Thread: Protesting in Wisconsin....Just the beginning?

I don't pretend to understand even half of the details regarding this whole thing, but I know a lot of people who work for the state (I live in Maine). I haven't seen any of them getting rich off their jobs. They are certainly not starving, but I just don't understand the notion that state workers are these people trying to milk us for all we're worth.

I know many are not suggesting this, but we're going through something similar in Maine, and it just doesn't make sense. Our new governor is saying that state workers are bleeding us, and then gives his 23 year old daughter a 43k job in an entry level position.

I wonder what a lot of the talking heads opinions of the AFTRA union is?

Originally Posted by MaritimeFanatic

I don't pretend to understand even half of the details regarding this whole thing, but I know a lot of people who work for the state (I live in Maine). I haven't seen any of them getting rich off their jobs. They are certainly not starving, but I just don't understand the notion that state workers are these people trying to milk us for all we're worth.

I know many are not suggesting this, but we're going through something similar in Maine, and it just doesn't make sense. Our new governor is saying that state workers are bleeding us, and then gives his 23 year old daughter a 43k job in an entry level position.

+1
The trouble with all of this is the people that should understand
all of this do not. Because they do not they failed to understand
their cash and cash flow positions over time and entered into contracts
that may prove impossible to honor.

This places a lot of "agencies" in the position of finding a bad guy
to lump the blame on. Some are so "blind" to reality they will
hire their daughter when the state should have furlough and
reduced hours.

Consider that the board of education can enter into contracts but
does not have control over their funds beyond the current fiscal
year. Yet they enter into contracts that include pension plans
that reach decades into the future. True some of these contracts
are known to the legislature and governor but not understood.

Governors and Mayors will have to make hard decisions but in some cases
their hands are tied because the law requires various activities.
Most of these required program expenses have no link to or limits
on the income side of the balance sheet.

The legislators need to address this -- too bad so many
are on vacation in neighboring states. Perhaps, just perhaps
they are working remotely and will show up with quality
legislation and sane solutions.

No one will like them but if they buck up and tighten up focusing
on an honest balanced budget program removing or limiting
many entitlement programs and more things will not fully fall
apart.

And it is not just collective bargaining (union) contracts that
need "Force majeure" actions to revisit the terms.