Your tax dollars at work

I guess this is what passes for belt-tightening in the government.

President Obama is trimming a pay raise for federal workers from 2.4 percent to 2 percent.

That’s right, taxpayers. It goes down all of 0.4 percentage points.

If I were the prez, I'd tell federal workers this:

“Dear bureaucrat: In view of the lingering recession and gloomy prospects for a turnaround any time soon, your pay raise will be reduced … to zero.

“No, that is not a misprint. Instead of 2.4 percent more on your paychecks, you will get 0 percent more.

“You may not want to turn cartwheels down the hall over that news, and I understand that. But many of the people who pay your salary — that would be actual taxpayers in the private sector — are getting by with small raises, no raises, and in some cases, no paychecks because they were laid off.

“So consider yourself fortunate to have a job and keep plugging away. If this non-raise offends you in any way, feel free to turn in your resignation and try your luck in the real world. In fact, I’ll waive the two-week notice and let you leave immediately.

“Have a nice day, and don’t forget to recycle.”