“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:29-30).

isak55/Shutterstock.com

Two articles from Government Executive are pieces on the budget gameboard that will bring massive yelling, screaming, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This one – “Tens of thousands of federal retirees collect six-figure pensions” – begins “More than 21,000 former federal employees are collecting at least $100,000 annually, according to a new report from USA Today. The six-figure pension earners, who will receive the retirement salary for the rest of their lives, worked in positions throughout the federal government. The most common retirees to receive the high pension are former law enforcement officials and postal workers.”

Assuming you’re not one of the above, how’s that make you feel?

And while many in the government sector have padded their own fortunes, what are they planning for “Sid and Sally Citizen? Especially as Sid and Sally head into the senior years of their lives?

This article – “Are Americans ready for a real debate on the size of government?” – starts out with: “Americans are not ready to debate the size and scope of the federal government, pollsters say, despite the presidential campaign’s sudden detour toward issues such as the future of Medicare, Social Security, and the country’s deficit. ‘The average citizen would rather close down a lot of buildings in D.C. than give up Medicare,’ says Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health. ‘Everyone has a family member in retirement that’s on Medicare or Social Security.’

Bottom line: If you’re not part of the governing scheme, you may be the ox! Prepare for the goring! It’s looking a lot like it did in former Soviet states in the late 1990’s.