Thursday, December 17, 2009

Despite Recession Jump in Federal Workers Earning $100,000

It should be the opposite. This is why we the People's Term Limits: http://www.termlim.com

in reference to:

"The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has exploded during the recession, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal salary data.Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession's first 18 months — and that's before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.Federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.The highest-paid federal employees are doing best of all on salary increases. Defense Department civilian employees earning $150,000 or more increased from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recent figure available. When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech. The primary cause: substantial pay raises and new salary rules."There's no way to justify this to the American people. It's ridiculous," says Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a first-term lawmaker who is on the House's federal workforce subcommittee. Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, says the federal workforce is highly paid because the government employs skilled people such as scientists, physicians and lawyers. She says federal employees make 26% less than private workers for comparable jobs."
- USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones

This is just what we needed. The best weapon in the war on terror can be neutralized. The Pentagon should have anticipated this. It is unacceptable. It also shows how clever the insurgency is. It is why they are prevailing and we are not.

in reference to:

"Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones"
- Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones - WSJ.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

WSJ/NBC News Poll: Tea Party Tops Democrats and Republicans

This sends a message to the two-party system. The problem with the Tea Party: It's extremist, without much of a message. This will force the other two to be extreme as well. Nevertheless, unless the Republicans and Democrats start addressing America's problems they will be challenged in the future. They've failed now it's time for others.

in reference to:

"The loosely organized group made of up mostly conservative activists and independent voters that’s come to be known as the Tea Party movement currently boasts higher favorability ratings than either the Democratic or Republican Parties, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll coming out later today. More than four in 10, 41%, of respondents said they had a very or somewhat favorable view of the Tea Party movement, while 24% said they had a somewhat or very negative view of the group. The Tea Party movement gained notoriety over the summer following a series of protests in Washington, D.C. and other cities over government spending and other U.S. economic policies. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, which controls both the White House and Congress, has a 35% positive rating compared with a 45% negative rating. The Republican Party identifies closest to the Tea Party movement’s ideology, but the group has also caused splits within the GOP. Republicans currently hold a 28% favorability rating compared with a 43% negative one."
- WSJ/NBC News Poll: Tea Party Tops Democrats and Republicans - Washington Wire - WSJ (view on Google Sidewiki)