Putting the Sequester in Perspective

warp10

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Just in from Texas Senator John Cornyn.
26 Feb 2013
Putting the Sequester in Perspective
What Does it Mean to Cut 2.4 Percent?
Every year, Texas families set budgets for their households. They determine how much to spend on necessities like groceries, rent or mortgage, gasoline, clothing, and more.
For nearly four years, Democrat leaders in the U.S. Senate have failed to pass a budget for the nation. This is a basic and important responsibility that ensures our country is on sound fiscal footing. As a result, federal spending has gone up by 19 percent since 2008 and our gross national debt is now larger than the entire U.S. economy. Every child born in Texas and across the country comes into this world already responsible for more than $50,000 of our nation’s debt.
Now, a spending-reduction plan called the “sequesterâ€￾ is scheduled to go into effect in a matter of days. It would cut federal spending by 2.4 percent. The sequester was proposed and signed into law by President Obama, but he now wants to avert the sequester by raising taxes on hard-working Texans.
To sell his tax hikes alternative, President Obama is creating a state of alarm over cutting 2.4 percent from $3.5 trillion in government spending.
To put this in perspective, let’s look at what a 2.4 percent cut to a family budget would look like. To reduce their spending by 2.4 percent, the average Texas family would need to:
- Run cars on 94.7 gallons of gasoline a month instead of 97 gallons per month
- Find $6 in savings from a $250 monthly grocery budget
- Look for ways to conserve $4.20 from a $175 monthly utilities bill
All working Americans had to figure out how to make ends meet with 2 percent less in their paychecks last month when the payroll tax expired. How is it that Washington can’t do the same?
 
Because our gov't now mostly exists FOR GOV'T, and not for the people...our gov't routinely creates more gov't in order to continue to grow and thrive, but it's all at the expense of us, the taxpayers. There was a time, at least that's what history tells us, when gov't existed for the people. Let's ask the people just how many gov't programs are out there that they get to benefit from, then let's ask those same people if they like spending on some of the most ridiculous programs most don't even know exist, and lastly, ask the people if all of the funds that go toward certain programs are even worth the cost?

Make gov't for the people again, and not for the sake of gov't, and we may see some tightening of the old fiscal belt...
 
Please do not put all government workers in the same bucket. You need to separate Politicians from Government Workers.

The vast majority of us work in essential services needed to keep this country running. We are not lazy and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Our agencies exist because the American people want and need the essential services they provide. When the unthinkable happens, the first words out af a civilian's mouth is "How can the Government let this happen to us?" When times are tough, we are the first to be blamed for the excess of government and in this instance, part of the solution comes straight off our salaries. When the government shuts down, we get zero pay and most of you get inconvenienced and complain like crazy.

Many of us qualify for our jobs through service to our country (Air Force, 28 years) and many fill jobs that cannot be trained through conventional means, only through that experience. We live by different rules that the generaal population. We cannot do drugs (see legalize marijuana thread), get speeding tickets, have a criminal record of any kind. We give up many of our rights that the regular civilian population takes for granted. We pay the SAME taxes you do and those taxes go to paying our own salaries!!

I proudly work for the Department of Defense. I suggest you go to the website http://www.dtra.mil/ and take a look at some of the wonderful things we do for this country and for the world in general.

You're Welcome!
 
I hope you weren't directing your post at me E Zurcher...I'm a gov't worker myself, but as such, I see soooooooooo much waste, both here and at the Federal level. I don't mean that we should ditch all gov't, but you have to admit to the simple fact that there are soooo many sectors of gov't that soley exist to exist, and not as a direct benefit for the taxpayers. They've tossed the entire "gov't for the people" part IMHO. They do very little in the way of helping the taxpayers. To be quite honest, the only part of our gov't wheel that sort of works and definitely has a mission is our military and DoD. I'm thinking more along the lines of the cheesy committees and agencies started to perform a useless study, or hell, the war on drugs? I'm sorry, but we aren't making the dent we think and it's costing us plenty! If gun control goes in to full swing, it'll create tons of jobs, but to what end?
 
That's why our forefathers tried to limit the power of the federal goverment; they saw that it could become a means unto itself (rather than serve the people) if it's powers were not limited by the Constitution. It's too easy for bureaucrats to forget their true purpose rather than build their own kingdoms at the taxpayers expense. If we have to go into sequester to provide the wake up call we so desperately need, SO BE IT.

