OK, so last week's idea about raising taxes to cover the cost of government services was not a big seller. I have more great ideas.
Stop providing so much unneeded service: Most government services are expensive and not really necessary. If the tea baggers and right wing nuts want to limit government to colonial times, fine. Let’s do it and really save some coin of the realm.
After 37 years involvement with the fire/rescue service, I claim expert status. I will confine my comments to fire/rescue, but my ideas have value in every segment of wasteful government spending. Let me tell you there is some real money to save with revolutionary retro thinking about the redundant, superfluous, unneeded and unnecessary services provided by greedy firefighters, and there is a basis for this in history.
• Disband the paid fire departments altogether and let “real men” do it for free just like the old days the tea baggers crave to recreate. Washington and Jefferson (head bowed, hand over heart in reverence) were volunteer firefighters back in the day in Alexandria, Virginia at Fire House #1. Less than 300,000 of the 800,000 firefighters in this country are paid anything at all. Guys like to hang around a fire house. Just leave the doors open and watch the “vols” show up when the fire alarm sounds.
• In densely populated urban areas where volunteer firefighters may not be reliable, let the insurance companies pay for the firefighters to put out the fires like the good ol’ days. Most buildings are insured. If the owners and insurance companies care that much about their buildings they can hire their own firefighters.
Little known secret factoid #1: All fires are fuel limited. Almost all fires will eventually burn themselves out without causing a conflagration that destroys an entire city. The propaganda put out by the firefighters about catastrophe is just scare tactics. Burning old homes makes for jobs to build new homes. As long as it is not your house, who cares?
Little known secret factoid #2: Most people who die in fires are old or sick already and were going to do soon anyway. An early demise saves on taxes and related healthcare costs. They usually do not really burn to death but are asphyxiated by the smoke. If a building burns down with them in it, think of it as free cremation. A burning house makes for one extraordinary and scintillating funeral pyre. Have you ever seen the way people congregate when a building burns in their neighborhood? Charge admission and turn it into a profit making operation. Lots of ways to save money here. As long as it is not you or your family, who cares?
Little known secret factoid #3: Emergency medical service consumes most fire/rescue resources but is a scam to keep firefighters on the payroll that provides no real service to society. Again, most of the people EMS serves are old, sickly and too poor to provide meaningful value to society. They are going to die anyway. Why do we use up so many tax and insurance dollars trying to save them? Death is inevitable for us all. Some just die sooner than others. Why do we insist on prolonging their suffering at the expense of the taxpayers? Our forefathers never heard of resuscitating a heart attack victim. There were no automobile accidents in the 18th century when our forefathers created this wonderful country. Let’s go back to a time when everything was wonderful. If you are in an accident that could kill you, isn’t it God’s will? The first ambulance services were often operated by the funeral parlors. Let’s cut out the middle man and recreate the old days. As long as it is not you or your family, who cares?
Caveat Lectores’ revolutionary ideas can apply to most government service. The amount of money to be saved is unfathomable. As long as it is not you or your family, who cares?
OMG!! My tongue is stuck in my cheek. Maybe I should call 911.
And Oh yes, Have a nice Day?
Wjc
Caveat Lectores by Jeff Carnes
6000 Readers in 390 Cities, 41 States and 15 Countries
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You may learn something you did not want to know
about political and labor relations complications that affect ALL
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Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Caveat Lectores on Glenn Beck’s Dark Past by John Avlon
No silly, the Lector is not commenting on Glenn Beck’s younger years. I am referring readers to a book and website below that reviews a new book about the loveable teddy bear of a guy known as Glenn Beck.
The introduction to the article states, “Before CPAC tapped him for its keynote address, the Fox host's history was riddled with drugs and mental illness. John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, available now from Beast Books—on how Beck became the Pied Piper of the right for the angry and disenfranchised.” http://current.com/1e2ss4c I will also suggest but not recommend The Overton Window, Beck’s new book for another look into the mind of the mindless.
