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Stand up for taxpayers

Mike Goodwin
Letters |
Tuesday, January 4, 2011

All those working in the private sector who got a snow day off on Dec. 27, raise your hands. Hmm, no hands.

OK, now, let's count hands for the state workers. Let's see ... thousands, maybe?

All those in the private sector who had Jan. 1 off for New Year's Day, raise your hands. A few, perhaps, yet, thousands of state workers had the day off.

That is why the state is in such bad shape. Taxpayers sure pay a lot for people not to work.

Hopefully, the new administration will fix that problem by getting rid of excess civil servants, reduce benefits to match those of the private sector (including retirement, insurance, days off, etc.), and will tell the unions where to go. If anyone doesn't like it, too bad.

Maine needs to follow New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's example and stand up for the taxpayers.

I've worked for the state and the county. The unions hated me because of what I stood for then, which is what I stand for now, and we fought.

When the public servants get more than the taxpayers, something is broken.

Mike Goodwin, Turner

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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

Maine Ken's picture

Holiday

By Maine Ken, unverified — Thu, 01/06/2011 - 10:09

Jan 1 is a recognized National Holiday... so why were so many businesses closed on Friday Dec 31? Mayhaps a bit o research on when folks actually got their paid holiday would be in order...

Gil's picture

Ouch

By Gil, unverified — Thu, 01/06/2011 - 03:07

that really came back to bite you in the patooty didn't it Mike? Not at all the response you were looking for. Over 400 businesses closed for the snow. And New Years Day fell on a Saturday. You should really do some research next time. Or at least look at a calendar. What a maroon.

Mac antSaior's picture
verified

Seems to be lots of

By Douglas Mac antSaior, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 20:29

Seems to be lots of bitterness toward people who worked hard, received an education, and landed a secure job with a state that expects a lot from most of them, forces furlough days, and leaves them at the whim of a government that spreads meager funding too thin.

Lil's picture
verified

I raised my hand

By Mark Wrenn, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 13:19

Pay attention, Mike. Watch the cancellations on channel 6 sometime - there are a lot of private businesses that close for snow days. Oh, and does every private business require their employees to work seven days a week? My calendar says January 1 happened on a Saturday this year. Bet a lot of people get nearly every Saturday off.

Gil's picture

Gotta hand it to Mike

By Gil, unverified — Thu, 01/06/2011 - 03:08

Only time I ever agreed with Lil. Which shows how asinine this letter was.

veritas's picture
verified

BTW - Govt Work often means mandated Holiday Work

By Ronald Riml, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:21

Who do you think scrapped those celebrating drivers off the pavement on Christmas and New Years Eve? Who drove over to tell Mom and Pop their darling little kiddies had an accident (but didn't give them the 'rest of the story' yet). How ''bout those Christmasses 'off Vietnam - using the 'Truce' time to replenish, refuel, and restock with ammunition before the 20 hour work days of warfare started again.... Made a whole $175/mo + $65 combat pay. Yep - got real rich on that. My heart really bleeds for you, Mike in Turner.

Pirate's picture
verified

Hey, V....the parrot's

By Paul St. Jean, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:45

Hey, V....the parrot's curiosity is causing him to molt.
Who do you have to know to get one of those pretty green badges?

veritas's picture
verified

Go through the 'Verification' process

By Ronald Riml, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:05

They've already got your name and email, don't they???

You should have got a notification. And we know you're not hiding.

Pirate's picture
verified

What a relief. Now the parrot

By Paul St. Jean, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 13:30

What a relief. Now the parrot can have his long awaited operation. Something about a third leg...thinks he'll be able to type 50% faster.

Gil's picture

A verified pirate?

By Gil, unverified — Thu, 01/06/2011 - 03:09

He has truly gone over to the dark side. Sigh

veritas's picture
verified

Unions can't 'Hate,' Mike - Co-Workers Do.

By Ronald Riml, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:01

A 'Union' is a completely inanimate object, it has no emotion. Like a rock, a dollar bill, or a glass jar, it can neither love, hate, nor express joy. It is the people who make up that organization who can 'Hate'

"Hate" is a pretty visceral word when compared to 'Dislike.' Why did your Co-Workers hate you?

Publikwerks's picture

Raises hand

By Publikwerks, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 09:41

I got both those days off.
I don't work for the state.

