There's one thing they can cut right now.

 

How many people in the private sector get their health insurance paid for them after they retire?

 

Contrast that to how many people in the private sector work for a lot higher salary than what government employees are working for?

There's one thing they can cut right now.

 

How many people in the private sector get their health insurance paid for them after they retire?

 

I am fine with that, if we start paying them what they would earn doing the same job in the private sector.

 

My wife is an attorney for the state, has been for the last 8 years. She is JUST NOW making what she did when she left private practice. Take away the few benefits that state workers get, then you have less qualified people doing the work because the most qualified people could not afford to work for state government.

 

Why do you think we struggle getting math and science teachers in schools. Because they can make a WHOLE LOT more money in the private sector.

There's one thing they can cut right now.

 

How many people in the private sector get their health insurance paid for them after they retire?

 

I think that we need to honor the deal we made with state employees when we hired them. It may be necessary to modify the deal for new hires. The new hires can then decide whether to take the job. I for one think that teachers are underpaid. I think we should pay teachers the kind of salary that will attract the best and brightest.

I think that we need to honor the deal we made with state employees when we hired them. It may be necessary to modify the deal for new hires. The new hires can then decide whether to take the job. I for one think that teachers are underpaid. I think we should pay teachers the kind of salary that will attract the best and brightest.

 

Amen! Kentucky is losing plenty of good teachers in neighboring states b/c of pay. Kids from neighboring states come to KY for a cheap college education (I did) but many don't stay.

I think that we need to honor the deal we made with state employees when we hired them. It may be necessary to modify the deal for new hires. The new hires can then decide whether to take the job. I for one think that teachers are underpaid. I think we should pay teachers the kind of salary that will attract the best and brightest.

 

I would agree with you to the extent that current retirees that are on this benefit should be allowed to continue but not current employees or new hires.

 

Private companies can and do change benefit packages all the time. When it happens you have two options, accept the change or get a new job. Why should state workers be any different?

I would agree with you to the extent that current retirees that are on this benefit should be allowed to continue but not current employees or new hires.

 

Private companies can and do change benefit packages all the time. When it happens you have two options, accept the change or get a new job. Why should state workers be any different?

 

Because they are public servants and don't get paid as much as their equivalents in the private sector.

 

David Williams even said after the governors speech tonight that if they are going to change benefits that they will have to change the salaries of the new hirees.

Can our government do more with less? Companies all around the state are consolidating, cutting staff, and people have to do more. Why can't we expect that we trim the fat in government as well? Why not have workers that work on MLK day? How much lost productivity is there in all the extra holidays given to state workers?

Can our government do more with less? Companies all around the state are consolidating, cutting staff, and people have to do more. Why can't we expect that we trim the fat in government as well? Why not have workers that work on MLK day? How much lost productivity is there in all the extra holidays given to state workers?

Not politically correct to work on that day. School systems are mandated to take that day off.

Can our government do more with less? Companies all around the state are consolidating, cutting staff, and people have to do more. Why can't we expect that we trim the fat in government as well? Why not have workers that work on MLK day? How much lost productivity is there in all the extra holidays given to state workers?

Excellent point. I get six paid holidays a year. If people want to take MLK day off, let them burn vacation days until the Governor finds another way of balancing the budget without tax increases.

Our principal informed us at a staff meeting that the Governor had emailed all administrators in the state to see where we could cut education dollars. I am including my reply.

 

 

January 17, 2008.

 

 

 

Office of the Governor

Governor Steve Beshear

Frankfort, Kentucky

 

 

Dear Governor Beshear:

I am a teacher in a small independent school district in Corbin, Kentucky. Today, our administrator informed us that you had written him and other administrators across the state in order to enlist their help in deciding what cuts should be made in our obviously bulging education budget to aid in weathering this financial crisis the state is now going through.

First of all I want you to know how much I appreciate the forethought that you have given to this immense task, not many people would realize that education funds are over rated and we have way too much surplus to really be of much benefit. They would not have understood that, of course, education monies must be the first to go.