Even though I get annoyed to the point of nearly stroking out each time I encounter him, I have always suspected Beck was nothing more than an entertainer who had found his shtick by condemning all things not right wing. The problem I had with him was that his loyal followers tend to believe what he says as if he speaks in tongues of a messianic prophesy.
The books mentioned above confirm my suspicions. He is probably just another non-believing charlatan profiting off ignorance and fear. He can get a crowd roused to a fever pitch quicker than Brothers Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart on the same stage. He is right up there with Daddy Grace and Reverend Ike, as well. The right wing-nuts and tea baggers would disagree. White supremacists would disagree publicly but privately would not care what he believes so long as he helps their cause. And that he does rather well.
Maybe I am more disturbed that Fox would place him in the spotlight although Fox is out there to make money, and he surely helps them do that. British Petroleum and Halliburton were just trying to make some coin when they caused that little oil leak in the Gulf. How can a corporation cause any real harm? It is all harmless fun or is it?
The good news is that his past tells me he will flame out one day and cause embarrassment to some; relief to others. He is too intense to stay on the edge long. Social comedians Richard Prior and Lenny Bruce let their edginess consume them. They were way out there and offensive to many but not harmful. Beck spreads hate. Hate is harmful. Maybe he just needs to attend a Devil’s Neck Kumbaya Retreat.
I do not wish him harm, but it would be nice to see the smoke and flames sooner than later because he really does incite an ever growing cadre of ill informed persons( I am being nice here) who actually can vote and might start one day. They can reproduce as well and uniformly oppose freedom of choice for women. Beck and I think it was Rush Limbaugh packed the USF SunDome in Tampa a few months back. I could not attend because it conflicted with an Ethics Class I teach at the same location. Otherwise, I may have boycotted the spectacle as an exercise in ethical conduct.
And oh yes, have a nice Day?
wjc
The introduction to the article states, “Before CPAC tapped him for its keynote address, the Fox host's history was riddled with drugs and mental illness. John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, available now from Beast Books—on how Beck became the Pied Piper of the right for the angry and disenfranchised.” http://current.com/1e2ss4c I will also suggest but not recommend The Overton Window, Beck’s new book for another look into the mind of the mindless.
Even though I get annoyed to the point of nearly stroking out each time I encounter him, I have always suspected Beck was nothing more than an entertainer who had found his shtick by condemning all things not right wing. The problem I had with him was that his loyal followers tend to believe what he says as if he speaks in tongues of a messianic prophesy.
The books mentioned above confirm my suspicions. He is probably just another non-believing charlatan profiting off ignorance and fear. He can get a crowd roused to a fever pitch quicker than Brothers Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart on the same stage. He is right up there with Daddy Grace and Reverend Ike, as well. The right wing-nuts and tea baggers would disagree. White supremacists would disagree publicly but privately would not care what he believes so long as he helps their cause. And that he does rather well.
Maybe I am more disturbed that Fox would place him in the spotlight although Fox is out there to make money, and he surely helps them do that. British Petroleum and Halliburton were just trying to make some coin when they caused that little oil leak in the Gulf. How can a corporation cause any real harm? It is all harmless fun or is it?
The good news is that his past tells me he will flame out one day and cause embarrassment to some; relief to others. He is too intense to stay on the edge long. Social comedians Richard Prior and Lenny Bruce let their edginess consume them. They were way out there and offensive to many but not harmful. Beck spreads hate. Hate is harmful. Maybe he just needs to attend a Devil’s Neck Kumbaya Retreat.
I do not wish him harm, but it would be nice to see the smoke and flames sooner than later because he really does incite an ever growing cadre of ill informed persons( I am being nice here) who actually can vote and might start one day. They can reproduce as well and uniformly oppose freedom of choice for women. Beck and I think it was Rush Limbaugh packed the USF SunDome in Tampa a few months back. I could not attend because it conflicted with an Ethics Class I teach at the same location. Otherwise, I may have boycotted the spectacle as an exercise in ethical conduct.