The REALLY SAD PART is the sequester hits worst those who are ACTUALLY WORKING (DoD) because we don't DARE touch all the social programs (which is where the REAL money is and MUST be overhauled if we are EVER going to make progress on our Debt issues). Unfortunately, I seriously doubt I'm ever going to see much of the money I put into Social Security, because it's going to go to people who never worked a day in their life...
 
My post was meant for all of the govt worker bashers. There is this pervasive attitude we are all on the government dole and get paid exhorbitant amounts for doing nothing. Just read any of the comments to articles on CNN or even FOX to any story about furlough. I agree, there is plenty of waste in govt, not all govt. Our agency has been working under Continuing Authority for four years now. That's a 20 percent cut to the budget as authorized the previous year. We are very efficient and work to SAVE money everywhere we can while we provide the services the American people demand because we are patriots and it's the right thing to do. I think a lot of the bashers are not even capable of qualifying for work in the govt sector due to their previous conduct and current lifestyle let alone qualify for a security clearance.

I agree. there are wasteful sectors of government. Unfortunately politicians have not make smart choices and we all suffer. So we have sequester.

Large portions of our society are too stupid to make smart decisions on who they elect to office. They elect politicians because they're handsome, same race as they are, the perception that they will pay less taxes, the same religion as they are or get a special concession because they feel they deserve it. They elect politicians because Oprah or Rush says so. They do not learn from history and are too lazy to do the footwork required to find the real answer and to make a smart choice. Special interests and the pervasive all about me attitude, are ruining this country. Hey folks, our government was elected by the majority and looks like we got what we asked for. If BY CHOICE you are a dope smoking, law breaking, welfare receiving, disability getting, unemployment getting, food stamp using, anti government, no job hunting socialist. The liberal media tore up Mitt Romney pretty good for stating the truth. I think 47 percent is on the high side but he wasn't far off. ( I voted for him but only because he was the lesser of two evils)

Bottom line is this administration has not followed the legislated budget process for over four years. Yes, technically, they are all criminals. They have not done their jobs for FOUR Years. If I don't do my job for 1 hour I get fired. So now we have this ridiculous sequester that will hurt a great many people. If the budget process was followed, we could have managed our budgets and compensated for the losses smartly. Instead whe get to "rip off the band aid" in a manner which is widely regarded as the wrong thing to do but we are doing it anyway. History will look at this period as a stain on our democracy.

I live in a liberal state because that's where I could find a job when I retired. My vote does not count here but I still did the research and voted for the candidates who would be best for my state and country.
 
E Zurcher I would tend to agree with you if said Dept of Derense wasn't so elitist in their hiring processes.
I do have several clearances higher than the average and I can do many jobs they offer but time and time again I lose out to vets who automatically get points for being such. Since these jobs are awarded based on an amount of qualifying points the applicant has it is all but impossible for me to get to anything even tsa. Level the playing field and ill side more on yours. Also I do believe a very large portion of govt workers are slow and methodical as well as milk it to the very end. We have a ridiculous amount of waste in govt and some govt agencies. Homeland security is now the largest federal org. It's only a dozen years old!
 
The government is THE BLOB, will not stop until all is consumed. E Z, I believe that the people you are describing are not anti-government, more like all in for the current agendas.
 
Sorry Blanca,

The 5 point preference for veterans is a good thing as is the 10 point for disabled. Having sat on a hiring board, I will say there are many discriminators considered. If you could not overcome the 5 points by the merit of your resume, experience, education, interview etc. and are still looking for a job in the govt sector, I suggest you concentrate on those. If you need them I can give you some hints on apploications through USA Jobs. Good luck though because we have been on a hiring restriction with 2 losses for one hire for two years. That will turn into a hiring freeze altogether with the sequester and lack of a real budget.

As for clearances, the govt saves lots of money if they hire someone who already has a clearance. Backgrond investigations for uncleared individuals cost at least $20,000, higher if the clearance is Secret or Top Secret. It's much cheaper to do a National Agency Check instead of a full investigation. If your clearance is over five years old they have to reinvestigate. What you call elitist is what I call efficient and saving the American taxpayer money. You should applaud that. Oh and by the way, if you knew exactly what I did for the government, you would appreciate the fact we are slow and methodical. Maybe we will meet sometime on a ride and can talk about it sometime.
 
