Prices around here are getting out of hand!!!

[DOREEN1779]

WOW a whole 10%, and they chose that job to strap on a gun,
My husband was self employed and paid into SS and paid in 100% to anything we could put into retirement, and 100% of our medical insurance, what you could get or afford, most of the time it was with a $10,000 yearly deductible and not paying the reduced dr fee we paid what the Dr charged...like just a regular visit was $150 we paid that not the $50 that the your insurance company agreed to pay and no one give us any pension after 20, 30 or 40 years of working, and 40 was the amount of years working to retire
Oh and it was my taxes that pay for the teachers and police officers salary and pension.

Wow. I guess you don't have any relatives that work in protective services. It is not just about strapping on a gun. How about when someone with HIV ot Hep C bites an officer and you have to take a cocktail of medicine for 6 months and pray you are not infected. Last year, a man ran over his 5 year old childs foot, guess who has to find the toes. In NJ, right before Corzine left office, he raided the pension plan for $200,000,000.00 and pumped it into dying Goldman Sachs one week b4 they crashed. The state does not match the pension contributions. Bottom line, the police need to work another 5 years before they can pension. Each municipality and state functions differently in regard to pension and to make a statement as you did is one-sided and uninformed Also, police in our town pay a $400.00 a month co-pay for health insurance. The newspapers love to and report things that make people mad but the things that they choose not to report would make your skin crawl.

 

[mrsap]

WOW a whole 10%, and they chose that job to strap on a gun,
My husband was self employed and paid into SS and paid in 100% to anything we could put into retirement, and 100% of our medical insurance, what you could get or afford, most of the time it was with a $10,000 yearly deductible and not paying the reduced dr fee we paid what the Dr charged...like just a regular visit was $150 we paid that not the $50 that the your insurance company agreed to pay and no one give us any pension after 20, 30 or 40 years of working, and 40 was the amount of years working to retire
Oh and it was my taxes that pay for the teachers and police officers salary and pension.

Well then why did your husband CHOOSE to be self employed?! Not debating who has a "worse" job or situation. Not sure what your post has to do with anything. And if you are in NJ your taxes have NOT paid toward the police pensions in 15 years!!!!!

It's so sad how people know so little but make statements like they know everything! It won't be until he day you may need a police officer that you will truly appreciate their worth.

 

[mrsap]

wow. I guess you don't have any relatives that work in protective services. It is not just about strapping on a gun. How about when someone with hiv ot hep c bites an officer and you have to take a cocktail of medicine for 6 months and pray you are not infected. Last year, a man ran over his 5 year old childs foot, guess who has to find the toes. In nj, right before corzine left office, he raided the pension plan for $200,000,000.00 and pumped it into dying goldman sachs one week b4 they crashed. The state does not match the pension contributions. Bottom line, the police need to work another 5 years before they can pension. Each municipality and state functions differently in regard to pension and to make a statement as you did is one-sided and uninformed also, police in our town pay a $400.00 a month co-pay for health insurance. The newspapers love to And report things that make people mad but the things that they choose not to report would make your skin crawl.

amen

 

[chimo2u]

My husband sacrificed 22 yrs of his life in the military de-mining minefields, away from his family for up to a Yr at a time on many tours of duty to Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan....we never knew what day could have been his last....He finally chose to "retire" from the military after serving 22 yrs because the toll on the family was never easy, and was unrelenting....we'd had enough, he as a soldier, and we as the home front support! So yes, he began pulling his $1700 or so a month pension cheque at the age of 38, and now working on his second career with the Provincial Govt (we are Canadian) earning a second pension by giving another 25 yrs of his life to another law enforcement/ dangerous-potential job (as a sheriff) -- but he loves every minute of his new career, because at least we know God-willing, he gets to come home to us every night! he double dips....but I'd say he's earned the right too, paid his dues many times over and is entitled to his earned pension as well as his second career opportunity.....He earned it

 

[CloveLeaf]

Well then why did your husband CHOOSE to be self employed?! Not debating who has a "worse" job or situation. Not sure what your post has to do with anything. And if you are in NJ your taxes have NOT paid toward the police pensions in 15 years!!!!!

It's so sad how people know so little but make statements like they know everything! It won't be until he day you may need a police officer that you will truly appreciate their worth.

I guess it is the police officer's CHOICE to be a cop working with guns and bullet proof vests as well?

