Really Dumb or Uneducated? Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

The Congressional Budget Office just released new data comparing the compensation received by Federal government employees to that received in the private sector. Once gain it shows that the Federal employees receive much higher compensation. What is particularly glaring is the fact that the premium varies inversely with educational level. That is, if you're not smart enough to have attended college or even graduate from high school, the government will pay you a huge premium to your market value. If you did graduate from college or -- heaven forbid -- got an advanced degree, the government is less interested in incenting you to work there.

Maybe the stereotype that government workers are dolts is grounded in fact?

Government vs. Private Sector Time Off

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics here are the hours absent from work (for health or personal leave reasons) as a percent of the hours usually worked.

Private Sector               1.4
Federal Government      2.0
State Government          2.2
Local Government         2.0

Clearly this indicates that if you work for government you are about 50% more likely to be sick. Unless someone can think of another reason for this disparity?