And oh yes, have a nice Day?
wjc
Caveat Lectores on the Firefighter Family
Brothers and Sisters,
FYI: What you should know about Denver Fire Department IAFF Local 858 and what they did for our Fallen Brother:
When Billy was first flown to the Trauma Center in Denver our guys out there couldn’t immediately travel the 160 miles to be with him due to the weather. When Local 858 President Pat Rhoades was notified of this situation he contacted his guys at the closet station to the hospital and sent an Engine Company to the Hospital to stay with Billy until our guys arrived some 12 hours later. By the time our guys arrived in Denver the next afternoon Local 858 had arranged hotels and a rental car for their use. Their members picked up Billy’s family from the airport when they arrived, took them to and from the hospital, took our guys and Billy’s family to dinner each night and made sure they had everything they needed while other Local 858members continued to take turns standing with them all at the hospital every day that Billy was there.
When it was time to bring Billy home they treated him as one of their own with the respect and honor he deserved. The Colorado Professional Firefighters sent out a request for all affiliates to show respect for Billy by placing an apparatus in the procession that would take Billy to the Airport. In less than 24 hours Denver FD had organized a full FD procession from the funeral home to the airport:
At 4am on the morning of June 19, DFD Local 858 Pres. Pat Rhoades picked up Billy's brother and myself to assist us in bringing Billy home. We were taken from the hotel to a downtown Denver firehouse where we met up with the oncoming crew how had come in early to ride in the procession with us. We left the firehouse in a Heavy Rescue Fire apparatus escorted by all 4 firefighters and headed to the funeral home to escort Billy to DIA. In the true tradition of a Firefighter funeral we were taken past the downtown firehouses where the trucks were out on the aprons with the lights on and FFs in Class “A”s stood at attention saluting. When we arrived at the funeral home we were met by numerous other uniformed Denver Firefighters, Company Officers and Chiefs along with off duty personnel, (all of whom joined the procession in fire apparatus, POVs and on motorcycles). Four uniformed Denver firefighters assisted President Rhoades and myself as Pallbearers as the rest of Billy’s uniformed Brothers from Denver stood at attention. As the procession left the funeral home at 5am [with a motorcade escort provided by Denver PD] two fire apparatus flanked the driveway facing nose to nose while Denver Firefighters stood at attention and saluted as the procession passed between the vehicles. When the hour long procession arrived at DIA the Airport FFs where standing by at attention beside their apparatus in Class A uniforms saluting. The procession split at this point and the fire apparatus carrying Billy's brother and myself headed to the terminal, the Hurst and all the POVs and motorcycles turned off and took Billy to the secured area where he would be placed on a flight home.
It did not matter to them that Billy was not from Denver FD. It did not matter to them that they had never met Billy before. It did not matter to them that it was 4am in the morning. All that mattered to them was that Billy was a Brother Firefighter, he was in their City and they could help.
What it felt like to see this type of support for our Fallen Brother and his family is something that cannot be put into words, but it is something I will forever remember. Quite simply “they got it right” and hopefully if we are ever faced with a similar situation will we all strive to reach and maintain the level of Brotherhood that Local 858 exemplified.
President Rhoades and Todd Revious from Local 858 will be in Ft Lauderdale Tuesday through Thursday to attend Billy's services, please take a minute to thank them in person for all they have done.