I trust that you won’t think it presumptuous of me but I have come up with some ideas that are sure to get this state running in the black in record time. I am hoping you will take the time to consider these and perhaps judge them worthy of including them in your plans to returning our state to the forefront.

My first idea is to create lottery learning centers in the primary and elementary classrooms. In this way, students from Kindergarten through fifth grade will be provided with an opportunity to learn real-life skills to make them productive citizens of our fine state. They will learn the art of “scratching off”, “power ball”, “pick three”, etc. and will begin to enjoy the thrill of sinning (pardon me---I mean winning) and being successful. This alone will foster a strong self esteem.

We will also create parent information packs for the children to give to their caregivers giving them instructions on how to play the lottery and to teach them that by buying more chances they will stand a better chance of being a winner. We will be sure to target the lower-socio-economic ---- free and reduced lunch group----- because we know that they will have the most to gain from this educational breakthrough.

Next, as the children travel through our education system they will “graduate” to the more elite forms of gaming. In the middle school students will be taught how to place bets and the teachers will present mathematical lessons on how to play the odds.

Finally, when they reach the high school level they will find that the commons area has been transformed into a casino layout. The curriculum will include classes such as “How to be the best bookie you can be” and “The slot machines are my friends.” No longer will tons of PD dollars have to be spent on irrelevant topics such as reading, writing, science, etc. These dollars can now be used to give our great representatives a much needed pay raise since they have worked so hard in making our state the best that it can be.

I can see this as a real boon for the national economy as well---you are truly the Savior. I am very proud to be a Kentuckian and call this my home. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have as our leader.

In conclusion, if you need to contact me at any time please feel free to do so. Keep in mind that on Sunday and Tuesdays I play Bingo at the local parlor

. . . I never take calls during this time. Hope your next four years bid you well.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

A progressive teacher

and concerned citizen of Kentucky

 

 

 

Very nice Hounds. My response was on the same mindset but not nearly as creative and entertaining.

 

I commented that it was convenient that education needed to be cut giving him a great PR tool in promoting gambling.

 

I made the point that we deal with thousands upon thousands of students everyday in which their parents are not providing them with what they need to be a success. Breakfast, supper, clean (nonsmelling) clothes, paper, pencils rather those parents spend money on their cigarettes, alcohol and lottery tickets. And now he wants to give them another option rather than to provide for their children.

 

I pointed out that I felt that government should be about setting up programs that will improve the life of it's citizens rather than be in the business of setting up programs (casino gambling) that will make it easier for them to ruin their lives.

 

Help us be a solution to the problems rather than offering more avenues to be a problem and don't fight for casino gambling.

Excellent point. I get six paid holidays a year. If people want to take MLK day off, let them burn vacation days until the Governor finds another way of balancing the budget without tax increases.

 

Do you work for the government?

Because they are public servants and don't get paid as much as their equivalents in the private sector.

 

David Williams even said after the governors speech tonight that if they are going to change benefits that they will have to change the salaries of the new hirees.

 

Public servant sounds all good and well, but I wonder how many government employees would continue being "public servants" if their benefits were to drop or salaries were to decrease? The nobility associated with serving the public might be a little tested in that scenario?

Do you work for the government?

Do you think that I would only have six paid holidays if I worked for the government? :lol:

Public servant sounds all good and well, but I wonder how many government employees would continue being "public servants" if their benefits were to drop or salaries were to decrease? The nobility associated with serving the public might be a little tested in that scenario?

 

Again, you have lost sight of the fact that government employees don't make the same as people do in the private sector. So the government looks for ways to give them benefits so they are not having to fork out the big bucks. If you think it is so awesome, why aren't you folks applying for a state job. The governor has put the application on the website, fill it out and start raking in all those big bucks . . . I would guarantee if you were to work at your same level in state government that you would take a pay cut.