Do I get a prize?

Publikwerks's picture

Wait, what

By Publikwerks, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 13:23

You guys disagree? WITH WHAT? I got those days off. Thats like disagreeing with me saying "The Sun rose today".

Seriously, what was there to disagree with?

Publikwerks's picture

Fine

By Publikwerks, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 16:49

Abortions for all.

Publikwerks's picture

Fine

By Publikwerks, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 16:49

Very well, no abortions for anyone.

Publikwerks's picture

Fine

By Publikwerks, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 16:50

Hmm... Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others.

Publikwerks's picture

Disagree with this

By Publikwerks, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 16:35

Pi = 3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 69399375105820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 1339360726 0249141273 7245870066 0631558817 4881520920 9628292540 9171536436 7892590360 0113305305 4882046652 1384146951 9415116094 3305727036 5759591953 0921861173 8193261179 3105118548 0744623799 6274956735 1885752724 8912279381 8301194912 9833673362 4406566430 8602139494 6395224737 1907021798 6094370277 0539217176 2931767523 8467481846 7669405132 0005681271 4526356082 7785771342 7577896091 7363717872 1468440901 2249534301 4654958537 1050792279 6892589235 4201995611 2129021960 8640344181 5981362977 4771309960 5187072113 4999999837 2978049951 0597317328 1609631859 5024459455 3469083026 4252230825 3344685035 2619311881 7101000313 7838752886 5875332083 8142061717 7669147303 5982534904 2875546873 1159562863 8823537875 9375195778 1857780532 1712268066 1300192787 6611195909 2164201989 3809525720 1065485863 2788659361 5338182796 8230301952 0353018529 6899577362 2599413891 2497217752 8347913151 5574857242 4541506959

Pirate's picture
verified

You could've at least

By Paul St. Jean, verified user — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 10:35

You could've at least totalled it up for us. 0O:-)

CynicalCitizen's picture

While I am not the one who clicked 'disagree' on that,

By CynicalCitizen, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 17:39

you must be aware that you are going to get people upset with controversial claims like that. Pi = 3.2. It must be true because I found it on the internets.

veritas's picture
verified

Isn't it interest how some folks disagree...

By Ronald Riml, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:08

But these bottom-feeders don't have the gonads to spell out why.

Arby's picture
verified

Bottom-Feeder?!

By Bob Boilard, verified user — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 18:20

There are times when I don't agree with someone's comment and I press the "Disagree" button. OK, I admit I don't post a comment stating why I don't agree. There is no rule that I have to explain, but isn't calling me a bottom-feeder going a little too far? After all the concept of using the two options is for you to see how many people agree/disagree with your comment, not to argue with you, call you names, trash you etc. There are times when I would like to do just that but I'd rather keep the peace by staying out of the conversation.

JohnBerry's picture

Only on your terms?

By JohnBerry, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 02:45

The SJ offers readers a few ways ways to express an opinion. Among them is posting a comment, posting a reply to a comment, and clicking on the "Agree" or "Disagree" button. Some choose one way and some choose another. It is interesting that if they do not do it on your terms they are "bottom-feeders" who lack gonads.

CynicalCitizen's picture

The 'disagree' button is largely useless, though.

By CynicalCitizen, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 10:09

Respectfully disagreeing with you, JohnBerry :-).

As a poster already been correctly identified as one lacking gonads, I am not in a position to comment on the biological aspects of the discussion.

However, while posting a comment, posting a reply, or clicking 'Agree' can add to the discussion in varying degrees, clicking 'Disagree' without an explanation does not. If you disagree with a comment, it is not so difficult to type up one or two sentences explaining why you disagree. If another poster has already added a reply disagreeing (with explanation), you can register your disagreement with the original comment by clicking agree on the reply; or you can craft your own reply with different reasons for disagreeing or concurring with the original thought.

Having read comments here for much longer than I have been posting, my strong impression is that if clicking 'Disagree' magically generated a one sentence truthful explanation for that click, most of them would look like the following:

"I clicked 'Disagree' because I don't like JohnBerry and express that by disagreeing any time I see his name."

(Sentence for illustrative purposes only, and does not reflect my actual views.)