The problem is that the people that have the power to make the changes required to get the government running again are the ones that are enjoying the ridiculous perks that come with the jobs. Serve one term and have a full pension, including health care? Vote themselves a raise?

Like you are going to get anyone to vote against themselves.

I threaten my wife to run for the Gov's office in my screwed up state of IL. If I won, the first thing I would do is cut my pay by 50%, and make it a law that is elected Gov, you were required to love in the Governor's manison in Springfield, NOT live in CHicago and commute to Springfield every day by plane! If you want to live there and commute, it is on your dime and security does not start until you reach the office:laugh:
 
Exactly Ludicrous...this gov't wheel provides an inherent ability to misuse and make it all about "you" and not the people you represent. Your buddy needs a job? Create a committee, assign him/her some minions and before you know it, it's a black hole of funds for no real good reason. Good luck unraveling that mess.

You aren't making enough, bump up your pay with a vote...bennies for life. Shoot, you know most that want to get those jobs now do so for a reason, and it's not a good one...
 
The problem is that the people that have the power to make the changes required to get the government running again are the ones that are enjoying the ridiculous perks that come with the jobs. Serve one term and have a full pension, including health care? Vote themselves a raise?

Like you are going to get anyone to vote against themselves.

I threaten my wife to run for the Gov's office in my screwed up state of IL. If I won, the first thing I would do is cut my pay by 50%, and make it a law that is elected Gov, you were required to love in the Governor's manison in Springfield, NOT live in CHicago and commute to Springfield every day by plane! If you want to live there and commute, it is on your dime and security does not start until you reach the office:laugh:


What??? Like one of the little people? I suppose you wouldn't jet from California to DC either??? :rulez:
 
Soooo....it seems to me that maybe what our goverment needs is a "enema via sequester" because, while stupid, it's the only way to FORCE our goverment to STOP SPENDING MONEY. Now they are going to have to make some hard choices like everyone in the private sector has this last 5 years. And remember, this isn't a CUT, it's just a REDUCTION in the INCREASE....
 
President Obama is creating a state of alarm
All working Americans had to figure out how to make ends meet with 2 percent less in their paychecks last month when the payroll tax expired.

This is all that really matters in this mess. We're here because of failed policies both Republican and Democrat. President Obama needs to start putting his energies toward improving things for all Americans instead of dividing America. He's devoted himself to infringing upon American's Second Amendment Rights and now running around the country screaming the sky is falling when it's not.

How about the economy Mr. President ? How about job creation Mr. President ?

How about the economy Congress ? How about job creation Congress ?
 
Please do not put all government workers in the same bucket. You need to separate Politicians from Government Workers.

The vast majority of us work in essential services needed to keep this country running. We are not lazy and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Our agencies exist because the American people want and need the essential services they provide. When the unthinkable happens, the first words out af a civilian's mouth is "How can the Government let this happen to us?" When times are tough, we are the first to be blamed for the excess of government and in this instance, part of the solution comes straight off our salaries. When the government shuts down, we get zero pay and most of you get inconvenienced and complain like crazy.

Many of us qualify for our jobs through service to our country (Air Force, 28 years) and many fill jobs that cannot be trained through conventional means, only through that experience. We live by different rules that the generaal population. We cannot do drugs (see legalize marijuana thread), get speeding tickets, have a criminal record of any kind. We give up many of our rights that the regular civilian population takes for granted. We pay the SAME taxes you do and those taxes go to paying our own salaries!!

I proudly work for the Department of Defense. I suggest you go to the website Home and take a look at some of the wonderful things we do for this country and for the world in general.

You're Welcome!

I hope you weren't directing your post at me E Zurcher...I'm a gov't worker myself, but as such, I see soooooooooo much waste, both here and at the Federal level. I don't mean that we should ditch all gov't, but you have to admit to the simple fact that there are soooo many sectors of gov't that soley exist to exist, and not as a direct benefit for the taxpayers. They've tossed the entire "gov't for the people" part IMHO. They do very little in the way of helping the taxpayers. To be quite honest, the only part of our gov't wheel that sort of works and definitely has a mission is our military and DoD. I'm thinking more along the lines of the cheesy committees and agencies started to perform a useless study, or hell, the war on drugs? I'm sorry, but we aren't making the dent we think and it's costing us plenty! If gun control goes in to full swing, it'll create tons of jobs, but to what end?

