The insanity of the sequester.

[Drahthaardogs]

As a fed, if we get sequestered, I am not sure what I will do. Right now the plan is one day without pay every pay period. I am not sure how I am going to take a 10% reduction in pay and make it. We already had pay freezes for over 3 years, which has kind of added up to about 8% already. When you sign up for the feds, you kind of forgo your opportunity to "strike it while the iron is hot" and instead, opt for the slower, lower, but steady route. The deal was I get 2-4% every year, more or less.

I am a scientist, and it is well documented that white collar federal employees are already underpaid when compared to private sector employees. The "overpaid" stat they always quote are for blue collar employees, but there are very few of them left. The Republicans did away with them years ago.

Anyway, the whole point of the "Automatic Cuts" was to make them so draconian, and so crazy, NO ONE would actually let them be implemented. However, we received a brochure today put out by Office of Personnel Management. It looks like that is EXACTLY what the Tea Party House is planning to do. There is not enough crazy to fill these fuckers up. They take a faceful and want more. If this shit hits, it is going to be bad.

I am just stunned and how the GOP is willing to go down with the ship, when she is still perfectly sea worthy. Crazy without limits I guess.

[kairos12]

1. This is the drown the government in the bathtub proposal by Norquist being...

acted out by the teabaggers, plain and simple.

[former9thward]

2. The sequester did not come from Congress.

It was proposed by the White House. It received bi-partisan support and was signed by President Obama.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-fanciful-claim-that-congress-proposed-the-sequester/2012/10/25/8651dc6a-1eed-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_blog.html

[raidert05]

3. Hmm

Interesting..

[Zorro]

4. The Republicans are dumb enough to think Obama will be blamed

if the sequester happens and the economy tanks.

I suspect this is another round of brinksmanship, and there will be a last-minute agreement to push off the sequester to the end of the fiscal year and likewise extend the continuing resolution until then, also.

But we'll see; congressional office staff will also be affected, because those administrative budgets are also going to be cut. It will be interesting to watch if the politicians try to protect or exempt their own staff from furloughs/layoffs/dismissals, if the sequester does go forward.

It's exhausting to hear Republicans continually lie about the wages of government workers compared to industry; anyone with any exposure to both environments knows it's a bullshit.

[greymattermom]

5. mandatory retirement?

Federal scientists I know seem to be retiring early. Is there mandatory retirement at NIH? Not in the academic sector. Five-10 years more earnings adds up to a lot, especially at the end of your career.

[Kablooie]

6. Some Tea People are delighted with it. It will cut government drastically which is nirvana to them.

Some house members said they'd prefer a different balance of things cut but as long as the Democrats hate it, it's a good idea.

They are looking forward to it with great anticipation.

Imbeciles.

[odiumestpuritas]

8. Yet they are getting more of what they want then the Democrats right now

Their requests are so extreme that even meeting them half way gives them more of what they want and gives creditability to their demands.

DoD cuts are manageable and really are not that painful, it is the other agencies, its workers and the American people where the pain is really felt.

Right now there is no incentive or reason for them to even consider being less extreme.

[odiumestpuritas]

7. We are living under the tyranny of the minority right now

Embrace the bi-partisanship!

[apnu]

9. Because to the GOP, destroying our central government is their main goal.

They are anarchists. It is as plain and simple as that.