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Unions, Progressives Blast Administration For Pay Freeze Proposal
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration's decision to support a two-year pay freeze on federal employees is sparking yet another wave of angst and eyebrow raising among progressives.
The critics are the expected -- mainly progressive economists and union officials. And in addition to condemning the president's position on both policy and morality grounds, the question they're asking in private is, what exactly did the White House get in return for the chip it gave away?
"Today's announcement of a two-year pay freeze for federal workers is bad for the middle class, bad for the economy and bad for business," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. "No one is served by our government participating in a 'race to the bottom' in wages. We need to invest in creating jobs, not undermining the ones we have. The president talked about the need for shared sacrifice, but there's nothing shared about Wall Street and CEOs making record profits and bonuses while working people bear the brunt. It is time to get our nation back on track, but we should not do so by placing an even greater burden on the middle class."
"This proposal to freeze federal pay is a superficial, panicked reaction to the deficit commission report," stated AFGE National President John Gage. "This pay freeze amounts to nothing more than political public relations. This is no time for scapegoating. The American people didn't vote to stick it to a VA nursing assistant making $28,000 a year or a border patrol agent earning $34,000 per year.
"President Obama asks federal workers to share the sacrifice, but it's unconscionable for him to attack the wages of federal working people while the millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street not only get their bailouts and astronomical bonuses; they also get their tax cuts," concluded Gage.
"It makes no sense to single them out for wage freezes at this time," said Tamara Draut, vice president of policy and programs at Demos.
Greg Anrig, vice president of programs at The Century Foundation said the move reinforced the concern that the focus of political debate in Washington is shifting from jobs to deficit reduction and fiscal austerity. "It's far to soon to be doing that," he said.
And yet, if the president needed some political breathing room, he was granted a bit from congressional leadership. While incoming Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) didn't dismiss the idea outright (choosing instead to applaud the broader goal while asking for more time to review the specifics), incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va) took credit for the proposal. Demonizing federal employees and their pay rates has become a veritable GOP religion, and it would be far-fetched to see them giving Obama praise for their platform.
"I am encouraged by President Obama's proposal to freeze non-military federal pay for the next two years," said Cantor. "This past May, House Republicans -- prompted by YouCut voters -- offered the very same spending-cut proposal on the floor of the House. The YouCut proposal was one of many specific spending reductions offered by House Republicans over the past two years, and we are pleased that President Obama appears ready to join our efforts. As the recent election made clear, Americans are fed up with a government that spends too much, borrows too much and grows too much."
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115 Comments so far
Show AllNo surprise here.
California froze it's civil servants' wages more than a year ago, and was even reduced to paying some of them with State issued scrip.
California is of course bankrupt (as are several other states and numerous America cities...).
This is just a confirmation that the greater US economy is about to collapse like a house of cards in a hurricane. No wonder the Russians, Chinese, Brazilians, and most of the EU abandoned the US Dollar for bilateral trade. Once OPEC and the Saudis dump the dollar, which will probably happen sometime in 2011, the US will become the world's leading nuclear armed Third World totalitarian religious Police State.
Non Serviam - I will not serve.
Does Obama's wage freeze exempt only uniformed military or also exempt civil service military?
Looks like the defacto US military draft created by the 2008 economic meltdown will now be ensnaring more young Americans.
As it is no doubt intended to.
Those impending US caused wars in Korea and Iran are not going to fight themselves now, are they? And you can't have the privileged children of the Elite going off to die in some dusty god-forsaken hellhole, can you?
Now shut up and get back in line for your daily full body scan or invasive pat down, and this year's mandatory 'flu shot'.
Non Serviam - I will not serve.
"This is just a confirmation that the greater US economy is about to collapse like a house of cards in a hurricane. No wonder the Russians, Chinese, Brazilians, and most of the EU abandoned the US Dollar for bilateral trade. Once OPEC and the Saudis dump the dollar, which will probably happen sometime in 2011, the US will become the world's leading nuclear armed Third World totalitarian religious Police State."