Sir you might bust your hump everyday, but I worked 26 years for DOE and DOD. There's a funny little saying 10% do 90% of the work. The waste is incredible. I can't tell you how frustrating it was to do my job and be responsible, while being forced to attend useless meetings and training. It was just reported this morning that federal workers spend 3.4 million hours a year on the clock doing union related task that have nothing to do with their work. Not speaking to you directly, but those that have never worked outside the government really don't understand the waste.
 
My post was meant for all of the govt worker bashers. There is this pervasive attitude we are all on the government dole and get paid exhorbitant amounts for doing nothing. Just read any of the comments to articles on CNN or even FOX to any story about furlough. I agree, there is plenty of waste in govt, not all govt. Our agency has been working under Continuing Authority for four years now. That's a 20 percent cut to the budget as authorized the previous year. We are very efficient and work to SAVE money everywhere we can while we provide the services the American people demand because we are patriots and it's the right thing to do. I think a lot of the bashers are not even capable of qualifying for work in the govt sector due to their previous conduct and current lifestyle let alone qualify for a security clearance.

I agree. there are wasteful sectors of government. Unfortunately politicians have not make smart choices and we all suffer. So we have sequester.

Large portions of our society are too stupid to make smart decisions on who they elect to office. They elect politicians because they're handsome, same race as they are, the perception that they will pay less taxes, the same religion as they are or get a special concession because they feel they deserve it. They elect politicians because Oprah or Rush says so. They do not learn from history and are too lazy to do the footwork required to find the real answer and to make a smart choice. Special interests and the pervasive all about me attitude, are ruining this country. Hey folks, our government was elected by the majority and looks like we got what we asked for. If BY CHOICE you are a dope smoking, law breaking, welfare receiving, disability getting, unemployment getting, food stamp using, anti government, no job hunting socialist. The liberal media tore up Mitt Romney pretty good for stating the truth. I think 47 percent is on the high side but he wasn't far off. ( I voted for him but only because he was the lesser of two evils)

Bottom line is this administration has not followed the legislated budget process for over four years. Yes, technically, they are all criminals. They have not done their jobs for FOUR Years. If I don't do my job for 1 hour I get fired. So now we have this ridiculous sequester that will hurt a great many people. If the budget process was followed, we could have managed our budgets and compensated for the losses smartly. Instead whe get to "rip off the band aid" in a manner which is widely regarded as the wrong thing to do but we are doing it anyway. History will look at this period as a stain on our democracy.

I live in a liberal state because that's where I could find a job when I retired. My vote does not count here but I still did the research and voted for the candidates who would be best for my state and country.

Again, my experience was different. Federal workers are paid extreme wages and have extreme benefits compared to private industry / business. It is night and day.

I have to agree with the rest of your post with one exception. It doesn't seem to really matter who we elect because as soon as they arrive in DC they get bought.
 
Oh and by the way, if you knew exactly what I did for the government, you would appreciate the fact we are slow and methodical. Maybe we will meet sometime on a ride and can talk about it sometime.

But then he'll have to kill ya Blanca :laugh: I couldn't talk about my work, not even to my wife. Bill Clinton changed all of that in the early '90's.
 
Sooooooooooo........
treeofliberty.jpg



How much longer and how much farther are you folks willing to let them go?
 
We've reached a tipping point Blanca. Those that receive out number those that pay. It's not looking good
 
I agree with Skydivr, Washington needs an enema to flush out that crowd and start over with limited terms. It's the career politician who needs to become a history note. Look what we have in the oval office. A carier politician who has never had a job in his life. We elected a clown and he brought an entire flock of thug political clowns along with him. The sad thing about the system is at least half the country is so politically uninformed they shouldn't be voting in the first place.

I really don't know what the answer is to getting America back on the road to prosperity but what I do know is what we are currently doing is digging the hole deeper and deeper. This brilliant crew we have leading us can't even stop digging much less climb out of the hole. :dunno:
 
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