Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Public Employees — Ever More Untouchable: California's Public Workers are a Privileged Caste
The American Spectator ^ | 03/30/2017 | Steven Greenhut

Posted on 03/30/2017 8:02:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

One of the most obnoxious trends in the nation, and one that is particularly acute in California, is the continued push to enshrine public employees as a special, privileged caste of Americans, exempt from the rules and obligations that apply to the rest of us.

As I documented in my 2009 book, Plunder!, public employees often now receive the kind of pay, benefits, and protections more fitting for France, where civil service is the highest calling. In the United States, we traditionally valued entrepreneurship and freedom above pencil-pushing and bureaucracy. But times have changed.

In California, a raft of public-employee groups can retire at age 50 with nearly — and sometimes beyond — their final pay. They are basically immune from firing and often from prosecution, even for the most horrific behavior. Their unions rule our state Capitol with an iron fist. It’s no wonder the total average firefighter compensation here tops $175,000 a year — and public employees in California earn double their private-sector counterparts.

Try going to most City Halls on, say, a Friday afternoon to get a permit for some project you’re building with your own funds. Forget about it. It’s likely closed, given that the convenience and comfort of public-sector workers is more important than the convenience of the people they are supposed to serve. Do they work for us, or do we work for them? You know the answer.

We really aren’t in it together, despite the blather from public-employee unions. As liabilities for pensions and retiree medical-care soar — topping $1 trillion in California alone, according to some pretty reasonable estimates — the average working person will need to work longer to pay the tab, given these benefits are backed by the taxpayers.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; pension; publicemployee; seiu; unions

1 posted on 03/30/2017 8:02:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

In the late 80s I worked for thw State of California. We had a computer operator who showed up drunk every shift. After literally years of “escalated discipline” we fired him.

AFTER we fired him, the ADA passed. In 91 or so, the operator sued us for wrongful termination since the ADA classified alcoholism as a disease. Even though the ADA did not exist when we fired him - HE WON THE CASE ANYWAY.

We had to hire him back and pay 2 years back pay. We put him in a do-nothing position and put the legal pieces in place ot make sure he was in a program and all that.

But think about what alcoholic does with 2 years back pay. Inside a month he showed up for work drunk and that was it — for good. Probably dead by now.

Many of my friends from there are now retired in their mid- to late 50s (very difficult to get that 50 YO retirement — it has to be your only job from HS on). I could have stayed and could probably retire now if I had stayed there but I would have to put a bullet in my head at some point which puts a crimp in the retirement plan.

State Government work is definitely for people who don’t give a damn about anything. If you care about what you do, you will go nuts.


2 posted on 03/30/2017 8:15:11 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Not tired of winning yet!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

If anyone thinks this can go on forever they are under the wrong impression, as the time for change is much closer at hand than a lot of people realize.


3 posted on 03/30/2017 8:19:19 AM PDT by saintgermaine (The Time Traveler)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

You can report this all you want to. Not one of you is going to do a thing about it. Just get used to it and be quiet.


4 posted on 03/30/2017 8:22:44 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: saintgermaine
If anyone thinks this can go on forever they are under the wrong impression, as the time for change is much closer at hand than a lot of people realize.

I have been waiting for well going on 40 years now, and it only gets worse. Empty words. I simply do not believe anything is going to get much better.

5 posted on 03/30/2017 8:24:34 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
It’s no wonder the total average firefighter compensation here tops $175,000 a year — and public employees in California earn double their private-sector counterparts.

Not too many years ago, there were people right here defending this level of government corruption.

6 posted on 03/30/2017 8:31:09 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I wonder if it is legally possible to copy write your own name, that way I could get a royalty each time my name is sold.


7 posted on 03/30/2017 9:50:39 AM PDT by dearolddad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

“Just get used to it and be quiet.”

And watch...First the pensions get cut, then the leeches find out the so called Pension Guaranty Corporation is bankrupt.

The checks become IOUs issued by the State of Kalifornicate, and then the grocer says—Take that piece of paper and shove it!

Call in the National Guard to stop the rioting? They’ll be part of it—at least in Kalifornicate...


8 posted on 03/30/2017 9:58:38 AM PDT by litehaus (A memory toooo long.............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson