The Week in Comments: More on feds' pay and benefits
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.
On Super committee GOPer: Automatic cuts must be reconfigured
I fully agree with Obama on this one. Mr. Toomey, the super committee and Congress did not do their job, now they should have to live with the consequences.
Of course to all the liberals here think it is the fault totally of the GOP. Of course the democrats have no hand in its failure.
I think we need a constitutional amendment to reduce the number of senators and representatives by 50%...that would eliminate half of the stupidity in DC.
On Poll: Sequestration Anxiety
I think it is very much in vogue right now to attack government workers and try to bust their unions. We workers must stay vigilant and constantly contact our Senators and Representatives to let them know it will affect them negatively at the polls if they pursue this agenda.
But really--what to do with the salaries--an "ice age" cannot last indefinitely and sooner or later any congress will be forced to raise the salaries to those GS who survived all the tortures. What they will do--to create another Super-Failure Committee?
We, federal employees, are the ultimate victim of poor politics. These kinds of "forced" cuts are usually done without a good plan. In most cases cuts are made to the politically weak regardless of mission importance. This means that cuts start at the bottom; the first line of service.
On Gap between military and civilians widening, study finds
Don't worry - Congress will send us down the hole by increasing our taxes, making us go under Obamacare and generally socializing this country, so maybe more people will come into the service. Oh that's right - they won't be able to because our armed services are being decimated and the numbers allowed in the service are decreasing, in order to save money. Guess we really will have a problem!
Bottom line: Every American citizen, whether born or naturalized should be required to serve in the military. Three years active, two years active reserves and two years inactive reserve. It is every Americans priviledge and responsibility to serve and protect our Constitution. If Congress doesn't enact some form of legislation to do this our great Country won't last another two decades...Our great Democratic experiment will have failed and we will have become another blip on the history radar.
On OPM to restructure federal internship program
As a prior PMF, any dilution of the PMF's hyper competitive selection process, including the 1st step of being competitively nominated to compete by your graduate school is NOT a good idea.
And what is supposed to be the big draw of Federal service now? Frozen salaries? Benefit cuts? No performance awards? Restricted travel?
At least the GOP has the stones to propose unpopular plans that save taxpayer money regardless of the dire political consequences. The pandering left is proposing the same old tired "tax the rich" and "blame Bush" mantra because they are scared to death to propose anything that might upset their voting base. The left has, by and large, always been the I, me and my party pandering to the union mentality of short term gain over long term survival.
On Perry's jab at federal workers draws rebuttal
Way to Go Mr. Dougan! I love that answer. We should also let Gov Perry and Darrell Isa know that most Fed Employees are very smart, honest, and hard working individuals.
And don't forget the tens of thousands DoD, DEA, FBI and CIA federal employees who have deployed to OIF and OEF over the last 10 years, several who were killed in combat or wounded. Not all sit behind desks.
Hey disptick, Voters across all 50 states, stationed overseas and in six territories want to know exactly where those god-awful places are. They might already be there.
On Bill to expedite airport security for service members passes in House
I am currently serving in the Army. To be honest with you we do not like getting special treatments. We are here for the people not vise versa. And this is the wrong way to honor us. Skipping a line is not what we do. This is not our culture. In fact, if you outrank a soldier, you let him/her eat first and you eat last. I would like to see every citizen of the United States get expedited security screening.
I'm not sure if this has been fully thought out. Somebody needs to remind Congress about Major Hassan from Fort Hood.
If Uncle Sam were smart, current government employees with security clearances would also get expedited treatment. After all, there's clearly a data base of active duty and civil servants. After all, the taxpayers are paying to have these people stand in line when they are flying on government business.
On GOP considers longer pay freeze
WE ALL, 2.3 mil of us, should collectively take a two day annual leave, and shut down the government. And we should do that several times a year, and see what impact it will have.
And the pay cut continues... my wife asked tonight about this payroll cut. She certainly never saw anything of value. Perhaps pennies. Come on Congress, get real! Cut and freeze your own salaries for once!
Keep freezing pay and the government will have major recruitment and retention problems. In this economy, people may take a federal job because that is what they can get, but they will go right on looking and leave as soon as something better pops up.
Punish federal employees but allow American corporations to 'legally' hide $1.5 Trillion corporate US tax dollars in international accounts? Oust Congress now!
So you anti Republicans are gona vote in 4 more years of Obama???? And who's insane? How's the change working for ya? Get it straight! It's ALL of 'em in Washington. Vote "no" to incumbents.
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