BigBendFishing.Net

I mean no offense. I"ve worked private sector Telecommunications for 8 years(United Telephone aka Sprint, Embarq). I've worked private sector "Union Construction" for 6 years as a heavy equipment operator (Local 925 Tampa). I've worked private sector both Union and Non Union Construction for another 5 or 6. I spent a couple of years working building homes as a carpenter. Went back to school with a wife and 2 kids to get a degree. I've spent the last 18 in State Government. I've never been shot at as much as I have these past 18 for just doing my job. All I'm saying is that just because someone works in State Gov doesn't exclude them from what impacts those in the private sector. big bend gyrene's comments regarding protectionism were very true when I first came to work for the State. It is a long way now from where it use to be. I've seen folks led to the door more than once recently. But what does the public hear... all the cases where upper management folks are dubble dipping and coming back to work at the same job they retired from. Is it happening...you bet! Is there a double standard within State Employment... you'd better believe it. Did upper management receive some merit increases out side of what use to be the standard 2.78% legislated payraise you bet. Did several upper State Management folks receive merit increases during the past 3 years when no across the board pay raises were legislated ... your bet wins again. Sorry for loosing it folks...RHT we're OK. I'm done now!

Sir reel wrote:I mean no offense. I"ve worked private sector Telecommunications for 8 years(United Telephone aka Sprint, Embarq). I've worked private sector "Union Construction" for 6 years as a heavy equipment operator (Local 925 Tampa). I've worked private sector both Union and Non Union Construction for another 5 or 6. I spent a couple of years working building homes as a carpenter. Went back to school with a wife and 2 kids to get a degree. I've spent the last 18 in State Government. I've never been shot at as much as I have these past 18 for just doing my job. All I'm saying is that just because someone works in State Gov doesn't exclude them from what impacts those in the private sector. big bend gyrene's comments regarding protectionism were very true when I first came to work for the State. It is a long way now from where it use to be. I've seen folks led to the door more than once recently. But what does the public hear... all the cases where upper management folks are dubble dipping and coming back to work at the same job they retired from. Is it happening...you bet! Is there a double standard within State Employment... you'd better believe it. Did upper management receive some merit increases out side of what use to be the standard 2.78% legislated payraise you bet. Did several upper State Management folks receive merit increases during the past 3 years when no across the board pay raises were legislated ... your bet wins again. Sorry for loosing it folks...RHT we're OK. I'm done now!

I think you said what I originally said with more words. Don't be so quick to paint with such a wide brush. I don't want to lose 5% of my income at all, but I absolutely would for my job security. However, the state should have been doing belt tightening before it needed to. There are other ways of making up the shortfall. But we know what will happen if they take 5% by using the grouper or red snapper as an example, we will never get it back and pretty soon they will come asking for another 5%.

I go to sleep at night comfortable in the fact that my job is safe. However it is an insult to the many folks who are UNDERPAID for what they do to be asked to give up something, when I see opportunities for cuts elsewhere that have not been examined.

I'm fairly sure that the pay cut idea was throw out as incentive to find more cuts elsewhere.

It hasn't been possible to reduce goverment spending. If they budget $100.00 for a department, then you had better spend that $100.00. Anything left over is taken out of the budget for next year. Kinda like vacation, either use it or lose it. I see it everyday with hospitals, prisons, military installations. The goverment is one of my best customers, no matter what I quote them 90% of the time they buy and the money is always good.
You want to reduce spending, make them accountable for every dime. Get 5 competitive quotes instead of 3. Encourage resourcefulness and good common sense.

The legislator from Lake Wales who is proposing this measure has a real beef with State Govt due to the DEP - Babcock Ranch deal. He had plans on developing the area but now cannot due to conservation restrictions.

Basically, he's got an axe to grind.

Boggob, all due respect poor motive doesn't necessarily mean poor merit. Putting some words in Dolphinatic's mouth, and Tom W. knows me and will correct me if wrong, but I think his original point is outside of the government, folks are hurting, unemployment is skyrocketing across the nation, WHILE the government is spending at unbelievable record levels and talking about government expansion. Think Tom's point is that for the government to be responsible it 1) shouldn't be spending what it doesn't have, and 2) shouldn't belly ache about a minor scratch relative to others being bled to death.

