In a report issued in Sept., 2009, from the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average compensation (salary and benefits) was 66% higher than the same averages in the private sector. The average federal government employee earns $119,982 per year in compensation and benefits while the average private sector employee earns $59, 909 in compensation and benefits.
To cover the additional pay and benefits of federal employees, $100,000,000,000.00 a year is taken from the private sector in income taxes. Federal employees make up only 2 million of the 20 million employed in the public sector.
More than 90% of the public sector workers have defined benefit pension plans in addition to Social Security. The majority of these employment plans allow public sector workers to retire 10-25 years earlier than is permitted by Social Security. They also provide much higher monthly benefits,
Most public sector workers are provided with free or heavily subsidized health insurance (Peoria County pays $3 to every $1 paid by employees) plus subsidizing health insurance during the term of their early retirement.
Naturally, the great migration of people has been to Washington, D.C., where the feds keep hiring. According to American Van Lines in its annual 2009 report, the biggest loser of people was Michigan followed closely by Illinois (surprise?) and N. Jersey while New York and California have more departures than arrivals.
The bigger the government (and the feds) grows, the longer the recession. U.S. history does not support the theory that BIG GOVERNMENT means shorter recessions. If one believes this recession is about over, re-read your tea leaves or stop listening to politicians up for re-election. Ask how much tax-paying private building construction has been or is going on in Peoria County. No, the museum, the libraries, the sewers, the new ball fields proposed by City Councilman Bill Spears, who is about 6 years behind the first promise the the Peoria Park District made to construct them, , read my blogs, BelWood Nursing Home, ETC., are all tax-COLLECTING entities providing short term union jobs leaving the rest of us on limited incomes or unemployed to pay for the enhancements our leaders say we CAN'T EXIST WITHOUT.
For lifetime educators like Morton Mayor Norm Durflinger, now acting or interim Superintendent of #150, and lifetime public employees like most County Administrators to say that government can't be run like a successful business is correct from their point of view. They never ran a successful business. Didn't I just read that the City of Morton, of all places, is running a financial shortfall? Mortonites, look for more taxes and fees, (think garbage fees) that's one arena where government far excels the private sector.
Morton might also be worrying about the future of the Morton Caterpillar based Distribution Center. Just an educated guess on my part.
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