[SMARTY]

I meant that as a private citizen, the only people I actually employ, are the guys who come and do work around the house.... if they felt like raising THEIR prices JUST because they felt they were ‘entitled’ to more BUT have done NOTHING to actually EARN more, then I’d replace them with guys who could do the same work at a reasonable price.

[skeeter]

Of course, thats the way it works in the marketplace where people are accountable for their products and prices are set by what the customers are willing to pay.

But none of that is applicable in the world of the government bureaucrat - they negotiate with each other for salary increases and then demand the taxpayers underwrite their contract.