Why are government benefits a sacred cow?

In February of 2007, Dennis Cauchon of USA Today reported on the huge gap in benefits available to government workers vs the rest of us, yet amidst the flurry of we've all got to deal with the health services crisis, surprisingly little is said about government benefits. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-02-20-pensions-cover_x.htm
The trend that it is more profitable and more secure to work for government than the private sector is not new and as the chart in the margin indicates, the disparity in favor of governmental work over the private sector has increased significantly during our "Republican" leadership.

So a few questions...why should people believe a Republican telling them to tighten their belts, to take one on the chin regarding their own health benefits, to volunteer, to let the free market economy work while Republicans protect their own jobs, benefits and give themselves increases in the same off taxpayer backs?

And we're not talking about the veterans here, we're talking about CIVILIAN employees.

It is ridiculous to expect change from those who are "winning" under current formulas. Government employees are "winning" in the wage game and in the benefits game. Until we suspend those winnings and force them to live with the rest of us in the real world, there will be no change.

I believe Obama will win. I also believe that he will not act decisively and immediately regarding health care and I finally believe that this is a mistake. While he may not be able to "implement" immediately, he can lead by example and tackle the cash cow that is government employment and benefits. During the third debate, the health care priority was dropped in his speech below energy. This will be a mistake for citizens who watch the widening gape between the increase in benefits for government workers and their own on the chart to your left.