Mayor Dana Redd: A Courageous Lawmaker

THE DOCTOR IS IN _______________

LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how is the wold treating you?

Kudos to Mayor Dana Redd, of Camden, New Jersey for firing the public employees. Also my hat's off to Superior Court Judge Frances Orlando for not forcing the city to rehire police officers.

Public employees across this nation feel that they are an entitled bunch. That's hogwash. Now with these police and fire persons in Camden off the job they will get a small inkling what's it like to be without a job. The news media showed these police and fire people lining up their shoes on the street and crying. Well, boo hoo!

When people in the private sector lose their job they don't line up their shoes in the street. They may cry but they have to suck it up and begin hitting the pavement to find a new job.

I hope that Mayor Redd sticks to her guns. She did the right thing. At present public employees and their unions are forcing many city, county and states to be on the brink of bankruptcy with their outlandish demands. Many of these public employees are making over $200,000 a year in wages and then they have annual guaranteed cost of living increases, automatic step increases and have very lucrative pension, retirement and health care for themselves and their family members for life. Folks, people working in the private sector doesn't even come close to enjoying even one small sliver of what these public employees write into their union contracts.

The worst thing that ever happened to America is when public employees were allowed to unionize and bargain. It got completely out of hand and the union demands get more demanding each and every year.

I suggest that public employees be paid and have the same retirement plans that private sector employees have to look forward to. Basically a reasonable salary (without guaranteed step increases, guaranteed annual cost of living increases, bonuses, guaranteed sick time, and guaranteed free or near free health benefits for them and their families for life.)

It could breakdown like this:
1. Public employee is paid a fair and reasonable annual salary.
2. Public employee receives one or two weeks annual vacation time. If on the job after ten years an addition week with a maximum three weeks annually.
3. Public employee receives a few days a year sick time.
4. Public employee pays part of their health care.
5. Public employees retirement and pension plan is a 401(k) and social security benefits.

All of the above is what a person working in the private sector has to look forward too and it should be no different for anyone working as a public employee.

I submit that if all public employees had to depend on the same salary ranges and retirement benefits as most all of those who work in the private sector the states and country would be better off. People, the inequity and parity in salary and benefits between the public employee and the private sector employee is obscene.

The lawmakers across this nation have to step up to the plate like Mayor Redd and say "no" to these public employee unions. They have to quit pandering for votes from these unions. Giving these unions what they want each and every contract year is unwarranted. The cities and state could fire these public employees if they refuse to work for what the city wants to pay them and each city or state government could start over again by hiring new employees.

I predict that if the cities counties and state governments went bankrupt, fired all the current public employees and started from square one negotiating with reasonable salaries and benefits as I described earlier there would be thousands of applicants standing in line wanting the job. There would be no shortage of applicants. For example, currently when a police department or fire department advertises open positions there are hundreds of applicants for just only one position.

So lawmakers, say "no" to the current public employees. If they don't' like the city, county or state employment terms that are offered let them quit and try to find a job in the private sector. I would put money on it that not one public employee would quit his or her job. They know what a gravy train they have been riding for decades.

The lawmakers have to immediately begin to pass legislation and curb all of these over the top pension and retirement and health benefits that the private sector worker is on the hook for. The private sector worker and taxpayer is paying for the public employee and his/her families well financed retirement and lifetime health care while struggling to pay for their own health care and mortgage. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.

Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com