No, it is not confirmation. It is just another rash (praying for armageddon) prediction of yours. Relax, the sky isn't falling.
Really? How would you know the sky isn't falling? Please share what you know with us.
Maybe it ain't falling for him. What the hell does he care about the other guy?
More of the I-got-mine mindset.
Eric Cantor is an anti-Semite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Cantor#Israel
Do you bother to read your own links? Here, for your perusal, is that very link:
Israel
Cantor is currently the only Jewish Republican in the United States Congress.[2][9][18] He supports strong United States-Israel relations.[2][3] He cosponsored legislation to cut off all U.S. taxpayer aid to the Palestinian Authority and another bill calling for an end to taxpayer aid to the Palestinians until they stop unauthorized excavations on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.[19] Responding to a claim by the State Department that the United States provides no direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, Cantor claimed that United States sends about US$75 million in aid annually to the Palestinian Authority, which is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Cantor has also claimed that Congress approved a three-year package of US$400 million in aid for the Palestinian Authority in 2000. He has also introduced legislation to end aid to Palestinians.[20]
In May 2008, Cantor said that the relationship America has with Israel is "a constant reminder of the greatness of America",[21] and following Barack Obama's election as President in November 2008, Cantor stated that a “stronger U.S.-Israel relationship” remains a top priority for him and that he would be “very outspoken” if Obama "did anything to undermine those ties."[22][9]
Shortly after the 2010 midterm elections, Cantor met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just before Netanyahu was to meet with US Secretary of state Hilary Clinton. He had said to the PM "I'm with you, not my president," [23] asserting his allegiance to Israel. Clinton was expected to reaffirm the American commitment to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and opposition to Israeli settlement expansion. According to Cantor's office, he "stressed that the new Republican majority will serve as a check on the Administration" and "made clear that the Republican majority understands the special relationship between Israel and the United States."[24] Cantor was criticized for engaging in foreign policy,[25]; one basis for the criticism was that in 2007, after Nancy Pelosi met with the President of Syria, Cantor himself had raised the possibility "that her recent diplomatic overtures ran afoul of the Logan Act, which makes it a felony for any American 'without authority of the United States' to communicate with a foreign government to influence that government’s behavior on any disputes with the United States."[26]
So, the Jewish Cantor, who states his allegiance lies with Israel, is an anti semite? Do you have the foggiest notion of what exactly an anti semite is?
"...the question they're asking in private is, what exactly did the White House get in return for the chip it gave away?"
As usual, NOTHING! This is bargaining Democrat-style!
But politcally, this is a master-stroke. You see, the wiz kids who run the Obama operation figure they can steal the deficit issue from the Republicans by doing exactly what the Republicans want them to!
and going after government workers helps keep non-government workers focus away from the thieves running the show. It's the age-old divide and rule strategy.
Everyone look at the BIGGER question. Why are all major countries going after entitelments now? TPTB have finally decided to make the move of making all countries they have control over cut their programs. Look at what Ireland is supposed to pony up for their bailouts. Their SS type. When the crash of 08 happened it was people's retirements and pensions that were wiped out. Yet they gave the banks Trillions in bailouts with no strings attatched vthe feds give the banks money who turn around and charge the governments interest for the loans. Look up who formed the Fed Reserve in the first place. This is an all out genocide on people. The Fed just gave the banks another 600 Billion cash donation. Why? You know. We are done. FDR said Thomas Jefferson was the last President not owned by the banks. This coup has been in place for over 200 years. End result? Population control from starving and dying from exposure. I heard on DN that these folks have a bigger army then the US. And it is our money they are giving to the banks, Isreal, Columbia , Mexico and countless warlords and dictators.
I am so tired of this guy, and even more tired of progressives on TV, even on Democracy Now, ending every tirade with, "but I still have hope in Obama". Time to give up the false hope, and take to the streets. Time to admit that Obama is not using the wrong tactics, or hasn't been given enough time to do anything, time to stop comparing health care reform with Medicaid and Medicare which actually help us, time to stop making excusses for the man and say it straight. HE IS THE ENEMY.
