Inga Barks: It’s not personal, public sector folks
| Friday, Jul 17 2009 03:00 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jul 17 2009 03:00 PM
Dear public and private sector friends,
Apparently some of us aren’t communicating. Somewhere between radio commentary and letters to the editor is a disconnect between what we say and what is heard.
This column is written for those who wonder why some guy on the radio is calling your mailman a “government parasite,” and those of you who read the letters to the editor and wonder why school trustees like Ken Mettler are the Antichrist.
To bridge the gap between the public and private sector, I offer my best attempt at a private/public sector language guide. Following are some common statements we hear and read:
• “The private sector creates the wealth.”
This is NOT an attack on public employees. Simply put, the private sector, namely small businesses, create the majority of the nation’s jobs, thus generating the most tax dollars.
Government makes money from fines, fees and taxes on the public. It’s with those fines, fees and taxes that salaries are paid. Therefore, without sound budgeting, the only way to avoid cuts is to raise fines, fees and taxes on the old lady, the preschool owner, the truck driver and the rich businessman.
• “ I spend my own money on my classroom/uniform/supplies.”
This is NOT a call for higher taxes. It’s a point of fact. It’s also fact that most of us spend money out of pocket for work. Thus the “tax write-off.”
• “We must make painful cuts” does NOT mean “Public employees are bums.”
This statement is fiscal, not personal. California’s politicians have created jobs and programs we can’t afford. A call for cuts has less to do with how wonderful or awful employees are, and everything to do with how much money is in our coffers!
But some unions (and writers of letters to the editor) are like a young child who asks a parent for $10 when there’s only $5.
“Don’t you love me? Aren’t I worth it?”
”Yes,” you say, “but I only have $5.”
“So?” they respond. “I don’t deserve $10? Is that what you’re saying?”
Aargh!
In the end, public employees exchange the opportunity to be a millionaire for the security of tenure, health benefits and pension. In return, they put up with a sometimes ungrateful public, budget cuts and power hungry unions.
Private sector employees risk the possibility of failure in the hopes of success. In return, they have no guaranteed retirement, healthcare or tenure. In fact, they have no promise of a job!
Neither of us is more noble or deserving. We are all cogs in the wheel. But one group is losing jobs at a higher rate, taking pay cuts far more extreme, losing retirement contributions and working 52 weeks a year with no hope of retiring before age 70.
So the private sector will reject more taxes, and the public sector will cut programs we like. Let’s come to terms with this, act like adults and get to work!
Inga Barks, who hosts a talk show on AM 1180 KERN, is one of four conservative community columnists whose work appears here every Saturday. These are the opinions of Barks, not necessarily The Californian's. You can e-mail her at ibarks@bakersfield.com.
Next week: Ric Llewellyn.
