Here's a reminder of an Opening Salvo, in our current Austerity Rhetorical war:
Obama announces 2-year pay freeze for federal workers
By Ed O'Keefe, Perry Bacon and Joe Davidson
The freeze applies to all Executive Branch workers -- including civilian employees of the Defense Department, but does not apply to military personnel, government contractors, postal workers, members of Congress, Congressional staffers, or federal court judges and workers.
"Getting this deficit under control is going to require some broad sacrifices and that sacrifice must be shared by the employees of the federal government," Obama said in a speech Monday afternoon explaining the decision. He added, "I did not reach this decision easily, this is not a line item on a federal ledger, these are people's lives."
Well, long as it wasn't a light-hearted decision. There you go! Excuse me Sir, you got some GOP concessions for all these "worker sacrifices" right?
Huh? No? Ahh ... how much are us 'worker bees', those who 'make the Govt Go', going to be giving up anyways?
Federal pay freeze plan wouldn't stop raises
by Stephen Losey -- Dec 6, 2010
The size of those increases ranges from 2.6 percent to 3.3 percent and by law kick in every one, two or three years, depending on an employee's time in grade.
John Gage, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, called Obama's plan "wrongheaded" and driven by politics. But he said the news that step increases will not be affected takes some of the sting out of the decision.
"They're doing this as a symbol, but it's the wrong type of symbol to take it out on working people making basic wages," Gage said.
Well that doesn't sound so bad. Between 2 to 3 percent for 2 years. Just skip a few Nites out. Don't take as many weekend road-trips. Piece of Cake!
It's Chump Change! ... especially if you don't bother to do the Compound Math.
Uh oh! I just did the math.
The Price of Food keeps going up.
The Price of Transportation keeps going up.
The Price of Health Care keeps going up.
And scheduled COLA's of 2.6 percent to 3.3 percent -- now removed?
-- that could've paid for the new tires I just put on my Truck.
-- that could've paid the New Computer training, I need to get for my hectic Job.
a few years ago, I luckily, landed a "good job" -- a Federal Job,
as a programmer and database developer.
(and trust me, the Govt sorely needs those skills.)
Finally a quantum of Financial Security.
Then last winter, out of the blue, my Scheduled COLA's that were promised me when hired,
were suddenly frozen, unilaterally, with No obvious Political Gain, in return.
C'est la Vie ... I'm a Team Player. I'm thankful to just have my job. Just eat my Peas, and absorb the Hit.
Well I just Calculated it out -- my lost future wages -- over the remainder of my Career,
the Federal Freeze will Ding me around $80K if I retire early (and around $180K if I do the full stint, to 66 and a third.)
Good times, good times.
Maybe, I should get in line, and give Blood too?
seeing how I've already given, my sweat and tears, in the daily grind,
of Doing More with Less.
With all the unexpected repair bills, I've been paying lately for my aging vehicle, that "Piece of Cake" shared sacrifice, I had to kick in for "the cause"
-- is starting to feel more like a painful "Stealth Tax" instead.
Good times, good times.