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20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

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Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's ever really been a problem for Trump. Everyone I talk to who supports him expects him to be a hail-mary grenade thrown into DC—a big middle finger to the powers that be. They feel completely disenfranchised and want a shake-up. Amazingly, so far, it hasn't hurt his approval numbers.

The numbers are irrelevant. It is a second term presidency. What matters are the numbers for those facing reelection in less than a couple years. Even the burn down crowed don't want to remain on a wagon heading for a cliff in four years.

[deleted]

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#302
post #15

I think the main issue for anyone wanting to take the offer is simply: this was never authorized by congress, so the money to pay people to September is questionable if it exists at best. Meanwhile, there's a government funding deadline on March 14, 2025. So there's a very real chance at this deal offering something closer to ~1 month of pay before it suddenly gets dropped due to budget negotiations. It would be an i…

The government is still an employer and subject to the same liability if not more so. I'd think workers would have a strong case to sue for damages if that happened. I'd take that bet. I can't imagine a situation where a judge wouldn't side with the employee on this.

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article mentions $2.5MM liens which is drastically less than 1% of expenses of $1445MM ("[SpaceX] generated $55 million in profit on $1.5 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2023") It don't appear to be because SpaceX is having trouble paying. I would guess SpaceX are delaying payment as much as possible because it is cheap lending and because it's run as an extremely mercenary company. Their costs of…

Who give a shit what their revenue is. It tells me nothing about how they pay their vendors. 2.5mm in liens is just how much they have proveably shorted construction workers in Texas. It doesn't count other vendors doing work that isn't elegible for a lien, or how many workers got shorted, but it just wasn't enough to worry about. If you were one of the 70+ businesses that held a lien against them, you would think di…

I mostly agree with you. I wasn't excusing or agreeing with the behaviour. I was only trying to ponder the amoral financial incentives.

Aside: I think most moral people struggle to even recognise amoral decision making. I also suspect that learning to be more sociopathic can be profitable. I don't much admire most doyens of business. Trying to fight amoral business people seems like a personally losing game because you eventually internalise their tricks.

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#304
post #188

As someone who has been offered similar buy-outs, the one presented here is a poor deal. I would not have taken that one unless I already had a job waiting for me.

In what universe, public or private, is nine months of pay a poor deal for a buyout?

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#305
post #290
post #40

I've always found this approach of reducing the number of employees unwise from the company perspective (but pretty good for the employees, though). While the unsatisfied employees are the target, my observations indicate that a high percentage of active and skilled people are willing to take this offer, as they are sure that they will find a new place within a reasonable time, so it's basically, free money. And thos…

On a larger level, if the active & skilled people are taking the deal, doesn’t it mean they’re likely moving on to something that is a better fit and thus good for society anyway?

> they’re likely moving on to something that is... good for society anyway

Like supporting advertising and/or furthering the financialization of our economy?

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re screwed. He’s already made thousands of Venezuelans illegal immigrants that were here legally under temporary protection status and threaten deportation and tried to revoke birthright citizenship. He’s definitely going to do his best to keep people out from “shit hole countries that only send rapists and murderers” (if it isn’t clear, I don’t hold that opinion)

Well, if any EU companies want to sponsor a work visa for me and my wife, I am certainly open to it. As it stands I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do other than that.

I thought the EU was also turning inward and populist?

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's only illegal if the law gets enforced. It is completely valid to say something is illegal and unenforced. Consider that non-enforcement doesn't suddenly make something legal. Enforcement can start at any time. (Will it? Who knows!)

How can something be illegal before any judge ruled on it?

What role do you think the legislative branch of government plays? The judicial branch can rule on the constitutionality of the laws that have been passed and resolve other issues, but it isn't a requirement for the law to come into effect.

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#308
post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The federal employee unions have incredible power, often to the detriment of the government.

What good is a lawsuit if He decides to ignore it and not pay? One side of that battle is ultimately backed up by the military.

Which side?

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#309
post #286

The plan seems to be to fire almost all government emoloyees. The only historical parallel I can come up with is the De Baathification program in Iraq 2003.

Completely destroying a government so that contracfors from the US private sector could sweep in and take over? I fail to see the parallels.

Seems 1:1?

Re: 20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says

#310
post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The federal employee unions have incredible power, often to the detriment of the government.

What good is a lawsuit if He decides to ignore it and not pay? One side of that battle is ultimately backed up by the military.

Military members are government employees. I imagine they would be extremely circumspect of being deployed against other government employees who were cheated by a bad-faith deal.
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