Sincerely,
Debbie Rittinghouse
Secretary Local 4321
Billy Carr was a 30 firefighter and union leader who died recently when struck by lightning during a trip out west to visit the Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Being a member of the brother and sisterhood is part of the reason why firefighters run into burning buildings when all others are running out. It is what they do when others need help. If this did not bring a tear to your eye, you know you are not a firefighter.
wjc
FYI: What you should know about Denver Fire Department IAFF Local 858 and what they did for our Fallen Brother:
When Billy was first flown to the Trauma Center in Denver our guys out there couldn’t immediately travel the 160 miles to be with him due to the weather. When Local 858 President Pat Rhoades was notified of this situation he contacted his guys at the closet station to the hospital and sent an Engine Company to the Hospital to stay with Billy until our guys arrived some 12 hours later. By the time our guys arrived in Denver the next afternoon Local 858 had arranged hotels and a rental car for their use. Their members picked up Billy’s family from the airport when they arrived, took them to and from the hospital, took our guys and Billy’s family to dinner each night and made sure they had everything they needed while other Local 858members continued to take turns standing with them all at the hospital every day that Billy was there.
When it was time to bring Billy home they treated him as one of their own with the respect and honor he deserved. The Colorado Professional Firefighters sent out a request for all affiliates to show respect for Billy by placing an apparatus in the procession that would take Billy to the Airport. In less than 24 hours Denver FD had organized a full FD procession from the funeral home to the airport:
At 4am on the morning of June 19, DFD Local 858 Pres. Pat Rhoades picked up Billy's brother and myself to assist us in bringing Billy home. We were taken from the hotel to a downtown Denver firehouse where we met up with the oncoming crew how had come in early to ride in the procession with us. We left the firehouse in a Heavy Rescue Fire apparatus escorted by all 4 firefighters and headed to the funeral home to escort Billy to DIA. In the true tradition of a Firefighter funeral we were taken past the downtown firehouses where the trucks were out on the aprons with the lights on and FFs in Class “A”s stood at attention saluting. When we arrived at the funeral home we were met by numerous other uniformed Denver Firefighters, Company Officers and Chiefs along with off duty personnel, (all of whom joined the procession in fire apparatus, POVs and on motorcycles). Four uniformed Denver firefighters assisted President Rhoades and myself as Pallbearers as the rest of Billy’s uniformed Brothers from Denver stood at attention. As the procession left the funeral home at 5am [with a motorcade escort provided by Denver PD] two fire apparatus flanked the driveway facing nose to nose while Denver Firefighters stood at attention and saluted as the procession passed between the vehicles. When the hour long procession arrived at DIA the Airport FFs where standing by at attention beside their apparatus in Class A uniforms saluting. The procession split at this point and the fire apparatus carrying Billy's brother and myself headed to the terminal, the Hurst and all the POVs and motorcycles turned off and took Billy to the secured area where he would be placed on a flight home.
It did not matter to them that Billy was not from Denver FD. It did not matter to them that they had never met Billy before. It did not matter to them that it was 4am in the morning. All that mattered to them was that Billy was a Brother Firefighter, he was in their City and they could help.
What it felt like to see this type of support for our Fallen Brother and his family is something that cannot be put into words, but it is something I will forever remember. Quite simply “they got it right” and hopefully if we are ever faced with a similar situation will we all strive to reach and maintain the level of Brotherhood that Local 858 exemplified.
President Rhoades and Todd Revious from Local 858 will be in Ft Lauderdale Tuesday through Thursday to attend Billy's services, please take a minute to thank them in person for all they have done.
Sincerely,
Debbie Rittinghouse
Secretary Local 4321
Billy Carr was a 30 firefighter and union leader who died recently when struck by lightning during a trip out west to visit the Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Being a member of the brother and sisterhood is part of the reason why firefighters run into burning buildings when all others are running out. It is what they do when others need help. If this did not bring a tear to your eye, you know you are not a firefighter.
wjc
Caveat Lectores Solves the Local Government Funding Problem
Caveat Lectores has two novel and heretofore unused ideas about how to handle the budget shortfalls that have seemingly paralyzed local government. It is so simple I do not know why someone other than the likes of me did not think of it sooner. Here it comes. Are you ready?
Idea Number One: Raise taxes. The elected politicians AND the tax payers should grow up and realize that there is a charge for services in our country. It does not matter who provides the service... somebody has to pay.
• If government provides the service, it is a tax even though we use words like user fees, license fees, monitoring fees, service fees, admission fees. You get the idea.
