Posted on 03/09/2011 2:59:28 PM PST by Syncro
SIX-FIGURE BUS DRIVERS AND OTHER WORKING-CLASS HEROES
March 9, 2011
Can we stop acting as if people who work for the government are the heroes of working people?
Fine, we understand that Wisconsin public sector employees like the system that pays them an average of $76,500 per year, with splendiferous benefits, and are fighting like wildcats against any proposed reforms to that system.
But it's madness to keep treating people who are promoting their own self-interest as if they are James Meredith walking into the University of Mississippi.
This isn't how we usually view people fighting for their own economic interests.
When Wall Street opposes financial reforms or a tobacco company opposes new cigarette taxes, no one hails them as "working men and women" who "deserve a decent pay and decent retirement." We're not told Wall Street has a "fundamental right" not to be regulated, or tobacco companies promoting their own interests are just trying to "help working people and middle-class people retain a good job in America." People on the other side of the issue aren't said to be "just trying to kick the other guy in the shin and exterminate him."
And yet all that was said by the Democratic governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, on MSNBC's "Hardball" last week, about government workers fighting to preserve their own Alex Rodriguez-like employment contracts.
Yes, we understand that public sector employees got themselves terrific overtime, holiday, pension and health care deals through buying politicians with their votes and campaign money. But now, responsible elected officials in Wisconsin are trying to balance the budget.
MSNBC is covering the fight in Wisconsin as if it's the 9/11 attack -- and the Republicans are al-Qaida. Its entire prime-time schedule is dedicated to portraying self- interested government employees as if they're Marines taking on the Taliban. The network's Ed Schultz bellows that it is "morally wrong" to oppose the demands of government employees.
Yes, and I guess pornographers are noble when they launch a full-scale offensive against obscenity laws.
Public sector workers are pursuing their own narrow financial interests to the detriment of everyone else in their states. That's fine, but can we stop pretending it's virtuous?
Because of the insane union contracts in Wisconsin, one Madison bus driver, John E. Nelson, was able to make $159,000 in 2009 -- about $100,000 of which in overtime pay. Jackie Gleason didn't make that much playing bus driver Ralph Kramden on "The Honeymooners." Seven bus drivers took home more than $100,000 that year.
Read more at AnnCoulter.Com
Does that mean we should pay them [teachers, firemen and cops] $1 million dollars a year? How about $10 million? After all, these are the people who educate our kids, run into burning buildings and take dangerous criminals off our streets!Read the rest at AnnCoulter.Com
Why do public sector employees have absurd overtime rules? Why don't they pay for their own health insurance? Why do they get to retire at age 45 with a guaranteed pension of 65 percent of their last year's pay -- as state police in New Jersey do?Ann continues to jack the unions, you go girl!
Sorry, Ann. I’m too much of a “crank” to be bothered with your essay. Maybe the KKK will.
Today the “Honeymooners” set would be a beach front in the Hamptons.
I just wish I knew to work the system to get one of these jobs.
When doctors, oil company executives, drug company executives, or you name it, try to “promote their own interests” before a state legislature, they are accused of every nasty crime under the sun.
Or are you too busy throwing your pubescencent style digs at people that won't treat you like the pie eyed piper?
Oh, and I like your new uniforms!
My! My! Aren’t you “cranky” today!
Call your buddy Chris, Ann...he’ll fix it for you.
Bus drivers make about $11/hr here. Let’s not get too crazy here Ann..
One cannot compare public and private sector workers.
For those of use working in the private sector, promoting ones own self interest should be applauded.
After all, in a free market, one gets rich and promotes ones own self interest by providing a good or service that someone else wants to buy at an agreeable price. You can only get rich by benefitting those who pay you.
In a free market of voluntary exchanges, one can only get rich by providing a benefit to society.
With unions and especially public employee unions...its completely different. They provide a service that Joe Taxpayer is forced (under threat of imprisonment) to pay for. There is no voluntary exchange.
Private sector workers promote their own economic self interest by serving others’ interests.
Public sector workers promote their own economic self interest at the expense of others’ interests
“Why do they get to retire at age 45 with a guaranteed pension of 65 percent of their last year’s pay — as state police in New Jersey do?”
You can bet that over 90% of the overtime hours are being worked by those about to retire!
Public sector workers promote their own economic self interest at the expense of others’ interests.
Well put and completely accurate.
Ann ping
Looks like "someones" Ox got herself gored..
Liberals could care less about Ann Coulter its the RINOs that despise her..
They cannot help themselves..
Ann Coulter is the leanest meanest RINO exposer of all time..
Because she can easily bleach out their drooling mouth droppings..
You know...... as they try to be cross dressed as conservatives..
Even Here... among the Viking Kitties.. and Pancake Hatters..
395.5
Maximum driving time for passenger-carrying vehicles.
Subject to the exceptions and exemptions in §395.1:
Code of Federal Regulations485
(a) No motor carrier shall permit or require any driver used by it to drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, nor shall any such driver drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle:
(1) More than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty; or
(2) For any period after having been on duty 15 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty.
(b) No motor carrier shall permit or require a driver of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle to drive, nor shall any driver drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver's services, for any period after—
(1) Having been on duty 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or
(2) Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.
[70 FR 50073, Aug. 25, 2005]
Madison’s highest paid city government employee last year wasn’t the mayor. It wasn’t the police chief. It wasn’t even the head of Metro Transit.
It was bus driver John E. Nelson.
Nelson earned $159,258 in 2009, including $109,892 in overtime and other pay.
*********************
They’re among the seven bus drivers who made more than $100,000 last year thanks to a union contract that lets the most senior drivers who have the highest base salaries get first crack at overtime.
And there was a lot of overtime - $1.94 million last year, $467,200 more than the bus system budgeted for and the most ever for the system - as employees exhausted sick leave and took advantage of unpaid leave through the federal Family Medical Leave Act, officials said.
******************************
Concern about bus drivers being among the city’s highest earners isn’t new. The issue surfaced after Metro changed from a Downtown hub to a transfer station system in 1998.
In 1997, before the change, no driver made more than $70,000. But two years later, as Metro struggled to fill vacancies, two drivers topped $100,000 and seven more made more than $70,000.
A high base salary and other benefits for drivers were largely set in the 1970s and 1980s, when the city took over the bus company.
Also, the union contract limits part-timers to 15 percent of the number full-time drivers, and part-timers can only drive morning and afternoon school routes. Those rules create opportunities for overtime and other special pay for full-time workers.
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Running interference for continued socialist transport is a no-no!
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