Obama cares more about his Corporate Retirement Plan than he cares about us, and he will do anything to get it. He will not only plunge the government into a worse great depression, he will keep the lessened civil liberties Bush left us with that will guarantee a plunge into Fascism.
I want to see America have a movement like France or England. Where we have general strikes and slowdowns. Where students and unemployed people march and do actions to shut down corporate stores. Where we have a set of goals the most important of which is raise Social Security don't cut it, and create more benefit programs. I want to join a group where I can be active in organizing Americans who don't read Alternet or watch Democracy Now. I even want neighborhoods to form self ruling communes like in Argentina. I have no idea where to go to join such a group. No one does, but I think more Americans would turn to such a movement if it was visable, or came to them, and if it was less about what we don't want, and more about what we do want.
We could stop letting them co-opt the growing socialist movement by stopping the use of the worn out worthless word "progressive" which seems to mean nothing to everyone, especially to those who rule us.
You stop using the words which fix the points of the debate, and I promise you, you will see stuff like what the Europeans are doing all over the place.
I vote for "Professional Left". I'd love to say I was a member of the Professional Left. I've felt this ever since Gib said it.
America can't "have a movement like France or England. Where we have general strikes and slowdowns" because unlike France, England and most of the other G20 nations, American workers lose their employer-sponsored medical insurance when they strike.
Obamacare further entrenches the employer-sponsored medical insurance model, thereby making it even more difficult for American workers to strike in the future.
Of course, you're talking about what I was talking about just above you: "Words."
Deceptive little things, eh?
You point out that the Health Care "reform" was manipulated to perfectly achieve the exact opposite of what any sane human would consider reform. I am reminded of how the conversation shifted nationally from "health care reform", to almost overnight becoming "health insurance reform". You probably remember that too. Word are tricky things.
We could have slowdowns and other actions. In the end if Americans cared enough, which they don't now, we could build the type of communes they have in Argentina. We could even change the law enough to allow such actions if we were successful in stalling the system enough. The greatest problem is that Americans have lost there Empathy. They don't care about people dieing in our wars, the poor hurting here, even there own suffering isn't worth filling the streets, even for a day. The ultimate truth is that if we don't have protests like in Europe, with or without General Strikes, then we won't see any change, and we will plunge into Fascism. Even a Third party movement would be refreshing, but if it's not on TV Americans don't see it. There's always reasons why these things we want to happen here, can't happen here, but they must, or nothing will ever change. Eventually all of these jobs will be outsourced anyway.
"We could have slowdowns and other actions"
Like skip holiday shopping. That would scare the heck out of "them".
Absolutely. It's a shame that won't happen because there are too many dumb sheeple. A comprehensive report on Marketplace the other night said that more people were buying for themselves than others this past weekend -- snapping up those bargains and pent-up "need". Well, I wasn't one of them.
"..American workers lose their employer-sponsored medical insurance when they strike."
BINGO!
"I want to see America have a movement like France or England. Where we have general strikes and slowdowns. Where students and unemployed people march and do actions to shut down corporate stores..."
You haven't been paying attention, have you?
The Government is prepared for just such an eventuality. That's why Barry never rescinded the formation of the US Military NORTHCOM. Or overturned the Patriot Act.
That's why the Police are now armed with LRAD Sound Cannons and more paramilitary hardware, making them look like the Government thugs in some Third World banana republic (because they are).
That's why to this day the Government is still strenuously denying the existence of Halliburton/KBR built mass detention facilities.
Didn't you watch what happened to the *peaceful, legitimate* demonstrators in Pittsburgh during the G8/G20 meetings? THAT is how the US Government will respond to *ANY* large protest.
Get it through you thick head: THE GOVERNMENT ARE THE TERRORISTS!
Non Serviam - I will not serve.
Precisely, Galenwainwright...
Repeat after me...THIRD WORLD NATION, THIRD WORLD NATION...