• If the private sector provides the service, we call it anything but a tax.
• We still pay.
The elected officials, with the help of the professional managers they employ, should decide, based on the perceived desires of the public at large, which services at what level of service to provide. Make that decision THEN figure out how much it will cost and charge the public. I know you have to balance anticipated income with anticipated outflow, but the decisions should be service driven not income driven.
What is actually happening is that government managers and politicians are still trying to figure out how much money they will have to spend before they decide how to spend it. If they do not have enough money coming in, only then do they start to cut services, expenses and lay off employees. This is not leadership. It is management by default based on how much we give them to spend. A public manager would call my scheme naïve, amateurish and logistically impossible to implement, but my premise that the service provision decisions are based on available funding is correct.
The right wing anti government forces want to “starve the beast” by denying government the resources to operate. I say figure out what needs to be done and send the bill to the users of the services which is everybody. Right wingers and tea baggers need to be put in their place. I have not determined where that place would be. Left wingers who think government is the supplier of all societal needs could be sent to the same place as the others.
Step up to the pump and do your jobs you weaseling wimps. We call that decision making leadership where I come from. Raise taxes in an appropriate format to serve the greater good and show you have some COURAGE.
What has happened, at least in Florida, is that a right wing anti-government element of the rePuPlican party started a successful rumor campaign that taxes were too high. Naturally, the public went along with that. Never mind that Florida is one of the lowest taxed states filled with cheap tightwads who want someone else to pay the tab for services they use. There was no concerted public outcry about taxes until the anti-government policy wonks started beating the drums for Tax Reform. Now we have tea baggers who have stumbled into the fray, as well.
The right wing cannot exist without the help of the people they are trying to assert power over. Surely, if the public knew how at risk they are they would run in the other direction. "...la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!"
(Verbal Kint AKA Keyser Soze was not the first to tell the world “…the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.” Google: Charles Baudelaire and see what I mean.)
Idea Number Two: See Idea Number One.
Lest we forget the reason why government has historically provided services is that private enterprise would not provide the services to all in a democratic manner, government’s purpose is not to tax or to provide jobs but to provide service not provided elsewhere in the economy. The jobs part comes when we have to hire people to provide the service. The taxation part comes from the need to pay those who provide the service. The private sector only wants back in the mix when there is a belief they can profit off something they once did not want to unprofitably provide. Letting the private for profit companies cherry pick what is convenient and profitable does not provide for democratic or consistent service to the public. Government is supposed to add to the stability of a society.
We call these services essential services, and they provide for a democratic quality of life for all citizens. Along the way, government sometimes adds a few services to the list of absolutely essential services, but that is the way it works.
Wealthier people, who should under all circumstances pay the most in taxes, are typically not as interested in certain social services as they are those services that directly benefit them. Poor people have a different set of needs than the rich; and the middle class, which should make up the majority, are kind of stuck between the two polarized factions; so we have a constant conflict about which services to provide to whom. The debate should be over which services government should provide and how to tax whom not how to avoid taxes altogether.
The richest have more resources and use much more government resources than they will admit. The poorest use a lot of resources too but have the least to spend. All should bear an appropriate share of the burden. Oh yeah, there is that disengaged middle class in between who want to be satisfied as well but sit back and watch while they get screwed then complain. Maybe that is why I preach to my flock about getting involved with the political process or accept getting screwed. BOHICA
And Oh yes, Have a nice day.
Wjc
Caveat Lectores by Jeff Carnes
Read at your own risk.
You may learn something you did not want to know
about political and labor relations complications that affect ALL
Public Employees: Firefighters, Paramedics, Law Enforcement,
General Employees and Teachers.
Lectores Labor Consulting 813-240-8165
LectoresIT.com
Caveat Lectores
Caveat Lectores on Facebook
Idea Number One: Raise taxes. The elected politicians AND the tax payers should grow up and realize that there is a charge for services in our country. It does not matter who provides the service... somebody has to pay.
