Comments on: Thanksgiving is even more important during tough times…

By: capper

capper — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:37:09 +0000

That’s OK. I got a hard head from working under Walker’s regime for eight long years.

By: Zach W

Zach W — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:00:12 +0000

You’re just hitting your head against a wall here, capper.

By: capper

capper — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:25:55 +0000

The security guards they use at the federal building are armed, and much more expensive than the ones the county currently hires. Furthermore, the security was at the mental health complex was privatized and has cost more than $1 million dollars in the last two years than if it was kept in the public sector.

Correction officers were privatized and that failed miserably. Most states steer clear of that nonsense now.

As for the paramedics, all paramedics are public. Ambulances have been privatized, but cost a heckuva lot more.

You also forget about the other costs. If the food service sucks, you can fire them, but you also have to deal with the lawsuits of patients being given the wrong diet, etc., not to mention the people getting hurt when they go off because the food service tried to serve green bologna. (Saw that myself when I worked at HOC.)

By: JeffN

JeffN — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:18:44 +0000

It is odd Capper that security is privatized at the fed building and other places and saves money in the short term and long term.

If you don’t like the service fire them and find a new one. Don’t like the food, fire them.

Correction officers could be privatiized, but fire and police not so much. But it does happen! What about paramedics? They were once all part of the fire and now moast are private!

By: Zach W

Zach W — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:44:00 +0000

Yeah, let’s privatize fire and police officers. After all, leaving fire and police protection to the lowest bidder is sure to yield great results! While we’re at it, let’s privatize corrections officers as well, because putting the safety and security of our state’s prisons in the hands of the lowest bidder will surely end well!

By: capper

capper — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:25:41 +0000

Um, two things. Some things need to be done by the public sector. Or do you really want some politician’s buddy keeping track of gov’t money without having to disclose any records?

Two, privatization costs more. For example, Walker has thrown away more than a million dollars in just two years on security at the mental health complex. Ceridian, which was supposed to take over employee payroll and benefits, is over budget and over due, and we still rely on HR people. That is throwing away over $10M just on that.

Next try.

By: JeffN

JeffN — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:22:10 +0000

All can be done with private sector jobs!!!!!

Capper not one thing did you mention requires public service jobs.

Privitize and save more money!!!!!!!

By: capper

capper — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:11:15 +0000

The other thing that JeffN overlooks is the cost to society. Who will be watching the criminals on probation? Who will be helping the mentally ill stay in balance? Who will be plowing the roads? Who will be driving the buses?

It’s easy to hate, it’s not so easy to come up with viable solutions.

By: Zach W

Zach W — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:18:40 +0000

Jeff, look beyond the talking points. The “few unpaid days off” you referenced amount to a paycut of slightly more than 3% (at least for yours truly), which is a greater cut than any cost of living increase or auto raise that was received, resulting a net cut for the year. Mind you, I’m not complaining; I’m just providing a little factual information for your benefit.

By: JeffN

JeffN — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:23:01 +0000

Zach the time is coming soon that government workers will feel the real pain that the private sector has and not just a few unpaid days off while still getting a cola or auto raise.