They used to shoot into crowds, but that didn't help their cause. The question is will Americans care anymore, or will the media even show it, and if they don't will Americans care when they see it on UTube? This is what saved us from Hooverism and Fascism. If we don't have an organized movement that does something, and it must fight with police as all successful movements have, then nothing can get better. Besides the Patriot act and new weapons are not a reason to not have a large protest. In fact the larger it is the less these weapons work.
Yes, the Police and PTB used to shoot into crowds. They stopped that when it looked like there was going to be a general revolution that would have ended up with the PTB hanging from lampposts.
And they still shoot into crowds today. But now they just use 'less lethal' ammunition like rubber baton rounds, tear gas, and Tasers.
Today's PTB have learned from, and impoved upon the crude tactics of the first generation Fascists.
These days, any 'organized movement' that runs counter to the propaganda of the US Government is infiltrated, surveilled, and ultimately suborned by Police agent provocateurs. Do some basic research and you will find this is always the case.
If the organizers catch onto this little stunt, that's when the cops close in with 'pre-emptive arrests'. Just like they did in Pittsburgh. Just like they did in Toronto, Ontario.
You don't get it, do you?
You are only free to say what the Government *allows* you to say.
The moment you could actually become a threat, you get got.
Think cell structure, and always keep in mind that the new person who approaches you is probably working for the Police/PTB. Go low tech/low key.
And the moment the new guy says s/he can get guns or explosives, get the hell out of the area! The FBI *loves* to set up patsies. Or didn't you catch that bit about the 'terrist' in Oregon?
Non Serviam - I will not serve.
Organized movement...? Pfffttt, the strongest organized movement in this country is the dancing with the stars/american idol voting bloc. Committed to idiocy.
Don't forget all of the EOs that have been handed down in the last 30 years to make the none existence Haliburtan camps fill up. Look them up. They are downright scary. Hope I die before this comes to pass. Fraid I am running out of time tho. Haven't had the shot in 2 years now. Getting flack at work. Hospital, but I am not around patients, but they will send me home til the reason has passed. Push me into bankruptcy. That is ok, if that is a way to get back at them. Lots of bills, not many possessions. Should be a fun world soon. Good thing they never touched the 2nd amendment.
Yes, as a progressive I am a bit dismayed with Obama, not as much as I was with Clinton. Is there a perfect president? Obama has done a lot and I am happy with what he has done so far -- in 2 years. I am certainly happy not to see a Republican in the Whitehouse but in all likelihood in 2012 there will be a Republican in the Whitehouse mainly because liberals are seeking the PERFECT president who they would never support anyways. I don't see progressives themselves doing anything, nothing, except criticizing.
And I do support a federal pay freeze. I live in a very conservative community, I keep my mouth shut, keep my head low, but the whole neighborhood consists of federal workers, NSA, Dept of Ag, Secret Service, FBI, CIA, State Dept, etc.,and all are doing very very well. What surprises me is they have great health care, have huge homes, most have a foreign nanny, none work a 40-hour work week but work full time, all drive the largest vehicles including hummers, all love Bush and Walmart -- should I go on?
I come from poverty but paid my dues, worked hard and got educated. But my 90-yr-old parents live in poverty, their children help but old folks have pride, and they are afraid to use their medicaid out of fear, as most elderly, of losing their home and freedom, and of course they are conservatives and love Reagan. My parents never will live the life that my neighbors live who are all federal workers. Yes, federal workers can share!!!!!!
We all can share!
We are all to blame for the economy. I knew the real estate market was in trouble for 20 years at least. We are all to blame for the real estate crash. EVERYONE was greedy.
Where are the progressives? I see no protests, nothing. The conservatives are protesting and engaged. Where are the progressives?
Sofieforpeace, could you kindly expand a little on "Obama has done a lot"? Been watching, haven't seen it. Also, as for progressives expecting "perfection", who said that, besides Robert Gibbs?
Also, would we continue to criticize Obama if he were more progressive? Of course! So what? Do you have a problem with freedom of speech? Don't feel lonely. I suspect that a lot of Obama supporters feel exactly the same way.
