Congress got a raise

1. 0

   Onusonusposted 11 years ago

   
   Just thought you'd like to know.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No duh! And not just Congress "Did you notice how President Obama paid back public union support by giving government employees a pay raise? “A new executive order has been issued providing for a new pay schedule beginning ‘on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after March 27, 2013,’ reports FedSmith.com. ‘The pay raise will generally be about 1/2 of 1%.’”
      
      According to the statistics the private sector salaries have taken a big pay cut in recent years! But not the government employees, they get a raise!
      
      After the November election we saw that 95 percent of blacks voted for Obama. In some Philadelphia wards, not accounting for the possibility of fraud, 100% of voters voted for Obama. Obama’s election was only partly due to a heavy turnout of Hispanics and blacks. The real reason is found in public sector unions. While private sector unions make up about 6% of all unions, it’s public sector unions — government unions — where money and power are concentrated.
      
      The unions collect billions of dollars every year in forced dues. The public sector unions spent $500 million dollars to get Obama re-elected. In addition, thousands of union members were called on to “volunteer” to campaign for the president. Some union workers were even paid for their efforts from the dues that they were forced to pay. The Republicans have no way to compete with government protected and subsidized unions.
      Congress won’t do anything since Democrats are the ones who benefit from a mass of union support.
      Do you remember how quickly the employees of the TSA were quickly unionized? http://politicaloutcast.com/2012/12/the … ted-obama/
      
      No doubt about it, this government is no longer a government of the people - it is run like the mob would run it.

      replyreport
      1. 71

         Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Tsad. Nice to see you.
         
         Did someone say unions? I thought this thread was about Congressional raises. Do members of Congress belong to unions?
         
         Are Republicans looking for support from labor unions? Are unions unfairly opposed to the Republican Party? Why does the Democratic Party benefit from union support? Is it reasonable for unions to support the Democratic Party? Often when the facts are ignored, the picture gets distorted.
         
         And the facts are…
         The GOP’s war on labor unions – The Washington Post {1}
         The GOP's War Against Unions Is Now Entering the Endgame – Mother Jones {2}
         Michigan Republicans draw union ire with sudden votes on right-to-work legislation – Fox News {3}
         GOP Anti-Union Measure Fails In Senate – HuffPost.com {4}
         
         And the list goes on, and on, and on…
         
         {1} http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011 … ions-board
         {2} http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2 … ng-endgame
         {3} http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12 … rom-union/
         {4} http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/2 … 49811.html

         replyreport
         1. 74

            tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Why am I not surprised at your statist response?  to my comment that besides Congress getting a raise while they are sending us over the fiscal cliff Obama is rewarding the public sector unions with a raise when there are 23 million people unemployed and private sector salaries are going down. Only you would cite left wing propaganda about a "war on unions" and spin it to ignore commenting on the fact that Obama is rewarding the public sector unions with a raise . Good job, your socialist buddies are now toasting you I'm sure.

            replyreport
            1. 71

               Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Good evening Tsad.
               
               I do agree with you that raising public sector wages under the present economic conditions sends the wrong message to struggling Americans.
               
               However, Tsad, the comment “The Republicans have no way to compete with government protected and subsidized unions. Congress won’t do anything since Democrats are the ones who benefit from a mass of union support” is essentially true but it adds a partisan swipe at public sector unions to the thread. After all, members of both parties benefited from the Congressional pay hikes but the comment implies Republicans have an unjust disadvantage because of the unions. I merely provided facts to point out that if such a disadvantage truly does exists it was self-inflicted by the policies of the GOP itself.
               
               Read the headlines again. If the facts are inaccurate, please suggest verifiable corrections. 
               
               The GOP’s war on labor unions – The Washington Post {1}
               The GOP's War Against Unions Is Now Entering the Endgame – Mother Jones {2}
               Michigan Republicans draw union ire with sudden votes on right-to-work legislation – Fox News {3}
               GOP Anti-Union Measure Fails In Senate – HuffPost.com {4}
               
               There is no spin, no propaganda, no labels, and no accusations in my prior post. There are only highlighted facts that explain the real reasons why labor in this country tends to support the Democratic Party. To call it “left wing propaganda” without correcting any misstated facts is to admit they are correctly stated. Of course it is much easier, when unable to refute solid facts, to just place either a “left” or a “right” label on them and then attack the meaningless label. It is the best way to avoid acknowledging the reality of the truth.
               
               I apologize if the facts in my post raised hackles in some quarters for that was not my intent. I was just providing headlines and links to actual events that might illuminate the discussion. 
               
               Stay well, Tsad. I hope you enjoy peace and good health in the New Year. I might add prosperity too but that may be too much to ask of 2013.   
               
               {1} http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011 … ions-board
               {2} http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2 … ng-endgame
               {3} http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12 … rom-union/
               {4} http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/2 … 49811.html

               replyreport
               1. 74

                  tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Glad to see you agree with me - wonder why you didn't say that to start with? - maybe because, as usual, you want to make the discussion about something it's not. This discussion was never about a "war on unions". It is about an out of touch government that doesn't care what their "subjects" are enduring, but only cares about their own  political self interests and a President who runs the office like a mob boss.

                  replyreport
                  1. 71

                     Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes, Tsad.
                     
                     Or maybe because I was not addressing the Congressional pay raise but the tangential claim “Republicans have no way to compete with government protected and subsidized unions.” After the claim was introduced, I just provided a few facts explaining why such a situation might exist. Me so bad.
                     
