Righteous Indignation, not Pension Envy

Furey: "You have pension envy!"

Pension envy, huh?

That's what my problem is?

So I want what the Torrance public employees have, but I am not willing to work for it.

Such were the words (and the gist behind them) of Torrance Mayoral candidate Pat Furey in  a key debate a few months ago.

Furey has been endorsed by the Torrance Police and Fire Associations, too. No wonder he is defending their pay, benefits, and pensions from the envious public.

So, let me put it like this. . .

I am angry because the public sector employees, whether police or fire or anything else, are getting six figure sums, yet at the same time I do not have such a well-paying job, or no certainty of getting good benefits and a secure pension, and face almost no chance of getting terminated once they achieve a certain level of seniority or number of years on the job.

Pension envy?

How about — righteous indignation!

Where do the city leaders think all of this money is coming from? Not from businesses, sales, or trade. This money comes from taxpaying residents and businesses.

How much longer do city leaders like Mr. Furey really think that voting taxpayers in the City of Torrance will put up with these unfunded liabilities?

Employees taking in more money than administrative staff because of overtime pay — that is infuriating, Mr. Furey. Voters have a right to vent their fury at any city government, association or otherwise, which stands beside so extensive and expensive a redistribution of wealth.

The public workers do the same work, but get time and a half. They are getting more money without working more for it.

They secure a secure job, with very little risk of termination. Private sector employees have to perform, turn a profit, and if they fail, then they get disciplined or lose their jobs.

Where does the money come from in a private organization, anyway? From individual consumers or trading partners. If I fail to deliver a product or service, then  I lose customer, business, money, and even my job.

If a civil servant does a bad job, they may get reprimanded, unless the unions step up staunch opposition to the effort.

Sometimes, the employee gets transferred to another department within an agency. In other cases, a bad employee, or an employee who engaged in some kind of misconduct may look forward to a promotion.

Public sector workers engage in a serious service for their cities, but for anyone working the same job and getting time and a half, plus benefits and other pay, all of which guarantee a greater pension. . .

Rage and upset at such unprecedented redistribution of wealth is not pension envy, but righteous indignation!