Nice work if you can get it!

As our elected officials continue to "throw rocks" at each other and the media fuels the fire, it is very easy for citizens of the republic (note: not the democracy) to be distracted from some of the important issues facing taxpayers. One of the issues that caught my attention this morning is the apparent disparity between federal civilian and private sector salaries. Below is an interesting representation of the gap between these government jobs and the private sector. These graphics are taken from a story by Chris Edwards at the Cato Institute. You can check out the whole story here. In his article, Edwards notes that his data source is the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is a government agency that is under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

This first graphic shows the gap between the growth rates in the private vs. government sectors:

This next graphic illustrates the even greater difference when benefit packages are included.

Do these graphics alarm you? They alarm me! I believe that this is an indication of a rapidly growing and financially unsustainable federal government. Both parties in DC have contributed to this supersized financial burden placed on the American taxpayer.

So, in true American fashion, I ask "Who's to blame?" I then answer my own question by the following: "Look in the mirror!" In this case the "who" refers to the citizens of this nation. We continue to demand more of the government in terms of entitlement programs and subsidies. We cry out for health care reform and expect the government to take care of it. We bow to the special interest groups (corporate, union, environmental, not-for-profit, etc.), allow massive bailouts of mismanaged companies, and listen to commercial media tell us that we have a "right" to settle our debt for a fraction of the actual cost.

WE ARE GETTING THE GOVERNMENT WE DESERVE!

The good news is that we can change! I am not talking about the so-called change that the current admnistration has promised and cannot deliver. The President (I don't care if he can walk on water) does not have the power to implement the change that is needed.. Only the people have the power to deliver the change that is necessary to turn the ocean liner.

Here are some somewhat random thoughts on change (that at least I believe in):

1) We must hold our elected officials (especially at the local and state level) accountable by increasing the voter turnout to at least 40% of the voting populus.

2) We must be able to research and develop our own thoughts regarding public policy (not what is spoon fed to us by the media).

3) We must understand that it is both immoral and illegal to expect something for nothing. Men have an obligation to each other only in terms of giving value for value.

4) Charity must be completely voluntary. If it is not, it is thievery disguised as altruism.

5) We must accept that the only rights we have are unalieanable: life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness. To expect more is ignorant. No one has a right to: a job, health care, home ownership, a car, internet acces.

6) Love is not and cannot be defined by gender, race, age, or anything other than the intrinsic feelings that people have for each other.

7) Religion is not necessarily a bad thing, but it should not be the basis for decisions in a factual world. Especially in terms of public policy.

8) Abortion is murder. Not for any spiritual reason, simply because the medical community has consistently said that human life begins at conception. Human life is an unalienable right and no man has the moral right to take it.

9) Racism will continue to exist in our society as long as we continue to identify men as different races other than human.

10) Profit is not a 4 letter word.

Time to leave the armchair and go mow the lawn.

AA