Medved says that since the recession began in December, 2007, federal employee salaries have gone up an average of 6.6%, while salaries in the private sector have increased only 3.9%. The average salary in the U.S. government, as of June, was $71,206—compared to only $40,331 for non-governmental jobs.

 

“Unlike private firms, the federal bureaucracy doesn’t attempt to make a profit, so there’s never a pressing drive to cut costs or to trim payroll; unlike state and local governments, Washington doesn’t even need to break even,” writes Medved. “The ability of the central government to print or borrow money means that all the new hires will remain at their posts, no matter how mediocre or inadequate their performance, or how questionable the value of the often meaningless tasks they perform.”

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

When It Comes to Rewarding Inefficiency, Washington Puts Wall Street to Shame (by Michael Medved, Townhall)