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The Perseid Meteor Shower, Venus, Mars, and Saturn
Jerry: Why so they predict meteors over 2 mornings (12th, 13th) this year? Isn't it usually just one morning that is the best viewing opportunity? thanks,— August 12, 2010 12:11 p.m.
Permit an insolvent city to subsidize a Charger stadium?
...that stocks in general go up 10% a year. (Those statistics are questionable. Stocks have gone up 0% a year for the last 11 years. .... ======== Don: PLease elaborate on your statement 0% a year for last 11 years. How so? thanks,— August 12, 2010 12:06 p.m.
Philadelphia Finds DROP a Big Drain
Here's more food for thought .... -------- It Takes 25 California Private Sector Jobs to Support One State Employee Job California Legislature ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MARTIN GARRICK, LEADER In Last Five Years Private Sector Loses 1.3 Million Jobs as State Government Adds 38,000 SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick, of Carlsbad, today released a compilation of job statistics titled Real Facts: California Private Sector Job Loss vs. State Employee Job Cost. These statistics reveal that the private sector is losing jobs as state government is growing, even though it takes 25 private sector jobs to fund one state government job. “Legislative Democrats claim their opposition to any serious spending reductions is about saving jobs for Californians, but it’s truly about protecting state employee jobs. Bigger government is funded through higher taxes and costs far more private sector jobs than it creates,” said Assemblyman Garrick. “It takes 25 private sector jobs to support one government job. Yet, over the last five years California has lost 1.3 million private sector jobs while state government has grown by more than 38,000 positions. It’s no mystery that multibillion-dollar budget deficits persist when Democrats refuse to significantly reduce the size of government, while the private sector jobs that fund state government flee California.” View Statistics: Real Facts: California Private Sector Job Loss vs. State Employee Job Cost Real Facts: California Private Sector Job Loss vs. State Employee Job Cost 12.3% - California Unemployment Rate Source: California Employment Development Department 2.24 Million - Californians Currently Listed as Unemployed Source: California Employment Development Department -1,298,700 - Private Sector Jobs Lost in California Since 2005 Source: California Employment Development Department +38,100 - More State Government Jobs Added Since 2005 Source: California Employment Development Department $55,000 - Average California Private Sector Job Salary Source: California Employment Development Department $3,600 - Average State Taxes Paid by Each Private Sector Employee Source: Franchise Tax Board / Board of Equalization $90,000 - Average Cost to Taxpayers to Pay Salary and Benefits for Each California Government Job Source: California Department of Finance 25 - Private Sector Jobs it Takes to Support One Government Job Source: Franchise Tax Board / Board of Equalization— August 6, 2010 8:46 a.m.
Philadelphia Finds DROP a Big Drain
JW: You haven't answered my salary structure proposal over on the other thread— August 6, 2010 8:45 a.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
JW: Come on, I answered your question, what are your thoughts on the salary structure???— August 6, 2010 8:41 a.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
Hey JW: Sorry, got busy with other things .... As for your salary: Starting salary 33,000 - pretty good for a 21 year old. 3 % increases every year. So a 10 yr veteran, at 30 years old, makes roughly 43000 So a 20 yr veteran, at 40 years old, makes nearly 58000 So a 30 yr veteran, at 50 years old, makes nearly 78000 So a 40 yr veteran, at 60 years old, makes about 104500 So a 45 yr veteran, at 65 years old, makes over 121000 I'd prefer for you to have NO pensions and have to contribute to a 401k and Social Security. But since you (didn't) ask, I believe pensions should be capped at 40%. Therefore, a 20 yr veteran gets over 23100 per year a 30 yr veteran gets over 31100 per year a 40 yr veteran gets over 41800 per year a 45 yr veteran gets over 48400 per year— August 4, 2010 3:26 p.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
JW says: You seem to be complaining about your poor career planing choices. ---------------------------- JW - To each, his own. Whereas I have not had to put up with drunks and death, I do put up with radiation, microwaves, electric shock, extreme temps, heights, dirt, etc., even other engineers (you'd know only if you worked with them). In your response, YOU seem to be complaining about YOUR career choice. I was complaining about YOUR compensation - and area that you (for the most part) failed to address in your response to me. I see you stayed away from any response about pension or retirement. Do you really believe because of the scenarios you describe, you should get to retire earlier, at 90% of your working pay?— August 3, 2010 2:33 p.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
JW: Forgot one other thing: I pay roughly $250 per month for medical and dental insurance, and still have to pay a 500 deductible and then most major procedures are only covered at 80%. What's your medical/dental like?— August 3, 2010 1:10 p.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
Hey JW: You're clueless on how it is here in the real world. Let's do some comparisons ... My backgrd: BS degree in Engr. Make barely north of 6 figures. Work for a commercial company. I'm 47 and been working nearly 25 years now. ------ JW says: For example, for new employees since July 2005 there are NO retiree medical benefits. Me: Me either. Never had the chance, never will. ------------- JW says: New employees cannot access the DROP program even though the City has yet .... Me: Me either. Never had the chance, never will. ---------------- JW says: New Police Officers cannot access the so-called 3@50 retirement system. They've been returned to the 1995 levels of 3%@55. Well not exactly the 1995 levels. You see in 1995 the rate was up to 2.99%@55 BUT with no cap. In other words, if you chose to work longer, past 55 you could earn more than 100% of your salary. New employees today are capped at 90% with no access to DROP. Me: I hope to retire at 55 also. However, I will NOT be receiving 90000 per year. ------------------ JW says: New Police Officers earn six percent less in wages, PLUS all retirement pickups have been eliminated. Me: six percent less wages than who?? I suppose if Iworked for QCOM, I too could make 6% more. ---------------------- JW says: Some officers pay as much as 13% of their salary into the retirement system. Me: Hmmn. I put the max allowed into my 401k (~17% of my salary). However, i WONT have the luxury of a pension. ------------------------- JW says: And the latest, as of July 10, 2010, safety employees, the ones who risks their lives on a daily basis, now pay a substantially equal portion of the cost of disability retirements. This means up to an additional two percent reduction in pay for some. ME: I too pay extra so I can have a better disability package than what the state provides. ------------------------------ JW says: Don you really want 60 year safety employees? Me: Yes. Put them to work as supervisors; washing the fire trucks; manning drunk driving checkpoints, etc. ------------------------------- JW says: What about working from 10 at night to 6 in the morning. I can tell you it wears on you. Me: So does 50-60 hour work weeks; every week; the typical life for a start up company ----------------------------------- THis doesn't even touch on the fact that I was 23 when I started working and contributing to my 401k. You got a 5 year jump on me by going right to the academy. So, I'll say it again, You don't know how good you have it.— August 3, 2010 1:08 p.m.
This Crisis Is New? The City Confessed Six Years Ago
The people of San Diego are too dumb! This issue will be spun, and the dumb people will vote for a tax increase, guaranteed. Mark my words .... I can always hope that I'm wrong— August 2, 2010 3:24 p.m.