Compassion?

Republicans in the United States Congress claim that they want to reduce the federal deficit.

They applaud President Barrack Obama's proposal to freeze the wages of federal employees for two years. This would save about six billion dollars over the two years. "Long overdue," is the way some of them describe the proposal.

This proposal, if it were to be adopted by the Congress, would freeze the wages of every federal employee, even those making the lowest wages - clerks and secretaries and maintenance people.

At the same time, the Republicans in Congress are determined to give a tax cut to everyone making $250,000 a year or more. I can't be sure, but I'm willing to bet few, if any, federal employees make $250,000 a year from their federal salaries. Frankly, few employees of anyone make that much.

This proposal, if it were to be adopted by the Congress, would increase the federal deficit by about 700 billion dollars over ten years.

So, Republicans, who claim to be concerned about the federal deficit, are willing to hurt the lowest paid federal employees to save six billion, but they're willing to add 700 billion to the deficit to help the richest Americans.

Go figure.