Monday, November 21, 2005

Pay Raises Not A Part of Trimming Fed Budget

I'm sure you've seen this news already, but I have to offer some thoughts on it. Some years back Congress came up with a way to get yearly raises by NOT voting for them. They get these raises automatically unless they vote to not receive them. Wonder what the anti-worker crowd would say if union and non-union workers could get such a provision in their work agreements? And this year's non-vote increase occurs as Congress works to decided what U.S. programs to cut money away from.

And I was most happy to see Congress reconsidering the plan to make key elements to the so-called "Patriot Act" go on and on, with some calling for a seven year extension. But voters have been very loud about ending some of these provisions by year's end.

"I didn't come to Washington, D.C., to expand the police powers of the federal government," said Representative Dana Rohrabacher, Republican of California. "To make these temporary expansions of police power permanent as our way of life, changing our way of life in America, altering the balance of liberty and police powers, is outrageous."

Since most lawmakers are taking off for the holidays, this gives you a chance to make some of those hockey-puck shaped sweet potatoes with marshmellows on the top (Yuck!) and take them over to their homes (unless they are all at vacation hideaways) and say "Here's something for the holidays and by the way, I don't want that Act extended!")

Which also leads the burning question I ponder each Thanksgiving -- What is the difference between a "sweet potato" and a "yam?" Its these kind of things that keep me awake at night.

UPDATE: The wise and witty Julie helped ease my concerns about the debate over yams and sweet taters -- discover the facts for yourself here.

4 comments:

  1. Ain't gonna be no yams at the GM workers houses who are under the axe to the tune of 30,000 workers. Which by my counting about 150,000 family members are gonna be hurting. I wonder if any ceo's are going without benefits?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jed, the philospher fodder,
    I do believe you are right, I bet they get the full trimmings at their homes, whilst they drive around their YUKON GOLDS.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ya know, I don't think GM decided to stop building their manufacturing plants in China.
    And weren't the News Media so SHOCKED when they reported this story today -- even though GM made the announcement of their plans back in the Spring.

    And c'mon, a CEO has a 'quality of life' that must be maintained -- I mean, employees are just numbers in accounting books -- it's not like they really MEAN anything!
    Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Julie, lay off the yams! Don't want you birthin' no twins.. ;o)

    ReplyDelete