We're not talking about all unionized government workers. Hope that clears things up. And as an employer, I pay all my employees health care, again OUT OF POCKET. I've been on both sides of the isle, I think I'm in a far better position to speak about the subject than most. BTW, keep in mind that that $80k you make costs your employer more like $160k to employ you. This is what a lot of people that work for someone else do not seem to realize. A typical employee costs an employer about double what that employee makes. Some people just have no clue.
Thank you Bushranger, that is exactly what I was talking about. Keathy, I think I'm in a very good place to discuss what government employees make/benefits they receive. My father worked for the government as well as me. So I know which ones have to pay deductables and which don't. The average don't. It all depends on which branch you work for and what your job actually is. Mia, I know, I have employees and I understand where you are coming from. Remember that. However, it is your choice, and only yours, to offer different benefits that you offer. I know, you pay half their Social Security (and your full) as an employer, there are certain things you just can't get around. However, there are many things you don't have to offer. And in today's economy it my belief is cut benefits mut not wages, and don't lay off if you can avoid it.
@kaethy I think you're missing Mia's point that people making six figure incomes are creating economic activity that employs people and generates tax income for the government. Share the wealth don't work. It's called communism and it has failed badly. Here's something to think about. What about the millions of day laborers that find work on street corners? They work for cash and pay no taxes.
Um, no, that doesn't clear it up. Which gov unionized workers are you talking about then? And I keep telling you, I make LESS THAN 80K, don't assume I make whatever number comes to mind. There are literally thousands of gov employees making substantially less than 80K. Yes, yes, I know, the total cost of employing me is more than just my pay, why do you assume I have no clue??? Is that how you expect to win your arguments, by putting people down? How about sticking to the facts?
Really? What branches have no deductibles? Here's the 2009 federal employee health insurance premium chart, can you point out to me which branch, which plan has that silver platter? Maybe there are some gov branches I'm not familiar with that have no out of pocket costs, but I'm quite certian it isn't the average gov worker. 2009 federal employees health insurance premiums
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. The reality that a lot of people just do not get is that while I and other's that have small businesses may make one thing on paper, it's hardly anywhere near what I really take home at the end of the day. Ultimately what I do supports several families, and generates a hell of a lot of tax revenue. Not just income tax, but consumption based taxes, as well as sales tax, and other taxable revenue sources. I'd be willing to bet that at the end of the day those making smaller salaries fair a hell of a lot better in terms of actual take home pay and tax liability. If anything, those of us producing wealth should be left alone to produce wealth, not punished for it. Punish us, and those $80k/year jobs will start to disappear. Some food for thought!
I think what's really amusing about these "tea bagging" protests is all of these lunatics on the far right who think they represent "average Americans." Ha! Yes President Obama is "not listening to average Americans" even though his approval rating is currently at 62%. I never once heard Fox News claim that George W. Bush wasn't listening to average Americans even when his approval ratings were below 30%. The idea that these "tea bagging" events are anything other than GOP political rallies is ludicrous. What's really great about the whole thing is that it's going to backfire in a huge way (just like the Pirate crisis thing.) These protesters are going to appear to *real* average Americans to be a bunch of lunatics and it will further marginalize the shrinking Republican party.
Absolute nonsense. Unless, of course, you think Glenn Beck & Newt Gingrich are examples of those on the "left wing." I don't know a single person who I would think of as "left wing" who is involved in the "tea bagging." In fact every left winger I know (including myself) thinks this "tea bagging" is ludicrous.
Sorry... Just read this post from March. All I had to say was.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Edit: BTW.. how is your GM stock working out?
Of course you would find any aversion to tyranny, socialism, or more micro-management of human life ludicrous.
It worked out excellently, I nearly doubled my money in less than a week and sold it near it's peak. BTW: My latest stock pick (DRYS) is kicking ass today. What right-wingers refer to as "tyranny" is actually known as "Democracy." You guys lost. Get over it. Or as you guys used to say "LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!"
Zibblu is right about the Tea Baggers. What a bunch of nut jobs! We finally get a president who is willing to spend our money on the poor and downtroden in this country and the facists come crawling out of the woodwork! Acorn is planning a march on the same day and I bet more of them show up than the right wing nut jobs complaining about helping the poor! The deathly ill Republican party is doing whatever it can to survive, but it wont be long before the last few that remain have their names put on a list and are shipped out of this great country!
Where would the right wingers go? That's the thing. Liberals had more liberal places (Canada etc) to go during the Bush years. The fact is Obama's policies would make him a conservative almost anywhere else in the world. That's what makes all of the whining about "socialism" etc extra hilarious.
You are right! There is no place in the world that would want them! Maybe we need Republican internment camps! Obama is no socialist, he just believes in social justice. Whats wrong with that! He is a great international representative for our country as well! The whole world loves him! I'm glad to see he is finally opening the doors to our brothers in Cuba who have been languishing away by under the oppressive U.S. policies! We finally have a president who doesn't feel the need to step on other countries just because their culture is a bit different from our own!
Obamanation - I assume you are being sarcastic with at least some of the things you say? "Republican internment camps" ??? The only people talking about that kind of lunacy are the Glenn Becks of the world. Paranoia runs deep.
Sorry, didn't mean to sound over the top. But seriously, when the last few desperate Republicans are left, where will they go? In all seriousness, the department of homeland security has put out a report warning about conservative hate groups growing and recruiting as the Republicans get more desperate. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/14/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4944701.shtml I'm sure we all remember that nut job Tim McVeigh.