• If government provides the service, it is a tax even though we use words like user fees, license fees, monitoring fees, service fees, admission fees. You get the idea.
• If the private sector provides the service, we call it anything but a tax.
• We still pay.
The elected officials, with the help of the professional managers they employ, should decide, based on the perceived desires of the public at large, which services at what level of service to provide. Make that decision THEN figure out how much it will cost and charge the public. I know you have to balance anticipated income with anticipated outflow, but the decisions should be service driven not income driven.
What is actually happening is that government managers and politicians are still trying to figure out how much money they will have to spend before they decide how to spend it. If they do not have enough money coming in, only then do they start to cut services, expenses and lay off employees. This is not leadership. It is management by default based on how much we give them to spend. A public manager would call my scheme naïve, amateurish and logistically impossible to implement, but my premise that the service provision decisions are based on available funding is correct.
The right wing anti government forces want to “starve the beast” by denying government the resources to operate. I say figure out what needs to be done and send the bill to the users of the services which is everybody. Right wingers and tea baggers need to be put in their place. I have not determined where that place would be. Left wingers who think government is the supplier of all societal needs could be sent to the same place as the others.
Step up to the pump and do your jobs you weaseling wimps. We call that decision making leadership where I come from. Raise taxes in an appropriate format to serve the greater good and show you have some COURAGE.
What has happened, at least in Florida, is that a right wing anti-government element of the rePuPlican party started a successful rumor campaign that taxes were too high. Naturally, the public went along with that. Never mind that Florida is one of the lowest taxed states filled with cheap tightwads who want someone else to pay the tab for services they use. There was no concerted public outcry about taxes until the anti-government policy wonks started beating the drums for Tax Reform. Now we have tea baggers who have stumbled into the fray, as well.
The right wing cannot exist without the help of the people they are trying to assert power over. Surely, if the public knew how at risk they are they would run in the other direction. "...la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!"
(Verbal Kint AKA Keyser Soze was not the first to tell the world “…the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.” Google: Charles Baudelaire and see what I mean.)
Idea Number Two: See Idea Number One.
Lest we forget the reason why government has historically provided services is that private enterprise would not provide the services to all in a democratic manner, government’s purpose is not to tax or to provide jobs but to provide service not provided elsewhere in the economy. The jobs part comes when we have to hire people to provide the service. The taxation part comes from the need to pay those who provide the service. The private sector only wants back in the mix when there is a belief they can profit off something they once did not want to unprofitably provide. Letting the private for profit companies cherry pick what is convenient and profitable does not provide for democratic or consistent service to the public. Government is supposed to add to the stability of a society.
We call these services essential services, and they provide for a democratic quality of life for all citizens. Along the way, government sometimes adds a few services to the list of absolutely essential services, but that is the way it works.
Wealthier people, who should under all circumstances pay the most in taxes, are typically not as interested in certain social services as they are those services that directly benefit them. Poor people have a different set of needs than the rich; and the middle class, which should make up the majority, are kind of stuck between the two polarized factions; so we have a constant conflict about which services to provide to whom. The debate should be over which services government should provide and how to tax whom not how to avoid taxes altogether.
The richest have more resources and use much more government resources than they will admit. The poorest use a lot of resources too but have the least to spend. All should bear an appropriate share of the burden. Oh yeah, there is that disengaged middle class in between who want to be satisfied as well but sit back and watch while they get screwed then complain. Maybe that is why I preach to my flock about getting involved with the political process or accept getting screwed. BOHICA
And Oh yes, Have a nice day.
Wjc
Caveat Lectores by Jeff Carnes
Read at your own risk.
You may learn something you did not want to know
about political and labor relations complications that affect ALL
Public Employees: Firefighters, Paramedics, Law Enforcement,
General Employees and Teachers.
Lectores Labor Consulting 813-240-8165
LectoresIT.com
Caveat Lectores
Caveat Lectores on Facebook
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