TEACHERS UNIONS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ARE RIPPING OFF THE TAXPAYER. BIG TIME.

THE KUHNS REPORT

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

Teachers in Oakland, California are in their second day of strike, mostly over pay. The union also say it's because of class conditions, but believe me, it is not about the kids. Its about the MONEY. Don't be fooled. It's never enough. You give them a raise and the next year they come back to the trough, wanting even more. I suggest that if the teachers and public employees who are always making outrageous demands for higher pay are unhappy with their salary.--HEY QUIT. Go out in the private sector and get a job. Then they will realize how hard it is to get by when paying for everything with a paycheck from week to week, without guarantees of automatic raises, lucrative pensions and retirement benefits. But in reality, you can bet they won't do that. They don't want to leave the gravy train or the pig trough. They will continue to slop up the free ride on the backs of average John and Jane Doe taxpayer.

The teacher unions across this country are  some of the strongest unions out there. And Oakland's 3000 or more teachers are demanding---believe it or not, a whopping 12 percent raise. WOW!

The union snubbed their nose at, and turned down a proposed 7 percent offered by the district. First of all, who in this world in the private sector can demand a salary increase of 7 percent. It won't happen,---EVER. The person or group would be fired or lad off immediately. An average, regular working stiff  punching the clock and putting in eight , ten or twelve hours a day don't demand or receive raises automatically every year. They are lucky if they get time off for vacation time, and then that is usually not paid for. They do not receive a guaranteed retirement/pension plan to enjoy their golden years.

It appears the privileged few, like all teachers and public employees with their powerful union  contracts demand entitlements of guaranteed wages, paid vacation, bonuses, free healthcare benefits,an over the top retirement and pension plan, and the list goes on. And we, the average working man and woman are stuck with the tab.The states lawmakers continually tax us to subsidize the care and comfort and  excessive salaries  of teachers and public employees, The public employees usually contract and receive  annual salary benefits of 5, 7, 10 percent.

But now Oakland teachers jumped on the bandwagon of the other teacher groups in other states and demand even higher and higher salary demands. They have the gall to demand 12 percent. That's disgusting.

What about all the senior citizens and veterans. The elderly people collecting social security are lucky if they see a increase in benefits every few years.And then when they receive one it is only  a 1.7, 2.1 or 2.7 percent  increase. And then medicare raises their fees and take back the raise the seniors just received.

I say, the senior citizens and veterans who  built this country are being neglected when it comes to cost of living and surviving.

The teachers unions and public employees unions should be ashamed of ripping of the hard working taxpayer. But they have NO shame. They want us  average taxpayer to support them and their families with all the goodies and freebies for their entire lives.

It is a matter of record that many police, and fire department and educator employees are currently receiving annual salaries of $200,000 and over. And, when they decide to retire (early sometimes), they receive a monthly pension for the rest of their lives, even  higher than the $200,000 salary they earned while on the job. AND we, the average John and Jane Doe taxpayer are picking up the tab.

As a side note, many of the teachers and public employee unions pension/retirement agencies are under funded because of the high demands of receiving such large salaries and because  of  the promises by state and federal lawmakers that the  public employees and teachers will receive those high wages and pensions. And people, we eight hour a  day hard workers are on the hook to pay these teachers and public employees. So when the retirement/pension agencies goes BELLY-UP because they do not have enough money in the state or federal coffers to continue to pay these ridiculous salaries and benefits for life --YEP, you guessed it. John And Jane Doe taxpayer has to continue to pay the tab.

My question? When is enough, enough? These elites, the teachers, police, fireman, etc., in public sector jobs who live on a cushy retirement, pension, free or nearly free healthcare for themselves and their family care less who is paying their tab. It has got to stop. Lawmakers, are you listening? Stop pandering to these unions and look out for all of your constituents.  Redo and refine pensions, retirements and salaries regarding teachers and public employees. -  And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.

BRADLEY W. KUHNS, Ph.D., O.M.D.
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com