The cities kept putting off raises for emergency workers by promising them retirement benefits, then didn’t actually fund the retirement accounts. Poor planning!
Prior to 2000, most retirement accounts were fully funded and ready to be responsible to retirees up to age 100 according to a book whose title I have forgotten. Then lobbyists convinced politicians to make it legal for pension fund managers to invest in riskier financial ‘opportunities’. It is likely that the elected, advantageously positioned to decide and understand how such legislation would effect their OWN stock portfolios, cheerfully, Republican and Democrat alike, pushed the legislation forward with hopes they would see their own profits rise.In their oath of office, legislators vow to protect the Constitution from all enemies, forward AND domestic. In too many ways, those we send to Washington have become the enemy of those they were meant to serve and protect.Respectfully,C.
Please don’t comment on the things you assume or trust the media to not sway one way or the other.
Retirement, have at it, the retirement of fire fighters ranges from barely enough to buy toothpaste to nearly equaling that of congress.
Striking. In nearly all areas emergency service workers are prohibited by law to strike. There are such things as using “sick days” in order to make a statement when there is a employment conflict, but outright walking away from jobs can mean loosing them. It is often to have firefighters protesting in front of city hall and then putting on their boots when their shift came. Or hiring a professional sign walkers.
Volunteer Firefighters. The fellow who wrote that hasn’t a clue the differences between volunteer and paid. Paid firefighters train constantly and don’t need (in theory) to work outside of the job to live. Volunteer is just that, volunteer. They have to work outside of firefighting to make a living. Because they do this they train only on the most they can in order of need but they have less ability to practice what they learn. They can’t always respond to every call out – they are volunteers after all, family and work comes first. If they have the time to give, some departments pay for extra training, even flying firefighters across country, if it can afford to. The equipment needs the same care and replacement as paid departments. Guess where their funding comes from? Grants, money raising, bonds, and taxes to name a few.
Heroes when they save your house, property, or life, but the true evil empire if they expect to get paid through OMG TAXES! And of course, if they ever try to improve their own safety and work conditions by joining unions, they are of course just the spawn of Godzilla!
Donkey: are you lonely in your cave? How do you hook up on the internet?
I spent roughly four decades around wild land fire, and it was always “D**ned government”, until we saved peoples’ whatever. Then there’s the constant attacks from the right on city, state, and federal employees working in fire, who have the audacity to serve the public, and get paid.
Check back on a few hundreds of the right wing blogger comments on these very pages regarding public employees.
Are any of you watching what’s happening in California? Imagine volunteers only dealing with that. And imagine that without any firefighters. I agree with the cartoon.
jonesb almost 10 years ago
Spiderman wishes he had their retirement benefits. In most places they’re bankrupting their cities along with help from the police.
SKJAM! Premium Member almost 10 years ago
The cities kept putting off raises for emergency workers by promising them retirement benefits, then didn’t actually fund the retirement accounts. Poor planning!
chazandru almost 10 years ago
Prior to 2000, most retirement accounts were fully funded and ready to be responsible to retirees up to age 100 according to a book whose title I have forgotten. Then lobbyists convinced politicians to make it legal for pension fund managers to invest in riskier financial ‘opportunities’. It is likely that the elected, advantageously positioned to decide and understand how such legislation would effect their OWN stock portfolios, cheerfully, Republican and Democrat alike, pushed the legislation forward with hopes they would see their own profits rise.In their oath of office, legislators vow to protect the Constitution from all enemies, forward AND domestic. In too many ways, those we send to Washington have become the enemy of those they were meant to serve and protect.Respectfully,C.
feralglance almost 10 years ago
Great call!
spiritbrook almost 10 years ago
Please don’t comment on the things you assume or trust the media to not sway one way or the other.
Retirement, have at it, the retirement of fire fighters ranges from barely enough to buy toothpaste to nearly equaling that of congress.
Striking. In nearly all areas emergency service workers are prohibited by law to strike. There are such things as using “sick days” in order to make a statement when there is a employment conflict, but outright walking away from jobs can mean loosing them. It is often to have firefighters protesting in front of city hall and then putting on their boots when their shift came. Or hiring a professional sign walkers.
Volunteer Firefighters. The fellow who wrote that hasn’t a clue the differences between volunteer and paid. Paid firefighters train constantly and don’t need (in theory) to work outside of the job to live. Volunteer is just that, volunteer. They have to work outside of firefighting to make a living. Because they do this they train only on the most they can in order of need but they have less ability to practice what they learn. They can’t always respond to every call out – they are volunteers after all, family and work comes first. If they have the time to give, some departments pay for extra training, even flying firefighters across country, if it can afford to. The equipment needs the same care and replacement as paid departments. Guess where their funding comes from? Grants, money raising, bonds, and taxes to name a few.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Heroes when they save your house, property, or life, but the true evil empire if they expect to get paid through OMG TAXES! And of course, if they ever try to improve their own safety and work conditions by joining unions, they are of course just the spawn of Godzilla!
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Donkey: are you lonely in your cave? How do you hook up on the internet?
I spent roughly four decades around wild land fire, and it was always “D**ned government”, until we saved peoples’ whatever. Then there’s the constant attacks from the right on city, state, and federal employees working in fire, who have the audacity to serve the public, and get paid.
Check back on a few hundreds of the right wing blogger comments on these very pages regarding public employees.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
^Yes, the real one.
rhhsch almost 10 years ago
Are any of you watching what’s happening in California? Imagine volunteers only dealing with that. And imagine that without any firefighters. I agree with the cartoon.