Unemployment Rate Drops! But There's A Catch...

[heironymouspasparagus]

IF enlightenment is desired, then do the research on government pay grades.  Then go to military pay grades.  They are only somewhat skewed from each other.

[Conan71]

At least Conan got it.  That is civilian employees.  Well over half are military, veterans, and homeland lack of security.

So, now we know for sure that Gassy never reads the references....just goes to the canned Rupert Murdoch script.

Also in my searching though, I came across an article showing the Obama Admin intends to add about 141,000 to the Federal dole er payroll this year.  Only about 30K shy of Homeland Insecurity.  Still not sure what all departments will get the new bureaucrats employees.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Big chunk of that was census...about 45,000-ish.  And then there are other sources who are saying he is planning on cutting that same number (I saw those claims about 2 months ago), so I think the propaganda machines for both sides are in full flail.  Will probably have to wait until next year to know for sure.  2009 was a net loss of fed employment, if memory serves, though.

You got it right the first time - bureaucrats.  By definition.  Well, except for the weather service and national parks service.

[custosnox]

By your logic, I think we do.

I don't think we need a massive military to wield significant global power. We do need a lot of high tech stuff, but we don't need one of the largest standing armies in the world. I find it interesting that most of the Founding Fathers thought that standing armies were a bad thing yet here we are about two and a quarter centuries on and we have one of the largest standing armies in the world. If nobody's trying to invade us, we don't need it, beyond a small core of active duty to fulfill our treaty obligations and provide credible deterrence, as well as a relatively large number of reservists who have enough training using our modern weaponry to be immediately effective in battle should we need more.

And Conan, I agree that it's not something that can just be chopped in half overnight (heck, I don't even know for sure that there's that much waste and excess to cut!). The cuts in the 90s worked out kinda sorta reasonably well because the economy was expanding.

When I say around the world, I mean in non hostile countries.  Thinking more on it though, I can see the stratigic advantage of being able to deploy troops in friendly area's closer to hostiles territory if the situation demanded.  
You say if nobody is infading than we don't need it.  How can you be so sure?  With the standing militaries around the world, all it would take is for us to lower our guard for a moment for them to strike.  We still might come out on top, but at what cost?  It is a matter of security.  Of course we could stop stepping on toes and keep to our own little corner of the world, but there is so much more too it than that.  The issue sits on a very dangerous precipice (sp?) that threatens much in whichever direction it may fall.  For now the balance leans towards excess in the name of security.  But how far can we lean in that direction before we colapse under the weight of our own safegaurds?  If we pull back, how many threats come closer to reality, from within and without?  Indeed, it is a task that I do not envy those who have to decide it's fate.  

[heironymouspasparagus]

Quick intervention here - check the new posts.  I put on some information - Enlightenment and education - that might be of interest.

Completely and absolutely non-political and strictly public service announcement type post.

[Conan71]

Big chunk of that was census...about 45,000-ish.  And then there are other sources who are saying he is planning on cutting that same number (I saw those claims about 2 months ago), so I think the propaganda machines for both sides are in full flail.  Will probably have to wait until next year to know for sure.  2009 was a net loss of fed employment, if memory serves, though.

You got it right the first time - bureaucrats.  By definition.  Well, except for the weather service and national parks service.

No, these were permanent positions referenced in the article I found.  FWIW, the census jobs numbered about 225,000.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Whew!  Much higher than I thought...
Got some relatives that did that for a few weeks.  Every little bit helps money wise.

[custosnox]

Whew!  Much higher than I thought...
Got some relatives that did that for a few weeks.  Every little bit helps money wise.

I was going to, but my background popped up with a flag.  I really hate having the same name (middle initial and all) as a felon living in OKC.  At that point it just became a really big hassle for a very short term job.