Posted on 02/26/2011 8:59:36 AM PST by Texas Peartree
In the good old days a person finishing school or military service had two legitimate career paths. First, he could seek employment in the private sector. The pay was good, but there were some sizable downsides. For example, the company you choose could go bankrupt, or simply downsize or innovate your job away. In “employment at will" states they could even fire you for any reason outside of certain illegal ones. For example, in Texas you could not be fired because you are black, but you could be fired for wearing a black shirt to work. Although you had to pay for most of your own health insurance costs and retirement benefits, the pay and opportunities made it worthwhile. Perhaps you noted that this shrinking sector of the economy is less than 10% unionized.
The second path was a different one, and some would say nobler. For people who like giving to society and were willing to accept less pay (think teachers, firemen and police officers) there was the public sector. Historically these jobs included more holidays (for teachers, basically a nine month work-year), less expensive health insurance, highly subsidized retirement accounts and early retirement with lifetime pensions no longer found in the private sector.
Historically, in return for less salary, you also would receive employment for life. Getting fired was almost impossible. As the public sector became 40% unionized, the benefits and even pay overtook the private sector for most workers. Now, you had better benefits and pay, with a lifetime sinecure, only in the public sector.
I have worked at both types of jobs and enjoyed both, but I also understood the trade-offs. Although I found excellent (and awful) workers in both places, I generally found more personal Today, we are becoming more like France. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at corybirenbaum.blogspot.com ...
parasites, and its well past time for America to do a good old doggie butt drag across the carpet to scrape them off.
Why? Need blog hits?
Are you sure that is the SEIU group? It looks like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
On the other hand I watched a private company All America Asphalt repave 2 miles Adams Ave a SIX lane road in Huntington Beach in THREE WEEKS.
Riverside County Transportation Department is incompetent and filled with LAZY WORKERS. Why else would it take FOUR months to repave one Two lane road less than 3/4 miles long.
YouTube Video = Solano (calif) Communist County! - To Tell The Truth!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNvaxsne68
Like the author, I too have worked in both private and public sector. I retired out of public sector and continue in private. I went in, like the author suggested, for public service even though the wages were less, the long term view was better.
Now fast forward 30 years. The dynamics have changed so much that I fear for my country. Public unions have gone from under paid to significantly overpaid. The sense of entitlement is embarrassing. There are more takers than givers to the public trough. We are in an unsustainable economy. Something has to give.
What really concerns me is the vitriole from the left and the takers who just don’t disagree but HATE. This includes public safety.
I was command for 18 of my 30 years. I have personally told officers they are in the wrong profession mainly due to their sense of entitlement. However, they stay and participate very little.
Enough for now.
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