Consider a typical Supreme Court 5-4 decision: one justice authors an opinion, and four others agree with it; a second justice authors a dissenting opinion, and the remaining three agree with that. (Of course, there can be more than two opinions authored, but barring a unanimous decision, not fewer than two.) None can simply 'disagree' with the decision—each must either author an opinion or 'agree' with an opinion.

Pirate's picture
verified

You're comparing this place

By Paul St. Jean, verified user — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 10:31

You're comparing this place with the Supreme Court?AARRGHH!!!
Get with it, man. This place is for opinions, some based on fact, some based on common sense, some based on neither. John Berry stated it best. Contribute with words, pro or con, or hit the disagree or agree buttons. Some times some of us just don't feel like debating or arguing with individuals whose opinions and ideas are embedded in cement and won't accept a fact no matter how many times one states it. And, that, my friends, is where the Disagree button comes in handy. Veritas calls it lack of gonads. The Pirate calls it an expression of living in a free society.
We are required by the SJ to hold ourselves accountable for what we post. That does not mean we are subjected to being accountable to the whims and demands of other posters who happen not to agree with our position. That's what the Disagree icon is for.

cranky yankee's picture

Uh, Mike, just because you

By cranky yankee, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 08:20

Uh, Mike, just because you say it, doesn't make it true. I work in the private sector. I got Dec. 27 and Jan. 1 off. That's a part of our non-union, negotiated employment terms. Many businesses, unless they are run by cheap, tightwads, or provide essential services, give employees holidays and extreme weather emergencies off. Further, if your employer does not give you those days off, then you certainly HAVE THE CHOICE to accept employment there under those terms, or seek employment elsewhere. Yes, times are tough which makes it an employers market and they can pretty much dictate to potential hires whatever terms they want. However, employers that are particularly parsimonious when times are tough will find that they have a tough time getting quality employees when times improve.

If you honestly believe that government employees have such cushy jobs, then why don't you go get hire by the government. Please spare me the self-righteous, altruistic nonsense that you're thinking about the taxpayers. I suspect the situation is more one of you trying to get a government job and failing.

tron's picture

As of today, there are 1000

By tron, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 01:22

As of today, there are 1000 fewer state workers than when Governor Baldacci took office. Just throwing that fact out before the chorus of Baldacci bashers chime in.

Pirate's picture
verified

So, Baldacci costs 1000

By Paul St. Jean, verified user — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:42

So, Baldacci costs 1000 people their jobs and he's a hero. But, if LePage does the same thing and cuts 1000 more, he's a heartless rich loving, mean spirited Republican, have I got it right?

cranky yankee's picture

I used to work in one of the

By cranky yankee, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 08:24

I used to work in one of the state agencies that, under the King and Baldacci administrations, was cut in half and is having difficulty meeting its public, legislated obligation, yet funding has been further reduced putting many of the remaining staff on a part-time basis. Since their employment terms also include a non-compete clause ("conflict of interest"), they can't seek similar part-time employment in the same field in order to make ends meet.

ConservaMom's picture

Maybe they can't seek similar

By ConservaMom, unverified — Tue, 01/04/2011 - 09:12

Maybe they can't seek similar part-time employment, but according to your next post, they can either accept the terms of their agreement or they can find another job. Pretty simple wouldn't you say?

cranky yankee's picture

You see a whole lot of jobs

By cranky yankee, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 08:28

You see a whole lot of jobs around here?

cranky yankee's picture

Hit send before I was

By cranky yankee, unverified — Wed, 01/05/2011 - 08:38

Hit send before I was finished.

Yes, they can accept the terms of their employment or leave. However, when I was hired, I was hired to work full-time, duties " as assigend." It's one thing to hire an employee full-time and expect full-time commitment and dedication. It's quite another to change the terms, involuntarily, on the employee and still restrict their ability to make an income. That's the issue. I did see the handwriting on the wall. I left the state and went to work in the private sector, because I had the knowledge, skills, and experience, a proven track record, AND the luck of there being a position available in my field (I work in a VERY small, highly specialized field). The best part is that I have a better retirement plan (took my money OUT of the state plan and ran) and a better salary and benefits package.

Others have posted that it sure does sound like sour grapes on your part that people have gotten a good education or training, worked hard and gotten a good job where they are expected to perform. Again, just because you "say" state workers are lazy doesn't make it a fact. The truth is, many, most, state workers get to the job early, leave late, and workdarned hard while they are there.

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