deal with several federal agencies. I made it my personal policy to always seek out the "workers" in each unit in order to have my business facilitated in a timely manner.

[gsigas]

Federal employees typically make less than their private sector counterparts. The primary reason to work for the federal government is the job security and benefits, not the pay. As a person mentioned the salaries are not tied to a product they are tied to a service and of course they are not tied to profit, if these jobs were profitable they could be done by private companies instead of the government (that is part of the reason the jobs are done by government because they benefit society but do not generate any direct profit. That is kind of the point).

[Solarrays247]

Dang, that Obama is something else, ain't he?

Jeepers, he's only been in office since January 20, 2009, and all these high payin' govenenenenment jobs are his fault!!!

Everybody done get a raise on January 20, 2009, eh? WOW!!!!

Just sayin'..... :)

[lagunagal]

This aint gonna fly.

In 41 months when a new administration takes over, so go these jobs with the majority of Americans blessing who don?t make half that. Obama is not doing anyone any good with this give away. He is hurting them because this simply can?t be sustained. The freeloaders will be looked upon like the CEO is now.

You elected a child people. Thank God mid terms are next year and the next election is in 38 months.