Showing posts with label barack obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label barack obama. Show all posts
No pay raises for federal employees?
President Obama announced today that he plans to freeze pay raises for all federal employees for the next two years. It would not affect the military. This is an interesting little piece of political football. On one hand, Obama is sending a clear message on the federal budget and spending. On the other hand, this is one way to tick off a large group of voters by the year 2012.
The fact is that federal job spending has been somewhat out of control in the past five years, according to a recent report in USA Today. People making more than $150,000 a year has grown 10 fold, while the annual pay raises has been three percent above inflation for more than a decade. The private sector rate is 0.8 percent.
The question is do people deserve these raises? Let us know?
The fact is that federal job spending has been somewhat out of control in the past five years, according to a recent report in USA Today. People making more than $150,000 a year has grown 10 fold, while the annual pay raises has been three percent above inflation for more than a decade. The private sector rate is 0.8 percent.
The question is do people deserve these raises? Let us know?
Let's Pull Together
The New York Times reported today that U.S. retails sales reported their biggest gain in seven months. This was the fourth straight month of increased sales. Is this a sign that America is finally moving out of a recession or just a sign that people are buying things such as cars and building materials because their current stuff is breaking down?
And who will take credit? Well, both sides will, which is a problem. Democrats will point to Obama's stimulus deals as the reason, while Republicans will say their recent mid-term election victory helped stir consumer spending. In a way they are both right. People are only going to spend money if they believe America is heading in the right direction. Here's a novel idea...let's put aside our political differences and pull together for America. You may not like Nikki Haley, but South Carolina needs her to succeed. You may not like President Obama, but South Carolina needs him to succeed. Instead of listening to political purists who only want one of governance and electing people who don't like government, let's actually think about ways to work together.
It's a simple solution: Let's pull together.
And who will take credit? Well, both sides will, which is a problem. Democrats will point to Obama's stimulus deals as the reason, while Republicans will say their recent mid-term election victory helped stir consumer spending. In a way they are both right. People are only going to spend money if they believe America is heading in the right direction. Here's a novel idea...let's put aside our political differences and pull together for America. You may not like Nikki Haley, but South Carolina needs her to succeed. You may not like President Obama, but South Carolina needs him to succeed. Instead of listening to political purists who only want one of governance and electing people who don't like government, let's actually think about ways to work together.
It's a simple solution: Let's pull together.
The Great Debate
The New York Times delved into the world of the Delaware Senate race in this morning's edition. It was a nice article recapping a debate between Democrat candidate Chris Coons and Republican Christine O'Donnell, but it does shine a light on the coverage of political campaigns in modern America.
Unless you have been stuck in the Middles Ages, you have heard the story of O'Donnell -- the Tea Party favorite who has been hit hard by the left for past statements regarding education, masturbation and witchcraft. O'Donnell seems to be constantly answering some version of these questions and according to the New York Times, the debate hosted by Wolf Blitzer was no different. She was asked repeatedly asked about past comments about evolution and her finances. Coons, who wrote a college paper that called himself a Marxist, was allowed to simply answer his questions and move on.
It's an interesting political divide right now. For the past few years, many of the left accuse the right of attacking Barack Obama over his past and come up with nasty comments for people who want to know where Obama's money for college came from, where he was born, what religion he practices. But isn't that was the left is now doing to O'Donnell? Is that political discourse?
It's the great debate.
Unless you have been stuck in the Middles Ages, you have heard the story of O'Donnell -- the Tea Party favorite who has been hit hard by the left for past statements regarding education, masturbation and witchcraft. O'Donnell seems to be constantly answering some version of these questions and according to the New York Times, the debate hosted by Wolf Blitzer was no different. She was asked repeatedly asked about past comments about evolution and her finances. Coons, who wrote a college paper that called himself a Marxist, was allowed to simply answer his questions and move on.
It's an interesting political divide right now. For the past few years, many of the left accuse the right of attacking Barack Obama over his past and come up with nasty comments for people who want to know where Obama's money for college came from, where he was born, what religion he practices. But isn't that was the left is now doing to O'Donnell? Is that political discourse?
It's the great debate.
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