“Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.”
Do you remember the movie several years back, “The King of Hearts”, where the inmates escape from their cells and take over the mental hospital? It was a premise with a psychological twist. They actually could run it better than the guards. Do we need to take over? Are we the inmates? Or as Lady Astor supposedly said at her death bed with all the people standing around–“Am I dying or is this my birthday?”
Am I Dying or Is 'This My Birthday?
Is the world system dying or are we about to celebrate a birthday? From the looks of the headlines, facts and figures, it doesn’t look like a birthday party. Death of an old way of doing things is more like it. We seem to forget that a financial system put in place as early as 1913 with the start of the Federal Reserve is about to be undone and replaced. To what, nobody knows. This recent breakdown that began in ’08 continues on until 2024 when a new financial system is in place. The changes in taxation, relaxation of regulations and borrowing are on center stage. Our fearless leaders are on vacation, drinking at the water cooler or picking each others’ lice and fleas. Above all else, they make sure we keep paying them and taking care of their retirement years as well.
If I Agreed With You, We Would Both Be Wrong
They keep focusing on the “deficit” while Rome burns up our houses, jobs and quality of life. We should give them all fiddles and let them play. The foundation of the system is rotten underneath the system. Case in point, in the Los Angels Daily New report of August 14th, regarding Assembly Bill 350 by Jose Solorio, D-Santa Ana. This new bill would amend the Displaced Janitor Opportunity Act which was signed into law in 2001. It would expand coverage from janitors and building maintenance workers to include window washers, landscape workers, licensed security and cafeteria and dietary service employees.
For all of these categories of workers, AB 350 would require than whenever a building owner awards a new company a contract to provide services to that building, the new contractor “must” hire the previous contractor’s employees. The new contractor would have to keep the former contractor’s employees for a minimum of 90 days (rather than the current 60 days that the current janitor contract requires).
Yep, that’s correct. If I am the owner of the builder and I want a new contractor to provide services to my building, perhaps at a more competitive price or higher quality service, I have to keep the previous employees for 3 months? What is wrong with this picture? How does this make sense? The Daily News goes on to say that this bill is backed by a number of unions and is a “default way of keeping a unionized shop in existence even when an employer–in this case, the service contractor–exits a site.” This is a small matter in our “sputtering” economy but it is an example of what we all face in trying to correct the “ship of state”. And we wonder why companies are leaving California.
I Thought I Wanted a Career. Turns Out I Just Wanted Paychecks.
Slipping and a Sliding
Slipping and a Sliding
Government workers spiking pensions is another gem of manipulation by public employees, especially managers. No one wishes ill will of government retirees pensions that were earned when employed by the government. The manipulation, however, by these workers, especially in management as to how to calculate these pensions is endemic in the system. Many tricks are used to boost one’s pension.
Another example cited by Tim Bittle in the Daily News, July 28th, was the analysis of one of these tricks: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18563161?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
“An employee, who retired from the position of “acting assistant manager” whose salary averaged $120,000 a year but who retired with an annual pension of $200,000. He held the position of acting assistant manager for just one year. In fact, all administrative level employees in that agency get promoted to acting assistant manager the year they PLAN TO RETIRE, giving them a huge boost in pay that will then be their final year’s base salary for pension calculation purposes.
During the years of his employment, although he was not paid by the hour, this employee used CTO (compensatory time off for ‘overtime’ worked) in lieu of vacation and sick leave, so that he could accumulate years of ‘unused’ vacation and sick leave. Then, in the year he retired, he cashed it all in, further boosting his final year’s compensation. This employee was provided a car until the year he retired, at which point he elected a car allowance instead, increasing his final year’s compensation even more.
Eight years earlier, just before a promotion became effective, this employee purchased 10 years of (already discounted) extra service credits at the actuarial price for someone holding his old, lower paying, position. Now it appears on the books as though he worked 30 years, instead of the 20 he actually worked, boosting his pension another 50%.”
Where is Accountability?
Bread and Circus
Bread and Circus
Heard enough? There is more. If you are wondering how and where your money is used, you need to get involved or at least get interested. California needs to deliver better value to its taxpayers. We have the 2nd highest unemployment in the nation. (Nevada is first) Wow, aren’t we special??? Since California is usually a trend for the United States, this type of behavior of government malfeasance could be or already is at your door step. Pay attention, expect resistance by entrenched interests. They will fight in court to prevent disclosure. All government pensions are a matter of public record. Know how your tax dollars are spent not only in pensions but also in perks, duplicate departments and the complacency that accompanies protected employment. In Los Angeles, we have the highest paid city council members in the nations, the mayor alone has 207 assistants and has gotten a variance to change the wall around the mayor’s mansion to be higher than permitted in the tony neighborhood. Walled in is a great metaphor.
Get the keys and unlock the cells, the inmates are coming out.–or as P.T. Barnum (American Entrepreneur/Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus) said on his death bed in 1891, “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?”
Hi Gail! Thanks for the EXCELLENT reading. I have received the cd and reading list I am doing “my work”. Thank you for your kindness and direction. Hold on to your hat; it will be a bumpy ride..but we will get “there”.
You have always been “right on” with you insight, thanks again, you always seem to soothe..
Best to You!
Michele Schwartz:mrgreen:
Tinley Park, IL
Numerology is very accurate. Regarding females who need a place to live inexpensively in these challenged times, I recommend checking out nearby convents. The sisters need the rental money. I have heard excellent reports about them. Shared kitchen and the rest of the “house”.
Thank you Gail, you are saying what we all know and believe.
Will you do a newsletter on how best to protect our assets?
Do you have any insight to the post by Real News Reporter on 5/4/11. Google “Nasa has bad news for you” an article alleging Proof That Comet Elenin Is Affecting Earth” it is supposed to be closest to the sun in early September and closest to the earth mid October. Supposedly every time this celestial body comes into alignment with the earth and sun we have a huge earthquake – the last 3 produced Japanese, New Zealand and Chile quakes. Is this just fear mongering?
Blessings, Jane
:grin:Hey there Gail – I doubt that Dee Wallace will show up for her TV appearance in September for her October speaking engagement for the Parapsychology Club. Would you like to take her place? I feel badly that you never got your airtime. Let me know. Love, Suzi:wink: PS Love the article. True in my world. Remember the movie with Joanne Woodward as Dr. Jeckyll and George C. Scott as Mr. Hyde? or was it Dr. Watson?, same script, the inmates of the insane asylum took over the city of London.
Hi Gail,
There were rooms at the convents. I called within a 100 miles in each direction. They were shocked that the rentals existed and knew nothing about it. The job was over 8/22 just as you said.
Have a good day!