The Week in Comments: Anxious feds, the Iraq war and USAJobs
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
A roundup of some of the comments received this week in the GovExec.com Mailbag. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
There have been multiple shut-down threats. I've only received information once, at the eleventh hour, and nothing since then. Recommend that Congress stop treating Federal workers as "feudal serfs" and realize the damage that will ensue as the result of some of their "stick it to the workforce" proposals will far exceed any benefits incurred to the bottom line.
It is just the next attack in class warfare. First, kill the unions. Second, reduce the pay and benefits of the public sector workers. Third, increase taxes or eliminate tax exemptions for the lower classes (i.e. head of household, Earned Income Credit, mortgage deductions) while preserving things for the rarified elite (like capital gains).
I was talking with someone about what my daughter will do after college. She has a high GPA pursing two science degrees along with a language minor. They suggested the federal government. After my over 30 years of experience with the federal government I told them I couldn't recommend it to someone I loved. Simply not worth all of the extraneous garbage we have to deal with.
On Bill caps Veterans Affairs bonuses
Why do they need a "pilot" program for assessing employee performance? They already have one. So, why spend the 5 million?
Performance awards being cut in private sector? Please, just look at banks and health plans giving themselves "options" worth a couple million dollars. The number of "executives" was not defined but BoA's CEO made $2m in 2010 and $5.2 in 2009. SES pay is between $150k and 180k. So where is the excessive compensation of federal employees.
"Senior" employees? What defines "Senior" employees. I was employed by the VA for 35.5 years. I earned my position partly by earning a masters degree in microbiology and sustained it by earning a masters degree in tropical and infectious diseases. I held that position for 25 years. My position was not considered professional or senior in pay. What does?
On Lawmakers push extended pay freeze, increased pension contributions
How much sacrifice do we need to federal government employees? I think we did our share of sacrifices. The house and senate need to look at themselves and think of sacrificing themselves!!
And what scarfices are people like Darrell Issa making to get Govt. spending under control ? NONE !! He is the 1% that OWS protestors are talking about.
Seriously, I am disgusted that lawmakers in congress would even suggest that federal employees should start making sacrifices to help curb and eliminate excessive spending that we had nothing to do with in the first place. Congressional lawmakers created the deficit and spending problem so they should make all the sacrifices. As a federal worker I have made sacrifices over the past several years. If you dont live in my house you do not know what sacrifices my family of 4 has had to make, so please spare me with the federal employees should sacrifice because alot of us have. What sacrifices are the ones who caused this making. This totally disgusts me.
Last week an article stated that Democratic lawmakers urged the committee to not burden Feds with more pay freezes and increased costs for retirement and other benefits - the Republicans obviously ignored the recommendations from the other side of the aisle. We Feds are once again a political football. We can only show our disappointment with our votes!
After reading this article I am glad I turned in my retirement paper work last week. One thing that is being over looked by the members of the house and senate is the amount of money they earn while "working" and what they will earn in retirement. It's about time the members of congress stepped forward and decided if their salaries and retirement income should also be considered in the effort to reduce the federal deficit.
Great ideas! I think putting forward concrete proposals shows that folks in Washington are serious about cutting back federal spending. I especially like the high-5, hiring one new employee for every three that leave and the increased contributions for CSRS and FERS. Everyone likes to talk about early retirement, why is there no discussion on mandatory retirements. I would like to hear some thoughts.
On Iraq war ends with a whimper, not a bang
The Iraq war: Kinda like recovering from drug addiction. Memories of how it started are foggy, current discussion of the event is painful, and a huge amount of money was wasted in the pursuit of this addictive misadventure.
I'm glad to see us finally getting out of there. We never had any business there in the first place. I have great respect for the Iraqi people and we need to give them back their country.
What idiot ever thought that Iraq would embrace the Great Satan. The average Iraqi on the street will miss American dollars - but they won't miss Americans at all.
On Burning Question: Is the new USAJobs a step forward?
I do not like the update... very hard to use.. bring back the old site... new isnt better.... look at when the Gov went from GS to NSPS.... then back to NSPS... Govemernt wasting our tax dollars as usual....
It is harder to use and doesn't work. are used to be able to bring up a list of possible jobs very easily. in fact it used to do it automatically.Now it does not. Hopefully it will improve soon.
The new USAJOBS appears to be not fully functional yet. The old version was fully functional. Is this Private Industry's (they developed USAJOBS) way of hindering Government?
All of my saved searches were deleted--this is very annoying and will be time consuming to replicate. Why weren't users warned that this would happen? Then we could have at least printed out what we had saved.
On Super committee gets mixed messages on USPS
Mr. Issa should follow his own advice and stay out of something he has no knowledge of, like the USPS's business, or politics.
Only one answer and that is for the government to get out of this business and privatize! Retirement incentives are hogwash---The price of anything today will be ten times higher ten years from now and your retirement will not keep up with it. That is simple fact! The government is way too big and salaries (and promotions to boss creates too many bosses) way too high to allow this government ownership to go on! Socialism, unionism are killing this country!! VA hospitals, Public Schools you name it, should all be PRIVATIZED Period!!!!
On Obama's speech equipment stolen in Virginia
Well, there is one job Obama "created" (as if politicians can create jobs). Whomever stole the equipment doesn't have to work for awhile, or if the person(s) who stole the truck were unemployed, they won't have to find a job for awhile.
The persoen that stole that truck should get the Nobel.
Tea is better for you than koolaid
On Military health and retirement benefits take a hit in lawmakers' proposals
Here Congress goes again. Change the benefits after the service is provided. I earned the benefits I receive. Those who complain should join the Services and complete a career, then you have earned the right to complain. Initiate the changes for future potential retiree's, not the current ones.
It's about time the war machine takes a hit. But, I doubt if the Republican Party will allow it's defense contractor kickbacks to dry up totally. So they don't mind taking back some benifits from the foot soldiers so long as the money keeps flowing out to their corporate partners.
As long as the GOP mantra against raising taxes in any form, in any way, is followed, things like this will have to be considered, unfortunately. If your only tool for trimming things is an axe, then that's what you'll use. I don't agree with it at all.
On Federal retirees will see COLA boost in 2012
Someone refresh my memory. Why do FERS employees get screwed out of 1% cost of living allowance compared to CSRS employees who are going to retire on 82% of their high three? I'd have to work 82 years to pull that kind of retirement, now I get shaved out of 1%??? I don't get it.
This is why the USA is broke. The entitled classes get their raises. The working class is under a freeze, which means we're contributing less to these programs than we would be if we were receiving increases. This only increases the debt and the strain on the system. Other than freezing federal worker pay, have we done anything to cut the budget? Either we're all in this together or we're not.
Do you people not see what they are doing? Divide and conquer! Get us fighting amongst ourselves and we take our eyes off the prize. Additionally, this is a way to make retirement more attractive to the active CSRS employees so we leave and retire.
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