If the Commies Are Cutting Government Jobs Why Can't We?

Bob Barr, former congressman, writes today about the surge in government jobs in the US while other countries, including Russia and Cuba are slashing government workers:

Salaries of government jobs are outpacing those in the private sector in nearly all professions. For example, the average salary for a chemist employed by the federal government is $98,060; compared to $72,120 for their private-sector counterpart. The average government-employed janitor will bring home almost $6,000 more than a janitor employed by a private business. Even a clergyman in the employ of Uncle Sam will make almost double that of his private-sector counterpart. While the importance of religion is not in dispute, there is little justification for paying a government pastor $70,460 per year.

Other governments facing fiscal problems are taking the axe to their workforces in an effort to trim their budgets.

The United Kingdom announced last month it would reduce the number of bureaucrats in its government by 500,000 over the next five years. Russia, home to some of the world’s best bureaucrats, seems to comprehend the need to cut the government payroll in tough economic times. President Dmitry Medvedev plans to trim 100,000 jobs over the next three years; a 20 percent cut in public employment.

Even Cuban President Raul Castro appears to understand the benefits of a reduced government workforce; announcing in August that he would reduce the official work force by half a million over the course of six months, and by one million over the next five years.

The Bowles-Simpson commission, which recently released a draft proposal to alleviate the nation’s fiscal problems, suggested that Congress freeze salaries of federal workers over the next three years, while also cutting the number of government jobs by 10%. Additionally, the commission proposed that federal workers contribute half of the cost to their benefit packages; a substantial increase over current contribution levels. Public employee unions predictably are up in arms over that suggestion.

The unions will be the death of our economy, and wait until they get their hands on the TSA - we'll never get rid of those people.

The solution to a growing and vibrant economy is not more government bureaucrats with nearly lifetime appointments and huge pensions.  Government activities which can be privatized should be.  There are way too many things being done by overpriced government workers that should be handled by private firms at private salaries and benefits.

UPDATE:

CNN- President Obama will announce a two-year pay freeze for federal employees aimed at saving $60 billion over the next 10 years.

Well...it's a start.