Mythbuster: Federal workers not overpaid, senator asserts

Federal Computer Week ^ | September 20, 2010 | Federal Daily Staff

[Poundstone]

Recently circulated news stories charging that federal employees are grossly overpaid — allegedly earning more than twice their private industry counterparts — are based on “a flawed reading of statistical data,” according to Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.).

In a Sept. 15 speech, Kaufman disputed a USA Today article purporting that federal workers’ pay dramatically outstrips that of their private-sector counterparts. The newspaper’s analysis, which was based on Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data, concluded that, in 2009, federal employees received an average total compensation in pay and benefits of $123,049, while private sector workers made $61,051.

The newspaper’s analysis did not include military pay in its calculation of federal compensation, Kaufman said.

[rickb308]

I feel your pain.
2008 0%.
2009 0%.
2010 1.3% raise.

[Palter]

You make great pay in the military, it’s one of the greatest myths in the world.

[pogo101]

Largely I think they’re overpaid, although it is a mixed bag. There are some tip-top defense, intelligence and judiciary folks who make perhaps 60% of what they could make in private-sector work, but they prefer serving their country.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm well aware that military officers (once you get above the Captain level) have an attractive pay scale. But most of them have to earn it. Yes, there are some buffoons who rise in the ranks mainly due to connections or simply seniority. Colin Powell and Joe Sestak come to mind.

But these buffoons are far less common in the military than in the government work force for the simple reason that unit effectiveness (and even survival in battle situations) depend on leadership which has earned respect.

[Psalm 144]

You just did this.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2585223/posts

Here you go again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEbX5ARBuw

BTW I hope you are retired. It is working hours on a weekday right now.

[Badabing Badablonde]

He gets overtime?....DAMN! I’m in the wrong agency.

[kevao]

That USA Today article also pointed out how over the last decade federal employee pay increases outpaced inflation by over 30%, compared to a mere 6% in the private sector. Kaufman does not address this troubling fact at all. And for good reason.

[Paladin2]

I worked for the Feds in two different organizations decades ago and left to double my pay. It’s easy to guess that parity has been reached quite a while ago based on all the gov’t folks who live in Columbia, MD.

[Badabing Badablonde]

Ooooh, I’m going to enjoy reading the responses to this thread. :)

[Vigilanteman]

You do, once you get to the rank of Captain or above.

But try comparing the salary and benefits of your typical corporal to their rank equivalent in the government work force. Most people in the government work force do not even have corporal level responsibilities.

[Palter]

Like, I said, a myth. I know, I enjoyed it.

[Just_de_facts]

As a federal civilian employee I feel that my compensation is low. Monday I got up put on full body armor in 107 degree heat & got on a helicopter, Flew from somewhere in Iraq to elsewhere in Iraq. Slept on a cot for the past two nights, eating food that some might call unappetizing while working 14 hours a day in heat varying from 104 to 111 degrees.

[Psalm 144]

I am sorry you were conscripted against your will.

[Busywhiskers]

Interesting that he complains about the compatibility of jobs and then whines that the military was not included which would just complicate the problem of compatibility.

There may be some good reasons that government employees make more than the private sector on average, I just find it hard to believe that on average federal employees earning over twice the private sector can be justified.

[OneWingedShark]

Jan 20, 2013:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
[pause]
“All executive branch ‘alphabet’ regulatory agencies are hereby dissolved.”

Nope, I wouldn't be qualified to be President until 2017...
If I were running for the office of President [age currently prevents me] it’d be on an “Extreme Constitutionalist” platform, meaning:
a) No Department of Energy
b) No Department of Education
c) No Department of Agriculture
d) No NASA (some claim it necessary for defense, if so put it under the appropriate military branch)
e) No BATFE
f) No Air Force (fold them into the Army from whence they came: the Army Air Corp; or amend the Constitution to allow an Air Force — Marines are under the Navy which is Constitutionally authorized.)
g) Reduction in the Department of Transportation to little more than maintaining federal roads, rails & bridges.
h) No Department of Labor
i) No Environmental Protection Agency
j) No Center for Disease Control
k) No Medicare
l) No Medicaid
m) No Social Security
n) No Department of Health and Human Services
o) No Department of Housing and Urban Development
p) No Drug Enforcement Administration
q) No Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
r) No Bureau of Industry and Security
s) No FEMA
t) No Federal Communications Commission
u) No Federal Student Aid
v) No Food and Drug Administration
w) No Internal Revenue Service
x) No Securities and Exchange Commission
y) No Selective Service System
z) No Occupational Safety & Health Administration

That and I'd definitely try to get that rather stupid law prohibiting the Post-Office from making a profit repealed; if it *were* a for-profit organization then it could be used to reduce the amount of money needed by the government in taxes for operation. {The only problem I see is the possibility of someone trying to make it into a monopoly via "law and regulation;" but it already is for personal postage [IIRC].}

[Just_de_facts]

Well aside from the asinine comment, if you read my post you would have noticed that I am not military, I am a DOD civilian. The point you should have taken away is that some federal employees perform very difficult jobs under extreme conditions. The compensation is just not commensurate with the hours and hardships, but we do this anyway because it supports our soldiers. And by the way I am much closer to 60 than 50. I hope this helps you to understand Newbie.

[Poundstone]

I had very similar experiences last year in Afghanistan, where I was deployed as a federal civilian employee.

Some of the Neanderthals here at Free Republic just don’t get it.

[Psalm 144]

Deja vu all over again, with the exception of the effort to conflate the military withe Department of Redundancy Department’s document documenters.

[Lurker]

I’d say the good Senator is full of excrement.

[CSM]

“You make great pay in the military, it’s one of the greatest myths in the world.”

You forgot your sarc tag.