PUBLIC PAYROLL SOARS (wealth transfer gone from citizens to people in Govt)

LA Daily News ^ | 3./22/04 | Troy Anderson

[Not A Snowbird]

While most everyone else has to work, to pay for the millions of government employes who enjoy the day off. We are even paying them to take these days off.

Allow me to step in. I work an alternate schedule, in fact I have this Friday off. I do it by working what's called a 5/4/9. Last week I worked 44 hours, this week I'll work 36. Total for the pay period, 80 hours. Some people work 4/10, four 10-hour days per week. Believe me, you're getting your 40 hours a week out of me and everybody else works an alternate schedule.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You seem to be defending this article and the offensive tax paid benefits and big government salaries. Of course, you are a public/government employee, are you not?

Did you read this article? Do you think this article is a good thing?

Should local, state and the federal government continue to grow by leaps and bounds on the bending backs of the tax payers?

[Not A Snowbird]

I am not defending the article. I'm correcting an error you made in your last post.

Go ahead and rant about government run amok, that's fine with me. But please be factual while you're doing it.

Yes, I am a government employee, and I'm not the slightest bit ashamed of my career choice.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Last week I worked 44 hours, this week I'll work 36.

That's brutal Sandy. Of course in the private sector, Mom and Dad are working 80 plus hours per week so 50 percent of their income can be taken to pay for your salary and benefits.

[Hank Rearden]

Every ass-dragging government parasite I ever met was absolutely convinced the Republic couldn't continue without him cashing his paychecks.

Start firing people until only police, courts and the military are left.

I'm sick to death of Big Stupid Government.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I'm correcting an error you made in your last post.

What error?

[Ronzo]

Your posting reminds me of an e-mail that I sent to John Derbyshire of National Review. He was asking what the middle-class of tomorrow will look like, since so many technical jobs are being off-shored. I sent this as a reply to his column:

THE MIDDLE-CLASS OF TOMORROW will be made up of people working in these broadly defined categories:

1) GOVERNMENT WORKERS - I mean government workers at ALL levels of government, from the local dog catcher to the Pres. A HUGE percentage of our population works directly for some sort of government agency. An even larger percentage of the population is employed indirectly by the government, as contractors, suppliers, and so forth (I learned that growing up in Chicago...)

2) TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS WORKERS - We have not yet reached the day when we can out-source the job of a train locomotive engineer or that of a truck driver. Same thing with pilots and stewardesses. While the transportation industry goes through it's up and downs like everyone else, it's here to stay. Somebody has to unload the new Toyotas at the port of Los Angeles. Also, someone has to make the new Toyotas at the plant in Georgetown, Kentucky...

3) HEALTH CARE - Got to have doctors, nurses and druggists to keep all those government workers healthy....

4) RETAIL & RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT - Government workers need supermarkets and Wal-Marts like the rest of us. These guys make up the low end of the middle class spectrum, but still count.

5) TRADES - Carpenters, electricians, mechanics and plumbers will always have a job. The government workers need homes to live in, office buildings to work in, and stores to shop in. The numbers employed may fluctuate, but they can never be truly outsourced.

6) LAW - Government workers get divorces and buy real estate just like everyone else. Sadly, lawyers will always be with us.

7) EDUCATION - Government workers want to have their children to be properly educated. Some even opt for private schools. But I don't mean by "education" just those who are teachers and administrators, but all those businesses and industries that cater to the education market, like publishers and Dell and that sort of thing.

8) RELIGION - A minute amount of our population makes an earning ministering to other's spiritual needs. People like going to churches, synagogues, temples, and that sort of thing, especially here in the USA. People like being in the same room with their spiritual mentors. Outsourcing is definitely NOT an option for the religious. If anything, we export for more religion (Christianity) than we import, and that trend will continue for the foreseeable future, even though India, South America and China have all surpassed the USA in the total number of Christian missionaries they send out. (Very few people know that the USA has been surpassed by these other countries in this regard)

9) GRAPHIC ARTS INCLUDING ADVERTISING, MARKETING, ETC. It was philosophy professor Peter Kreeft who correctly pointed out that advertising is truly the world's oldest profession. ("Hey Eve, check out this forbidden fruit! It will make you as smart as GOD!") The United States, surprisingly, is unsurpassed in this regard. No way this could ever be outsourced. You've got to be a part of the culture your marketing to. Americans are, by far, some of the most creative people on earth. We rule when it comes to pop-culture, there isn't even a close second. We are just like the Borg, we assimilate everything.

