What's wrong with federal pay freezes? Let's try a Dr. Johnson diagnosis

[jpgray]

"Your levelers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear leveling up to themselves."

The last morsels of the New Deal will be ground to nothing between two chops: envy for those who resemble us, but are secure and decently paid; parsimony for those who resemble us, but are poor and desperate. The one we feel has received undeserving a station above our own, the other we feel is undeserving of even our own meager success. Relative to ourselves, we believe the one should lose all advantages, the other should retain its disadvantages.

This is more important, of course, than dealing with those who resemble us least of all. Who can imagine what Jamie Dimon deserves? No one feels the pressure of that comparison on his identity. We know all too well, though, what our neighbors deserve. We are experts. This one deserves to lose her cushy job, and that one deserves to grind his knees in the dust.

[Skittles]

1. if they haven't gotten around to you yet, they will soon

unless you are very, very wealthy

[jpgray]

2. People cheer when those just above fall, and those just below remain in place

Even if the main benefit is not to themselves but to those much higher up. It's one of the worst aspects of human nature.

[jpgray]

3. Self-kick; everyone point and laugh.

[inna]

5. indeed

[bemildred]

4. It's all a dog and pony show.

They got plenty of money for war and weapons. This is political theater to get us to accept "cuts" elsewhere.

[Desertrose]

7. Exactly...keep us distracted again.

Or make that still.

[the redcoat]

6. By itself, there's nothing particularly wrong with it. But

the real problem of the matter is that the middle class is yet again being targeted instead of the super rich that caused our situation.

Obama's trying to do something that won't make the right angry: He's punishing the public sector and doing nothing to the private sector. Frankly, it fucking sucks.

A toast to waiting for Obama to fight back. :toast:

[flyarm]

8. we ought to be lifting all people up, instead we all are in a downward spiril!

what is good about anyone going down in standard of living???????????

Let alone all of the middle class sinking in a low standard of living.

I always believed this nation stood for pulling others up..not pushing everyone, but a small fraction..down!