For a while now it seems that the in thing is when discussing the financial mess that state, county, or municipal governments are in the "Soup De Jour" is to blame public employees and their benefits. I have called into some programs, and written emails, never got on the air. It is frustrating and tiring, sometimes you ask yourself why do you bother.
Yesterday as I was driving to work I was listening to Fox and Friends (good ol satellite radio). I was about to change the channel when they began talking about California's problems. I thought that I REALLY don't want to listen because I'll just get worked up again, then I heard the hosts say that they are not criticizing police officers and firefighters, they love them and know what a hard job they have. That was it, they had set the hook and I had to listen, it was the ol I like you BUT!!!!!
In order that my fellow motorists wouldn't start flooding 911 with calls about a NUT driving on the highway or expressway screaming and yelling with no on in the car, or mistake me for a "Road Rage" offender looking for a target, I pulled over finished listening and sent the following email from my cell phone. This was sent to Fox and Friend with a subject line of "What ever happened to Fair and Balanced?"
The pension payments from California are large and most are shocked when they hear about them, HOWEVER, the reports on public employees pay and pensions have been biased and misleading. Here are a few of the reasons for this opinion.
Most government (police) agencies I've dealt with have limits on the amount of Sick and Vacation hours that can be carried over from year to year and paid for when they end their service. Similar restrictions should be placed on management.
Workers in most states (especially the south) do not make as much as those in the industrial states, many make so little that they qualify for food stamps (and other assistance). Applying for assistance is embarrassing to most, can you imagine the humiliation a government employee feels having to apply for assistance in order to care for their family.
Lastly, the coverage regarding pensions is not fair, or balanced. When public pensions were begun they were to serve as a supplement to Social Security, and an incentive to attract new employees. In the mid 1980's Congress past legislation that drastically reduced Social Security benefits for public employees, that's when pension benefits became a priority.
In closing, yes there are excesses, but it is not fair to "lump" all public employees into that category. I didn't become a public employee to become rich, I did it to make my community a better place to raise a family and to help less fortunate. My coworkers had the same motivation.
Sincerely,
James Mann
Miami, Florida
THAT'S MY OPINION, WHAT'S YOURS
About Me
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- James N. Mann
- I retired after completing 38 years as a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. I began my law enforcement career with the City of Miami, where I served for nearly 27 years before serving with a state agency for 11 1/2 years (part of that time as Interim Inspector General). During my career with Miami I worked in uniform patrol, the detective bureau, and the 911 center. I was also a member of the first law enforcement crew to respond to New York City on September 11, 2001. From January 2007 to April 2011 I also served as a commissioner on the state commission that governs the certification of law enforcement, correctional and probation officers in the state. I am a Past President of the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (President 2004-2006); I was an employee representative with Miami FOP Lodge #20 for almost 21 years (6 years serving at the Chief Steward). I have worked on legislative issues at all levels, worked on political screening committees. I’m a past member of the Dade County Republican Executive Committee, and have been an advisor/ law enforcement liaison for a presidential candidate..
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