Why the Issue of Overpaid Government Workers Matters

Why should we Americans pay high taxes to pay mostly overpaid, underworked and over-pensioned public employees ?

The Heritage Foundation has written extensively about public-private pay disparities, and we have found consistent evidence that government workers are overpaid, even after controlling for skill differences between the private and public sectors. Federal workers receive both wages and benefits above market levels. State and local workers receive sub-market wages, but they make up for it (and then some) with excessive benefits.

Krugman focuses on state and local workers, whose compensation is a bit tricky to compare to private workers. Some analysts calculate total state and local benefits using yearly government contributions to retirement and health funds. However, some states are currently underfunding the pension plans. In other words, what state and local governments pay for these benefits may greatly understate what their employees must eventually receive.

See the full article for this important story @ The Heritage Foundation

What are Legitimate Role(s) for Government

My political positions are shaped by my ongoing attempts to maximize my personal liberty and opportunity. Life is short, and all conscious organisms deserve their right to an unfettered pursuit of life.

This, does of course get more complex as we organize ourselves into tribes and societies. To bring this into a tangible, current political philosophy; I believe the role of laws, government, and society in general, must inherently be minimized so that it may not conflict with our DNA programmed nature.

To further bring this philosophy to context; I believe the role(s) of the Government of the United States is legitimately far less than perceived by the current Administration.

Despite these basic beliefs, or perhaps because of them, I am a pragmatist and will always look for compromise and progress. My list of legitimate role(s) for government does not align with either party and is based on practicality, fused with our nature toward personal liberty.

Some of my thoughts on legitimate role(s) for Governments will be included in my next post. I believe it is the critical issue that most divides conservatives and liberals and clearly defines our times.

U.S. uses Spy Satellite on its own People

There are no words sufficient to express my distain for this in our American Police State

The United States is Not Number 1

Graphic from Miscellanea - Link Back