10) FINANCE - People like their EdwardJones and local banks. There will always be a need to have a neighborhood money-changer.

You know, as I look at this list, I realize just how old these professions are! This exact same list is just as true for those living during the time of Christ as it is for us today. Scary thought....

You can read Derbyshire's column, "The Dismal Science" by clicking here.

http://www.nationalreview.com/derbyshire/derbyshire200402110914.asp

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yes, I am a government employee, and I'm not the slightest bit ashamed of my career choice.

Hey, that's great Sandy. Maybe someday we can all be government employee's and get those knock out, killer salaries and benefits. The only problem we will have is figuring out who to take the money from. Let's see.....

[Not A Snowbird]

My point was that we're not getting "free" days off, which you implied. I was clearing up any misconception that we work less than our scheduled 80 hours per pay period.

My managers work much longer hours, without entitlement to overtime. They are called at all hours of the night to deal with various and sundry crises, travel constantly, and definitely earn their keep compared to the salaries pulled down by comparable private sector executives. Not one has a "chauffeur".

However, your mind is made up so I can see there's no having a civil conversation with you on this subject. I can't state a fact without having sarcasm and spite thrown back at me.

Therefore, I shall bid you good night. Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Out.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Every ass-dragging government parasite I ever met was absolutely convinced the Republic couldn't continue without him cashing his paychecks. Start firing people until only police, courts and the military are left.

I'm sick to death of Big Stupid Government.

I agree Hank.

When I posted this, I was just waiting for the usual suspects to show up and attempt minimize this. Two of the forums big Konservatives arrived like clock work. One was clearly upset.

Yes, it seems government is becoming our biggest growing industry, on the bending backs of the tax payers. It'll only get worse, as local, state and federal governments have grown too large, and all encompassing.

[Joe Hadenuf]

However, your mind is made up so I can see there's no having a civil conversation with you on this subject.

Well, er.. I read the article and I know I'm spending about 50 percent of my income to pay for government employe salaries, so I would say I am a pretty good judge of this.

You think I am the only one out here in private sector land that sees this disturbing trend?

[Hank Rearden]

Last week I worked 44 hours, this week I'll work 36.

Wow, a 44-hour week. To me, that would be like going on vacation.

So do the people who pay your salary have to option to not do so? Or does Big Stupid Government put a gun to their head and take their money by force?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I can't state a fact without having sarcasm and spite thrown back at me.

I can't imagine why anyone in the private sector would be upset at having 50 percent of their income, routinely confiscated by the goverment.

[SierraWasp]

What a FANTASTIC POST!!!

The great controversy between the public and private sectors is most assuredly shifting to the public sector socialistic side... ENMASS!!!

It's reaching "critical mass," with government being the largest employer in my county, as well as the fastest growing employer!!!

This has got to be turned back... somehow... If they're afraid to tax more to support it, they just borrow more while pretending to be "fiscally responsible!" It's attrocious!!!

[Joe Hadenuf]

This has got to be turned back... somehow... If they're afraid to tax more to support it, they just borrow more while pretending to be "fiscally responsible!" It's attrocious!!!

There going to have to start getting real creative and sneaky, as many in the private sector just don't have any more to give.

[PRND21]

Sheesh, you are naggy. Tell us Poobah, who approved all this out of control, govenment spending?

BUSH! LOL!!

[Texasforever]

This has got to be turned back... somehow...

Well in California any way but is that a surprise?

[Hostage]

It's a bigger problem than you think. Government union pension funds are very influential in business investing. permitting and social policy. For example, homosexual marriage and domestic partner benefits are forced on corporations by pension executors by welding stakeholder power.

Another scandal is in knowing what happens to government budget surpluses at year end. Often surpluses are rolled over to fill gaps in pension funding or to create 'future fund allocations' based on unforseen fund deficits, i.e. if funds are invested and losses occur.

And these surpluses occur even if overall goverment expenditures cause them to be in the red! This happens because surpluses are often occurring at lower levels where the so-called surplus disappears into other cost categories such as the retirement fund deficits discussed above.

It's a scandal that deserves alot of exposure.

[breakem]

anyone here think ot would be unconstitutional (violation of free political sppech) to prohibit public employee unions from spending money on campaigns for offices with which they negotiate their salaries and benefits.

[Texasforever]

You bet