Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   economy--again & again !!! Date:   4/16/2015 11:17:41 AM

I'm not sure that I think working for the government these days is the equivalent of winning the lottery.  The retirement system was completely changed in the 1980s to something much less (it's now dependent on TSP contributions, SS and a very small piece of goverment retirement), the contributions to the retirement system has gone up.  It is far less "secure" than it used to be, with shutdowns, Reduction in Force, and threats of relocation due to the BRAC.  I never felt I was working for lower wages, except maybe in the very beginning - but of course, with the budget cuts, promotions are harder to come by. I know the Army is in the process of reducing the grade structure, and with the budget cuts, the liklihood are RIFs has increased.  If I was just out of school today, I would consider working for the government, i.e., a chance to serve one's government, as a temporary thing that I did for a few years rather than a career path.