Finally, if you support a fed worker pay freeze and believe "we are all to blame of the economy", then you can't call yourself a progressive or a liberal. The point of attacking fed workers is not to save money or to "share". It will accomplish no such thing. The point is to break up one of the last types of employment for middle class americans that pays reasonably well, has good benefits and security. The private sector has systematically destroyed similar jobs in their realm along with many of the unions representing those workers. With fed employee workers under attack (along with teachers our latest bogeyman), there is no place left untrampled by the forces of the "free market".
Why do you think you have lived in poverty? Why do you think your grandparents think the way they think? And why do you want to take those injuries of class out on your middle class american neighbors, who are clearly NOT to blame for them?
For once, just once, could one of you Obama apologists come up with one piece of solid, factual evidence in support of your argument instead of mindlessly calling Obama critics "whiners" and armchair generals?
"For once, just once, could one of you Obama apologists come up with one piece of solid, factual evidence in support of your argument instead of mindlessly calling Obama critics "whiners" and armchair generals?"
McCain-Palin
Lesser of two evils is still evil.
I hardly see the "lesser" part.
Joe
Dear Sofie,
What *are* you taking in the form of recreational pharmaceuticals? They must be real mindbenders.
Here's a tip: When you come down out of that rose-colored glasses high, take a walk around. Look at the shape your country is in. Catch up on the news. Maybe try to catch a plane out of a major airport (hint: wear baggy lightweight clothes. It gives the TSA pervs the perfect groping opportunity.)
Then, when you have tuned back into Reality FM, you can pull your head out of your nether regions and realize that Obama is just another Corporate whore.
1. Obama supporters have posted before that he is better than a Republican president. No contest. But that only ends the argument if you believe in choosing between the casserole and hot dish for dinner when in reality you prefer enchiladas.
2. Several of my family members are postal workers. When I go to see them and other postal workers at the family holiday party, I don't think of privileged people who need a pay freeze. I think about how they work at a mindless job that is nonetheless an important service to our country, and no better or worse than me despite my degrees.
3. Let's assume everyone had an equal role in the economic meltdown, from corporate CEO to average Josephine. Corporate executives were already paying less than their fair share before the recession: We have a regressive income tax, they pay a lot more tax and thus disproportionately benefit from tax cuts. Now they're back to making massive bonuses while average Josephine is still looking for work and cashing out her retirement to pay the mortgage. If all played an equal part, who is still paying dues?
4. If you take the perspective of class rather than Democrat vs Republican or liberal (progressive) vs conservative, the federal pay freeze on top of recent retractions from canceling tax cuts for the richest Americans only seems like passing the buck to cover the deficit from the rich to the working class. Should we defend Obama when he accepts a continuation of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and then requires federal employees to eat a pay freeze? Sorry, but no. I refuse.
5. The time for progressives is over. The time for socialists is here. Cooperative enterprises, not-for-profit corporations, community-supported agriculture, barter economies, any alternate model to for-profit corporate power. Weaken them where it hurts: in the pocketbook. No need to be on the street when we're working to build our own economy.
6. My condolences for your neighborhood and your parents' political views.
"Where are the progressives?"
Why they're keeping their heads low, keeping their mouths shut.
sofieforpeace November 29th, 2010 5:52 pm
"I live in a very conservative community, I keep my mouth shut, keep my head low, but the whole neighborhood consists of federal workers, NSA, Dept of Ag, Secret Service, FBI, CIA, State Dept, etc.,and all are doing very very well. What surprises me is they have great health care, have huge homes, most have a foreign nanny, none work a 40-hour work week but work full time, all drive the largest vehicles including hummers, all love Bush and Walmart -- should I go on?"
That is one gem of information that I have also suspected about many Government employees but have never heard such a visceral experience such as yours in one place. Thanks for sharing it.