                     Sorry and Happy New Year!
                     

                     replyreport
                     1. 74

                        tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        Yeah exactly, you were  not addressing the Congressional pay raise, an Obama executive order, which IS what I was doing - initially you totally avoided the discussion and chose to create a whole new discussion about a totally unrelated and made up issue ("the war on unions" ha, ha! like the war on women?  total left wing propaganda) introducing your spin on the fact stated that “Republicans have no way to compete with government protected subsidized unions.” which was part of the explaination as to why the president mandated a raise for all federal employees when we are facing a "fiscal clif" and even now you still insist in pushing your brand of propaganda - like the Huffington post? really! Not "me so bad", try "you so lame". That's a fit.

                        replyreport
                        1. 59

                           A Driveby Quipperposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Bull.

                           replyreport
         2. 72

            The Frog Princeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            You seem to be ignoring the entire story about who is getting raises under Oblabber's statist use of executive orders.  More abuse of power and a display of ignorance on his part.  The U-6 unemployment figure is sitting at 14.4% unemployment.  Try paying attention to all the news and stop cherry picking for your own statist opinions.

            replyreport
         3. 83

            GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Greetings Quill,
            From my perspective, it appears your agenda is showing.
            
            Your opening... "Did someone say unions?" (to me) Reeks of joy at the crack of an opening to make a point.
            
            You appear to feel the need to explain why the GOP and the unions are not best buddies - in the words of a teenage world - well, duh!
            
            Where did that need come from?
            
            Of course the unions support Democrats. Did I miss the OP's inference that Union's had unjustly abandoned the Repubs? Or, are you just choosing an opening to make a statement?
            
            As one short-lived insurance commercial portrayed - "do you live under a rock?"
            
            The question would seem to be - why did you feel the need to point out the reasons for the Democrat/Union partnership, and the Unions/Repubs chasm, instead of following the topic of the congressional raise?
            
            Yes, the OP did give you the opening to pursue this point - but you [had to] know that was not the intent of the topic. which begs the question of why you chose that tact.
            
            Appearing to be a purveyor of facts, and providing supporting links to a POV isn't much cover when your divergence from the topic is for the obvious intent to demagogue a position.
            
            But, of course, that's just my POV. Unsupported and carelessly tossed to the winds. And, your proviso about  facts being ignored... distorting the picture, also seems to be just as applicable to attempts of obvious misdirection.
            
            This one was not up to your usual standard of righteous factual rectitude.
            
            GA

            replyreport
            1. 71

               Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Very well stated, GA.
               
               Do have a Happy New Year.
               

               replyreport
            2. 83

               GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I woke up this morning feeling very remorseful...
               
               That was a harsh and unnecessary thing to say...
               
               And I was a jerk for saying it....
               
               I'm sorry -- you did not deserve that.
               
               GA

               replyreport
               1. 59

                  A Driveby Quipperposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Now, kiss and make up.

                  replyreport
               2. 71

                  Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  I understand, GA. Thank you for your clarification. My respect for your judgement continues unshaken.
                  

                  replyreport
      2. 77

         brimancandyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I would worry too much about unions if I were you. 24 states have right to work laws, and the governor of Michigan just signed the bill adding our state to that list. So, Unions don't have as much pull as you think.
         
         Also, any time congress gives themselves a raise, I am not one bit surprised. They are always dipping their own hands into the tax payer cookie jar. They also want to give themselves free lifetime health care and benefits no matter how long their terms are. While they continue to vote to screw the american public. And, I don't care what side of the fence they are as a politician. They should all be greatly ashamed of themselves.

         replyreport
         1. 72

            The Frog Princeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Congress didn't give itself this raise.  Obama gave it to them.  Some of these replies make me wonder what news source people are using to get the actual facts.  Or what they believe to be facts.

            replyreport
            1. 74

               tsadjatkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Well you are right TFP but remember who you are addressing - there are some who, if they can' t cherry pick information they ignore it. You have to spell it out for them, but then they disappear. Maybe this makes it clear..."President Obama signed an executive order last week giving Congress a bump in salary, ending a years-long pay freeze for the legislative body." It does help to read about what you are commenting on first. http://blog.al.com/live/2012/12/preside … _orde.html
               
               And worry about the unions? Yeah let's not worry about them -after all they get paid off for their loyaly to the mob boss, by the mob boss with our tax dollars - no worry as long as you are in the mob, I mean a Democrat.

               replyreport
2. 82

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   It is INDEED QUITE IRONIC that Congress is getting a raise while the solution to the fiscal cliff is to raise the tax on the rest of us!   Really "logical" and "smart" thinking!

   replyreport
3. 95

   wildernessposted 11 years ago

   Wasn't it set up long ago to give them automatic raises if they didn't take action to vote it down?  Or is my memory failing me again?
   
   That way they don't have to vote in a raise, raising the ire of the rest of us that pay for that nonsense.  All they have to do is conveniently "forget" to address the issue, or "run out of time" before going home for the year.

   replyreport
4. 59

   A Driveby Quipperposted 11 years ago

   Same ol' same ol'.

   replyreport
5. 55

   whoisitposted 11 years ago

   When are we going to demand drug testing for those who accept tax dollars? Congress would be a great place to start.

   replyreport
6. 0

   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   Time to rise up people ! Fire them all !

   replyreport
7. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 11 years ago

   Hey, folks! All is not crap after all...
   
   Latest news.
   
   "'Fiscal cliff' deal to block pay hike for Congress"
   
   http://news.yahoo.com/fiscal-cliff-deal … itics.html

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Onusonusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Got anything else besides Yahoo news? They really suck. Sometimes I think some of those people are illiterate.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I agree that their content farm staff are a bunch of unprofessionals... And I mean seriously.

         replyreport
8. 0

   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   Soory , all they've done is kick the can one more day !....There are no heroes down there in washington !

   replyreport