We need the money for other things.

Priorities!

record deficits and struggling economy

Any questions?

Nabb1: That's really meager, all things considered.

"The proposed 2011 raise would match the projected increase in the Employment Cost Index, a Labor Department measurement of private-sector wage growth."

Wow, actually giving them a COLA in pace with the private sector. Never mind inflation is practically zero and given our current deficit we really shouldn't be giving government employees any COLAs at all.

Talk about non-news. A lot of us aren't even getting cost of living raises this year. Actually taking a step back instead of losing jobs. Course, I'm typing this at work, so I'm not complaining too hard.

I may sound like a prick here, especially since our military folks are friggen hero's imo, at least those that see battle. But, they should be thankful that they have employment during one of the worst recessions in, depending upon who you ask, the 80s.

"OMG he's killing us with debt! SPENDING BAD!"

"Not a big enough pay raise for a subset of government employees? HOW DARE YOU!!!"

I haven't gotten a raise in two years, and this year doesn't look any better. I'm glad I've got a job at this point.

I got a whole dollar an hour this year. The troops can suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us.

goddamn obama, getting us into 2 never ending conflicts.

I'm making half of what I was making this time last year, so you know, shiat's tough all over.

Maybe if we weren't wasting all our money in other places we could afford more.

No one else (Financial CEO's excluded) is getting raises this year, why should the military be any different?

Subby laments low military pay raise and record deficits in the same breath. Remarkable.

NEUTRAL rating on this story w/the PITA? REALLY!?!?!?!?

Take it from the bankers' lunch money.

LOL, here he's willing to be fiscally conservative.

Some paper-pushing SEIU member bureaucrat in a D.C. office, however ...

Nabb1: I deeply regret advocating anything larger than a 1.4% raise for our military personnel and apologize for any delicate political sensibilities that may have been offended by my expression of same.

It's the typical conservative viewpoint: cut funding for everything else, but always boost funding for the military, no matter how bad the economy's doing, no matter whether we can afford it, no matter whether the military even needs it.

A lot of us think there are a lot more urgent things to spend money on right now than raises for government employees with guaranteed jobs in an economy with zero inflation. Or hell, we could just not spend that money and start putting a dent in our deficit.

Nabb1: I deeply regret advocating anything larger than a 1.4% raise for our military personnel and apologize for any delicate political sensibilities that may have been offended by my expression of same.

I deeply regret the fact that you still haven't figured out what Fark is or what happens when you use it.

Go cry to your mommy you overgrown child.

I'd be happy with a 1.4% raise in this economy. Hell, I'll be happy just to not have any mandatory furlough days imposed on me.

We've spent an unfathomable amount of money on defense over the last decade. I'm sorry if the lion's share went to private contractors and mercenaries but that's hardly Obama's fault.

FishingWithFredo: LOL, here he's willing to be fiscally conservative.

Some paper-pushing SEIU member bureaucrat in a D.C. office, however ...



So basically, you're saying he's not spending enough. Yeah?

Also, FTFA: he next-smallest raise in the volunteer era was a 2 percent increase in 1988.

Stupid America-hating Jimmy Carter.

cameroncrazy1984: I got a whole dollar an hour this year. The troops can suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us.

wat

A dollar an hour is a healthy raise. For an average household's income, that's.... what? 4%? More than I got.

Perhaps Blackwater or Halliburton can make up the difference.

Also, took a 5% pay cut last may and lost 5% 401k matching contribution.

Also had to endure listening to my government employee friend complain about his 2% raise.

Suck it up.

FishingWithFredo: Some paper-pushing SEIU member bureaucrat in a D.C. office, however ...

Doesn't have his pay rate nor yearly raise determined by the government.

Oh I forgot, you said SEIU. Am I supposed to froth at the mouth or crap my pants?

How many other Americans are getting raises this year?

BooBoo23: Same here. I'll be happy to skip on the pay raise again this year if it means I still have a job- I've watched 30% of my office get laid off in the last 2 years.

In the company I work for, all the hourly folk making less than $48/hour (or so) got a $0.40/hour raise to help deal with rising healthcare costs. Wages, of course, are frozen globally, and probably will be for some time.

That's right, I got a 0.98% raise, WHAT NOW, BIATCHES???

/anyone need an electrical engineer?

WaltzingMathilda: That's 1.4% more than mine in these hard times.

And for those who had a pay increase of -100%, it's down right amazing.

They joined the military for the huge amount of money you make, they were duped!

Hey Military personnel...

Freedom isn't free.

So grab them thar bootstraps and puuuuullllll...

GoldSpider: Also, took a 5% pay cut last may and lost 5% 401k matching contribution.

Also had to endure listening to my government employee friend complain about his 2% raise.

Suck it up.

There were probably also years where you got 10%+ raises and he got the standard government COLA. It goes both ways.

Great, so why not the same thing for Congress, Senate, Governators, etc.