And if you've read some of dolphinatic's earlier posts you know he talked about long term customers of his pulling back the reins on spending, so he's feeling the pain he's describing. And I'll add a personal note too -- my wife and I have spoken to numerous folks in the Obama class warfare range of 250k plus who spoke of the fear Obama has driven and the resulting actions they felt forced to take to protect assets... stopping use of grounds folks, pool cleaners, nannies, reducing vacation trips, even (sadly) cutting back on previous generous contributions to charitable groups. Those of you that doubt trickle down, well... all I can ask is are we not already seeing the results of the Obama "I want to be Robin Hood" change? Layoffs everywhere due to decreased demand and money hoarding (hoarding over what's left after losses of nearly 1/2 US personal wealth). Is this the "change" those of you that voted for Obama wanted? If so, as my USMC DI's used to say, congrat-u-dang-lations (yeah I cleaned it up)... the class warfare is well on its way to making us all the poorer.
BBG

Class warfare = redistribution of wealth! Also, it's not as if we were not warned!

And for anyone wanting to defend the government as lean, how bout swing by my office today for lunch and you can look at the four different forms (with 20 total pages and six notarized sections) we're having to complete just for us to give our female patients a simple One Step pregnancy test (to protect them against adverse drug interactions)... And this is just the freaking two year RENEWAL process

We're under no legal requirement to do this test, and do so just for the safety of our patients. What's our reward for good patient care... so far about 10 hours administrative time sending forms back and forth to the state and a quick snatch of $400 out of our pockets.

And this before the real socialized medicine changes are even hitting...

Wonder how many of us would choose to do business with Dolphinatic if he had us take 10 hours to fill out 20 page/6 notarized section forms? In a nutshell, there's your difference between govt customer service and private small business.

Point 1: They are proposing 5 percent for all FL State Employees except the lower paid ones. There are more lower paid ones that higher paid ones. Five percent for all is the only fair way to do it.... anything else sounds like socialism to me. Five percent for someone earning $25,000 is less than 5 percent for someone earning $60,000, right?

Point 2: I used to be a state employee. I worked my butt off for too little pay, as do many others. The big problem is lack of encouragement. If they would boost the morale for the employees, they'd find that most folks who work for state govt or school districts don't really do it for the big bucks.

That said, I thank God I don't work there anymore!

It's a grand scheme folks....anyone who doesn't believe it is blinded to the truth. All this "bonus outrage" is a diversionary smokescreen!

If you're not already upset this should make your day....
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fannie-pl ... 79491.html

I try to be optimistic but sooner or later these wasted billions are going to add up!

There are 545 people to blame, your elected officials that have allowed this to take place, funny they seem to be immune. The healthcare they recive is top notch few if any forms, the retirement they get is secure & exceeds many peoples annual income and is for life.

Most campaigned against & then voted for and profited from what they are doing right now. It is not the lobbiest special interest groups or whatever they blame it is them.

They do what we cannot pass laws that effect all in the land and now the world as our recession kicks in the people around the globe that made thye stuff we consume are also suffering.

If any of us did as bad a job as they have we would be fired quickly or be out of business overnight. They on the otherhand get more percs benifits and raises.

Why because even though we can't afford them they voted and that makes it so.

Most got a pay raise that exceeds most peoples annual income.

We have been had plain and simple I don't care who you voted for or against you would not have had a much better or worse result.

Most could care less as long as the nest they sit on is feathered well, screw the people that elected us even our family and friends, what can they do? They are just chaff and it is our job get all we can while we grind them into dust.

big bend gyrene wrote:And for anyone wanting to defend the government as lean, how bout swing by my office today for lunch and you can look at the four different forms (with 20 total pages and six notarized sections) we're having to complete just for us to give our female patients a simple One Step pregnancy test (to protect them against adverse drug interactions)... And this is just the freaking two year RENEWAL process

We're under no legal requirement to do this test, and do so just for the safety of our patients. What's our reward for good patient care... so far about 10 hours administrative time sending forms back and forth to the state and a quick snatch of $400 out of our pockets.

And this before the real socialized medicine changes are even hitting...

I feel your pain! This is my 45th year in health care and there are several universal truths...one being, if you ever provide a service for free it will always be free! In government controlled healthcare/socialized medicine the list of provider "freebies" will be extensive beyond imagination and will be one of many requirements for providers to be granted the "opportunity" of participation.

RHTFISH wrote:It's a grand scheme folks....anyone who doesn't believe it is blinded to the truth. All this "bonus outrage" is a diversionary smokescreen!

I think RHTFISH is onto something. I mean millions in AIG bonuses are a drop in the bucket compared to the 100's of BILLIONS. Step back to look at the big picture.

This was interesting video too. It shows Freddie/Fanny discussions of now versus meeting 4 years ago and how people flip-flop. It was a real eye-opener. I'm not trying to get a Democrat versus Republican debate going, because there are bad on boths sides.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMInSfa ... playnext=1