Class Warfare

[dolphinatic]

Are there any other non-state or non-government employees getting tired of this???? Obama got elected on this farce, claiming 95% of Americans would not get a tax increase...just the 5% of them wealthy people. Then Biden claimed that it was time for the wealthy in America to get "patriotic" by paying more in taxes. Now, I see where it has come out in our local area with the state employees fussing about a possible 5% cut in pay. Of course, who gets the blame....Jeb and them damn Republicans First of all, neither the state or the government generates one friggin penny of revenue. When an entity suffers "income reduction" (reduction in taxes) and continues to overspend with no means of producing $$$$ (profit), guess what, pay gets cut. What's worse, 5% pay cut or total job elimination???? Trust me, as a former state employee, they don't have it that bad. Come in late, go home early, 15 minute break in the morning, 1 hour for lunch, 15 minute break in the afternoon, popcorn breaks, maybe a little exercise by walking around the building, and internet access on the job, etc..... I was behind 2 ladies in Walmart recently and they were "conversating" with each other. The one made a comment that she just got a job with the state. Her friend replied," Oh girl, you set!" I chose not to work with that attitude years ago, and moved on to private business that could thrive with the idea of capitalism. Don't get me wrong, I know more than few state employees that work hard and do their jobs well. I just didn't see any of them complaining at the capital yesterday. If you have time to take off and complain (assuming that they did), then dont complain about losing 5% compared to all the other benefits that come with the job. Or, do it on Saturday. Politicians using this mindset for their own political gain just sucks!!! It's not good for America......

[Tom Keels]

Watch how you paint with that broad of a brush. I agree there is some wasteful spending in state govt. (and in non state jobs as well), but there are lots of very hardworking people that have and still do work for the state including about 60% of my family. And if you think govt doesn't generate income, then please don't tell the guy who signs my paycheck that.

[RHTFISH]

5% pay cut vs job elimination (reduction of force) is not even a choice in this day and time! State employees need to understand they can really be left out in the cold with no recourse if their jobs are eliminated via reduction of force....At least that's the case in Georgia.

[Reel Cowboy]

A fairly large company I do business with just announced they were cutting pay by 10% or could fire 5% of the work force. They had a vote and everybody still has a job.
From the standpoint of choose door A (5% cut in pay) or door B (100% cut in pay), I would take the 5 anyday to still have a chance of coming out of this.
I'm sure there are some fine goverment employees but I can't say that I've ever seen one in the offices I've been in.

[Tom Keels]

If this goes through I'd say 25% of the businesses in Tally will be closed within the year.

[Sir reel]

but I can't say that I've ever seen one in the offices I've been in.

I can squeeze you in around 4:30 this afternoon if you'd like to drop by!

[Reel Cowboy]

but I can't say that I've ever seen one in the offices I've been in.

I can squeeze you in around 4:30 this afternoon if you'd like to drop by!

It depends on where your office is. There are certain goverment forces that are aware of my current location as I'm attempting to go "off the grid".

[big bend gyrene]

Want to be real careful adding my .02 because I agree there ARE some dedicated, patriotic, hard working government workers... but... I also agree with the comment on bad experiences being somewhat expected when it comes to dealing with many government agencies, and a mentality of entitlement/protectionism existing in government, as well as a tendency to always push to spend every cent budgeted versus attempts to run lean and give savings back to taxpayers. And I'm not just basing observations on dealings with one agency, I'm talking about past experiences working with government auditors, City of Tallahassee utilities, Agency for Health Care Administration, US Postal Service, etc, etc, etc... each visit/dealing I have had with these agencies feels like a crap-shoot... might sit in front of an efficient worker and be out the door in minutes, but as often as not end up in front of multiple folks giving differing answers who act as if they have all the time in the world, that you're an interruption to their day, and that they have you by the balz and if you complain they'll turn your day into even more of a hellish experience.

Now on the flip side, take a small private business such as Dolphinatic's, and let him be nasty to his customers and he'll go out of business in under a month flat. I have worked for a number of small businesses who fired receptionists that were really pretty good but a single customer would have an issue with, and to keep the customer happy would do the customer's bidding.

And Tom, you mentioned not telling the person that pays you your check... I think Dolphinatic's point is that the "person" is all of us taxpayers, and if the government is to be responsible with our money it shall not spend more than it takes in and it's only right to have the amounts match, and optimally government seek to be lean so taxpayers can pay less taxes -- granted my philosophy on financial responsibility sure appears to be far different than Obama's, and even George Bush's for that matter. Jeb on the other hand really showed the most effort to have accountability to the taxpayers, in my humble opinion.

And all this brings me back to Tom's title "Class Warfare". You mention Tom that 25% of Tallahassee businesses will go under... well, visit other parts of the state and country less government based and you'll find they're experiencing far worse pain than Tallahassee. On what grounds do you believe we're above paying our pain too, and as a small business owner I don't say this lightly. I'm very appreciative of Tallahassee's stable economy but I'm on my knees every night saying thanks with no sense of entitlement and will be happy if the worse that happens to my business in the end is a 5% drop. Got way too many good friends in manufacturing across the country calling me with tales of unemployment woes to make me feel any different.
Respectfully,
BBG

[Charles]

Those of us who have no class have nothing to worry about.

[dolphinatic]

If this goes through I'd say 25% of the businesses in Tally will be closed within the year.

No worries.....Crist has sent his request in to Obama to hurry up and put that check in the mail We'll be fine

[wevans]

Those of us who have no class have nothing to worry about.

[RHTFISH]

I'd gladly swap a 5% pay reduction in exchange for my 43% loss of 401K funds in the past year!

[Sir reel]

Some of us are look'n at both

[RHTFISH]

Some of us are look'n at both

Now that hurts Mr. Bud!

[Flint River Pirate]

Those of us who have no class have nothing to worry about.

Good point Charles!