What Federal Employees Make

To the Editor:

This weekend, I read an article in the Washington Post which really troubled me. It stated that in 2009 the average annual pay for a federal employee was $123,049 versus $61,051 for a private sector employee. Plus, in 2009 the federal employees on average received a 4.2 percent pay increase. Are you kidding me?

The government can’t afford these salaries, raises, pensions, and benefits. Oh wait, yes the can. They can by raising taxes on individuals and businesses, eliminating the cost of living adjustment for Social Security, pass the Dodd-Frank bill (which wastes time and money for investment advisors like myself while large investment banks can continue to harm the public), reform health care so private businesses are less inclined to hire, and run up the national debt to record levels.

These federal employees (aka House and Senate) let this happen. This November we can send them back to private sector.

Daniel M. Patti, CFP

84 South Main Street, Building C, Newtown         October 19, 2010