There’s one thing that keeps nagging me about McCabe’s firing.
McCabe was set to retire on Sunday, after more than two decades at the FBI. But Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired him late Friday, a decision that could significantly affect McCabe’s pension.
McCabe is 49 years old. 49. And he was about to retire from the FBI with a full pension. I realize that we have a social contract whereby we give government workers less salary in exchange for good benefits and pensions, but this is ridiculous. It is one thing for a fire fighter, police officer, soldier, etc. where the strains of the job necessitate an early retirement, but McCabe was essentially a desk jockey for the last 15 years earning well over six figures. Given that most people have to work into their 70s or beyond, we are all having to work 20 more years than McCabe just to pay for his retirement at 49.
I’m not faulting McCabe. It’s not his fault that the system is set up this way. It is our fault for letting it happen. The social contract is out of whack. I don’t think it is too much to ask for our employees to put in a full career before getting a full pension for retirement. Or, we can convert them to defined contribution plans like most Americans and they can retire whenever they want.
It’s well-established that Government workers (Fed or State) earn far more than comparable-job private sector workers, when ALL compensation is considered.
In fact, there are studies which show that Gummint workers are NOT “underpaid” with promise of pension–that they are over-paid AND get a better pension.
It took about 20 years for the WEA to get busted. Nobody’s even begun the spadework on busting the Fed unions. And note well: the police and fire unions in Wisconsin have very, very, very nice “disability” and retirement schemes–because no Republican has the balls to cross them.
There’s a bit of nuance: low- and middle workers do better in Federal work, the well-educated do better in the private sector, says the CBO.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52637
“ the police and fire unions in Wisconsin have very, very, very nice “disability” and retirement schemes–because no Republican has the balls to cross them.”
It’s about buying votes. Republicans have been able to crush unions that generally support Democrats but refuse to do the same to those who support them.
Mr. McCabe, if the allegations are proven to be true, should be behind bars. His dismissal was recommended by the FBI Ethics Office based on the findings of the Inspector General. Prior to his dismissal, he was placed on leave for unspecified misconduct in office. The slow drip of information is bringing out some disturbing details.
From what I have read, in 2016 federal civilian workers had an average wage of $88,809, according the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). By comparison, the average wage for the nation’s 114 million private-sector workers was $59,458.
When including the benefits, in 2016 total federal compensation averaged $127,259 or 80 percent more than the private-sector average of $70,764. I would not object to getting that deal.
One could argue about the numbers but it certainly would appear that our elected representatives on every level of government, no matter their political stripe, need to address this inequity.
FYI-The Washington County Board passed a ‘pay parity’ wage plan for County employees to give them the same wages as the private-sector without any consideration for their healthcare and pension benefits. Given these types of actions and the difficulty of ousting incumbents, I would support term limits.
Or, we can convert them to defined contribution plans like most Americans and they can retire whenever they want.
^—– This. Shudda been done a long time ago.
Also, McCabe has a net worth of apx. $11.5 million.
Wow. So someone rises to a top job at the FBI and they’re just a “desk jockey”?
But anyone who was in firefighting, LEO, or military were strained enough to deserve a thirty-and-out retirement with full bennies? Have you never met someone who spent their entire military career behind a desk or a broom?