However, I do not support for prez Obama. Further your imputation that it is armchair critics who have badmouthed him despite his having done "much in 2 years",and are looking for a PERFECT president, is too simplistic an assessment of many trenchant, less rose-coloured lens critiques by CD'ers and almost all THINKING progressives. You have to explain to us why somebody with LANDSLIDE legislative victories in Congress and his own Presidential election was able to do SO LITTLE in 2 years in a time when SO MUCH was needed to be done, and the public with burning hope and high expectations gave him the political power to do just that. Just one example: What legislative or political obstacles stood in his way to provide the SINGLE PAYER OPTION in his HC "Reform"?
See, you have to discuss the OB record with much more clinical dissection than something broadbased mushy and IMO not well informed as you are doing.
At any rate, I do support a targetted federal pay freeze on many settled bureaucrats in the Tax collections, military, high ranking managers appointed by political patronage rather than merit who tend to be arrogant towards people and toadies to power. But not the sledge hammer tactic of slashing the already low salaries of nurses,clerks,secretaries, research scientists, school teachers and others who are dedicated to public service.
"I come from poverty... my 90-yr-old parents live in poverty... and of course they are conservatives and love Reagan."
And that's a big part of the problem right there. The poor, the average working man/woman and the middle class being convinced Reaganomics was (and is) good for them. The only thing that "trickled down" was the debt left to pay. Now they are being fooled by the Tea Party into thinking libertarianism is good for the down trodden.
The population lacks critical thinking skills and we get duped, shafted, used, abused and left to rot because of it.
That's right, take it out on the Federal Government Employees who all voted you into office Obama. What were "We" thinking? Obama IS Bush in blackface.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Obama+is+Bush+in+blackface.
Thank you for pointing out a betrayal worthy of Sammy "The Bull".
You could also mention that teachers (the largest, most vocal and active participants of the 2008 campaign) were similarly thrown under the bus, and boy...are they pissed and disillusioned.
As long as employees and unions continue to give the Democratic Party blank checks, employees and unions will keep getting abused by the Democratic Party.
Actually in the federal agencies I've worked, many of the employees are quite conservative and vote for Republicans - particularly the better-paid GS-12's and higher.
I know, it sticks it to both groups simultaneously, isn't that genius? The soft-left who voted for Obama gets to watch their dreams get the brakes thrown on it for a couple of years (just in time for next election, bait, bait, bait, bait) and the hard right celebrating their 'victory' will also feel the pinch.
This must be all the 'smarts' Obama was rumored to have finally making an appearance.
Isn't it ironic, SaboCat? I'm a support staffer for a state university, and every single civil servant with whom I work is a so-called conservative who rails constantly against "government jobs."
Very ironic. I have had discussions with some of my non-conservative government co-workers why so many of our colleagues are voting for politicians that are going to take away their jobs.
Obama is a war criminal and an enemy of the working class.
He'll keep funding the empire's wars ad infinitum, and he will continue to attack working people that will pay the price for those wars, both in blood and in poverty.
When will people finally wake and develop a class consciousness in this society?
But look at who is isn't taking it out on, nor holding accountable and "responsible." What an untrustworthy leader for Americans in need. He squanders hope and trust.
Anybody who hasn't figured out that hope plus two bucks buys a good cup of coffee needs to be treated for terminal denial syndrome.
I know what you are saying. It applies to Obama's bogus hope and lies. Real hope, on the other hand, is worth a fortune. Obama didnt really offer hope. He offered lies. And those lies have been shattered. People on the left, and the US poor in general, dont have a lot of hope right now. Nothing here is headed in the right direction. Everything has to get a whole heap worse before it can even begin to get better. Our electronic opiums have something to do with that.
We still have hope in Obama.
Yes, he is cutting the American People off at the knees, but he strongly supports the rights of all Americans, including the disabled.
The President encourages us all to keep hope alive and to strive to do the very best with what we have [left]
Good Night and God Bless America!
Terminal denial syndrome has obviously become a major epidemic.
I think dreamjoe was being facetious. Cutting us off at the knees and being in favor of the rights of all Americans including the disabled... That's good stuff, actually.