Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Your Tax Dollars at Work!

USA Today reports on the growing number of federal workers earning more than $150,000: "The number of federal workers earning $150,000 or more a year has soared tenfold in the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office, a USA TODAY analysis finds." So more government employees are making more money while unemployment across the US remains at 9.6%. Given that unemployment in DC is at 6%, it's hard for me to see how a government shutdown would be unpopular.

I increasingly believe that we should model government pay on the system used aboard pirate ships.

3 comments:

chris said...

This article is complete bunk. This article makes no mention of civilians deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. It also fails to mention that around %95 of all federal employees are under the GS pay scale. Google "GS Pay Scale" and you can view the rates there. A GS15-10 is the highest rate and that is about $120,000 a year. The article is complete hype devoid of any real information.

dsm said...

@chris

Ok. So, um, what part of: "The following is a BASE pay scale. All U.S. locations (including Hawaii and Alaska) receive additional pay adjustments above the base pay ranging from 14.16% to 35.15%." do you not understand?

And you're a deceptive ass to boot. "A GS15-10 is the highest rate and that is about $120,000 a year." No, the base is exactly: $483 dollars shy of $130k. Add at least an additional 14% and you're north of $147k.

Dude, get a clue!

chris said...

Nice. I like how you can't even follow your own rules for comments.

"Keep it clean and constructive. I reserve the right to delete comments that are profane, off topic, ad hominem, or spam."

I also like how in today's posting you scolding Glen Reynolds and Mickey Kaus for not mentioning the Cost of Living Adjustments for federal workers.

I apologize if I was off by less than 1% in my off-the-top-of-my-head statement of what the rate is for a GS-15. I didn't get into the COLAs since one can bend them any way they want.

As someone who works for the DoD I can assure you that I am FAR below that level. Their salary amount is not something I think of daily. I'd also like to add that a GS-15 in my branch of the DoD is the highest ranking civilian in our organization. He's comparable to a VP of a Construction Contractor that places over a billion dollars in construction a year. $147k/yr (with COLA added in) for someone at this level is virtually unattainable in the private sector.

So I got a clue. You are a hack.