The past year has been fraught with extremism, betrayal, and ufortunately a polarization that has put the American Dream on hold for many citizens. I have been a public sector employee for 26+ years, first in law enforcement and for the past 10 in eduation. As a public service employee during that time, yes these occupations are a service to the community, I was involved with the associations representing the employees I worked with. We gave up pay increases because of the rising cost of insurance, we gave up pay raises because of changes in working conditions, we gave up pay raises in order to maintain positions to do the job that needed to be done in order to provide the needed services for the individuals we worked with. Then came the elections of 2010 and the resulting 'tsunami' of irrational extremism, blame and awakening.
Are our states and national budgets in 'crisis' no, but these are certainly challenging times. Is it appropriate that public sector employees are a part of the solution, yes, and they often have been for many years in the past. Some of us have gone several years without any pay increases in order to maintain jobs and provide the services the community needs. Are there problems with collective bargaining and unions protecting some people who abuse their positions, are incompetent, or are more interested in merely benefiting from protecting their self interest. Absolutely "yes". The system needs some change, or in the parlance of a mechanic a major 'tune-up'. Unfortunately the radical extremists wanted to remove the engine, thus making the system immobile and more ineffective, after all when every employee is now in 'survival' mode, rather than the incompetent or those abusing their position, are they going to be doing their job to the best of their ability. I never expected to get "rich" as a public sector employee. I also never expected the betrayal that has taken place, blaming public sector employees for budgets that are out of control because of the rising costs of healthcare and along with that, the rising costs of retirement benefits for employees. We need politicians, union leaders, public and private sector employers and employees who will take a realistic look at our current situation and work together to solve our problems. Public employees did not cause the crisis, they are doing their part to address the budget issues, but should not have to do this alone. Let's work together to try and solve our problems, not attack, blame, and worst of all betray those who have dedicated themselves to making their communities, states, and nation a better place. If you are a public sector employee who doesn't do your job, doesn't know how to do your job, or are abusing your positions for your own benefit.
GET OUT.
You are making it more difficult for those of us who are continually working, learning, and doing our jobs. A favorite saying of mine is lead, follow, or get out of the way. I never expected to get rich, and in spite of living quite frugally, raising our family with minimal vacations and no extravagence, like new cars, flat screen TV's, and eating out, I didn't expect that because of pay freezes, pay cuts, and increasing health care costs that I may not be able to pay the bills. That is becoming closer to reality. I never expected to retire as a wealthy person, now I am not sure I will be able to retire. I had hoped my children would someday be able to achieve the dream of a a good education, stable employment, and someday a home of their own, that is in question. We need a system that will work to improve everyone and give everyone the opportunity to become the best they can, instead we have politicians more worried about the immediate moment and their status and position. How about working together to provide a society that will care for others instead of "what's in it for me"!