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June 02,
2008 * She will receive $87,000.00 (73% of her present yearly salary of $120,000.00) the first year after she retires and every year after that. * She will receive a 3% cost of living increase every year after year one. * She will receive 100% medical for life. * She will receive, under present numbers, approximately $2,000.00 a month in Social Security when she becomes eligible. When I asked who was going to pay for this lavish retirement program, he starting laughing and said: "we are. My wife works for the federal government." FN-1. The extravagant retirement program outlined above is not restricted to federal workers. An old high school friend recently retired from a local law enforcement agency at age 50 and will receive 102% of his salary plus medical benefits. He told me some high-ranking officers in his department were going to get 120% of their salary when they retire. According to a recent article in USA Today, federal, state and local governments employ approximately 22 million Americans. In the first quarter of 2008, these governments added approximately 77,000 new workers despite the slowdown in the economy. FN-2. The financial obligations to these workers in pay and benefits are starting to bankrupt cities. Last week it was announced that the City of Vallejo, which is about 30 miles north of San Francisco, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in federal court. With a population of approximately 120,000 residents, Vallejo has $16 million in obligations and no money in the bank. An online article in the Telegraph UK summed-up Vallejo's problem in one paragraph: "Vallejo's municipal leaders signed off on exorbitant wage deals for its emergency services workers, whose salaries and benefits account for 80 per cent of the annual $89 million budget. The police captain earns more than $300,000 and a sergeant takes home $240,000. The average firefighter earns $171,000 and 10 senior officers were paid more than $200,000 each." These numbers are obscene and represent just one average city in California. How many people do you know who work in the private sector and receive compensation like these city workers in Vallejo? The article does not disclose the retirement packages for these individuals. If there are 22 million Americans presently employed by government, and another article I read said this number is low, then there must be millions of former employees collecting lavish retirement benefits. Every time a government employee retires they are usually replaced with a new worker. As reported in the USA Today article referenced above, federal, state and local governments added approximately 77,000 new workers in the first quarter of 2008. Thus, in addition to other taxes, the American people are being taxed to fund city, county, state and federal government workers at 4 levels; presently employed, retired, new to replace retirees, and new for expanded government beyond replacing retirees. Lawmakers love more government workers because their unions are big campaign contributors and represent a massive voting block that can affect the outcome of elections. In fact, if you take current and retired government workers and add them to members of the military, active and retired, this voting block has the power to determine the next President of the United States. So the next time you get your Social Security statement that announces the wonderful news that you will receive $1,500.00 a month at age 65, take solace in the fact that millions of 55 year old former government workers making 4 or 5 times that are on a golf course in Hawaii or tipping a cold one on a beach in the Caribbean who want to say "thanks." FN-1. According to my friend, here is how the retirement program works for federal employees like his wife. (Note: some of the numbers are rounded-up). Hired before 1983: 73% of salary after 20 years of service. 3% cost of living increase every year. 100% medical for life. Plus they receive full Social Security. Hired after 1983: 54% of salary after 20 years of service. 2 & ½% increase for every 2 years of service after 20. 3% cost of living increase every year. 80% medical for life. Medicare picks-up the other 20% when they become eligible. Do not receive Social Security. And the retirement program for members of Congress makes this look like chump change. FN-2. The
breakdown is: federal 13,800, states 16,000, local 47,000.
Some other, related reading: The Flawed Second Amendment Debate The Second Amendment and the Preamble to the Bill of Rights Another Look at the Wording of the Second Amendment Tell me why the States needed the so-called "Collective Right" Second Amendment? The Second Amendment is an Individual Right A Question For The Supreme Court
Now Available! See Editor's review here. "The Bill
of Rights Does Not Grant You Any Constitutional Rights" $10.00-includes shipping and any applicable sales tax. P.S.C.S. Email any questions concerning the book/booklet to Bob at-govtnitwit [at] yahoo.com
Robert
Greenslade focuses his writing on issues surrounding the federal government
and the Constitution. He believes politicians at the federal level, through
ignorance or design, are systematically dismantling the Constitution in
an effort to expand their power and consolidate control over the American
people. He has dedicated himself to resurrecting the true intent of the
Constitution in the hope that the information will contribute, in some
small way, to restoring the system of limited government established by
the Constitution.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Constitution, take a look at this book. I use it in many of my articles and it is the best book I've found on this subject. Bob Reprint of the 1868 edition. ''Perhaps the ablest analysis of the nature and character of the federal government that has ever been published. It has remained unanswered.'' This review of Judge Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States is perhaps the ablest analysis of the nature and character of the Federal Government that has ever been published. It has remained unanswered. Indeed, we are not aware that any attempt has been made to challenge the soundness of its reasoning. The great vise of Judge Story and the Federalists consisted in desiring the clothe the federal government with almost monarchical power, whereas the States had carefully and resolutely reserved the great mass of political power for themselves. The powers which they delegated to the federal government were few, and were general in their character. Those which they reserved embraced their original and inalienable sovereignty, which no state imagined it was surrendering when it adopted the constitution. Mr. Madison dwelt with great force upon the fact that ''a delegated is not a surrendered power.'' The states surrendered no powers to the federal government -- they only delegated them. 160 pages. |
Please see the bottom of the page for Bob's book offer. Archives The 2004 Declaration of Independence The Constitution and YOU Part 1 The Constitution and YOU Part 2 The Constitution and YOU Part 3l "Government of the People, by the People and for the People" -- or Not? Are the Barry Bonds' Record-Setting Baseballs Subject to the Federal Income Tax? Tell me why the States needed the so-called "Collective Right" Second Amendment? Rudy Giuliani shows his Ignorance of the Second Amendment The Second Amendment is an Individual Right A Question For The Supreme Court The Second Amendment Question before the Supreme Court is Constitutionally Flawed and Dangerous It's Time To Break Out The Torches And Pitchforks! Constitution to Hillary, Obama and McCain Congress Makes the Laws not the President Do the American People really want Liberty and Constitutional Government? The Real ID Act proves the Federal Government is Not the All Powerful Oz There is no Legal Requirement for an American Citizen to have a Social Security Number Complete Archives for Robert Greenslade
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