 

[Beezle2]

WOW a whole 10%, and they chose that job to strap on a gun,
My husband was self employed and paid into SS and paid in 100% to anything we could put into retirement, and 100% of our medical insurance, what you could get or afford, most of the time it was with a $10,000 yearly deductible and not paying the reduced dr fee we paid what the Dr charged...like just a regular visit was $150 we paid that not the $50 that the your insurance company agreed to pay and no one give us any pension after 20, 30 or 40 years of working, and 40 was the amount of years working to retire
Oh and it was my taxes that pay for the teachers and police officers salary and pension.

>>>

Your lucky some people choose to work dangerous jobs that protect us all! Our police, fire and EMT people deserve everything they earn and then some. You and your husband had choices too.

 

[Beezle2]

I guess it is the police officer's CHOICE to be a cop working with guns and bullet proof vests as well?

>>>

So they should do it for cheap so a few cranky tax payers can save a buck? Lets just take a few seconds to imagine what our world would look like without the brave people who do choose to protect us...I'm not going there. I am HAPPY to pay the taxes that pay the salaries and pensions for these people. They deserve every penny

 

[nunzia]

Didn't I say "decent" pizza

Oh...true, true.
And so now begins the public employees argument that will prob get this thread closed. I've been in the middle of many about teachers and will just say IMO and IMO only, even though what they do is very valuable and important, considering work days in a year divided by salary, I think teachers salaries are, overall, fair, retirement can be too high and be allowed too early and the double dipping needs to stop. As far as police and firemen, front line in these jobs at an older age could become more dangerous to them and less effective for the public but there have been way too many reports of lavish salaries and benefits that are unsustainable and are breaking the back of cities and states. My son is a cop and he is paid less than teachers here. They have changed his retirement plan which he understands and which must be done. He does not get health care since he cannot afford it. When he first started the job he had an expired bulletproof vest because the city is so strapped for funds. Things are better now but he still has to provide his own work items such as handcufffs, guns, etc. We all just better face up to what cities, states and economies can bear or we haven't seen anything yet. Remember the history photos of Germans with their wheelbarrows of money to buy bread?

 

[DOREEN1779]

Oh...true, true.
And so now begins the public employees argument that will prob get this thread closed. I've been in the middle of many about teachers and will just say IMO and IMO only, even though what they do is very valuable and important, considering work days in a year divided by salary, I think teachers salaries are, overall, fair, retirement can be too high and be allowed too early and the double dipping needs to stop. As far as police and firemen, front line in these jobs at an older age could become more dangerous to them and less effective for the public but there have been way too many reports of lavish salaries and benefits that are unsustainable and are breaking the back of cities and states. My son is a cop and he is paid less than teachers here. They have changed his retirement plan which he understands and which must be done. He does not get health care since he cannot afford it. When he first started the job he had an expired bulletproof vest because the city is so strapped for funds. Things are better now but he still has to provide his own work items such as handcufffs, guns, etc. We all just better face up to what cities, states and economies can bear or we haven't seen anything yet. Remember the history photos of Germans with their wheelbarrows of money to buy bread?

It is very sad and alarming that your son has opted out of health care due to cost. I hope that situation will change in the very near future.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yup, I prefer to go to wdw for my vacation and as a result of that choice we do not go to DQ, out to eat anywhere, etc. We also do not go to concerts, sports games, the movies, etc. It is always about choices. I'll take the family vacation memories over an ice cream cone anyday. There is such a narrow window of opportunity when kids are young.

Family memories can be made just as easily over an ice cream cone, at concerts, sporting events, movies, etc.

Contrary to popular belief on this website, great memories can be made other places than disney world.

 

[chimo2u]

I hope this thread doesn't get closed, I've been enjoying it up to now, and hope it doesn't deteriorate until it's closed

 

[patsal]

Family memories can be made just as easily over an ice cream cone, at concerts, sporting events, movies, etc.

Contrary to popular belief on this website, great memories can be made other places than disney world.

Of course they can, I just don't choose that! Besides the house is paid for, the DVC is paid for, the cars are paid for and my retirement is funded, so who cares what I choose to spend my money on! BTW's WDW isn't the only place I travel to. I would much rather eat an ice cream at home and allow the kids an experience in Europe.

Looks like my summer vacation ticker rolled over from this summer's vacation on it's own...I should change that!

 

[kandb]

We have police chiefs making $170,000. a year in little towns in bergen county, NJ, where crime is very low. The police also get "road jobs" where they sit in their police cars with the lights on (not even directing traffic), in front of or behind a telephone or cable company truck and get $80 and hour. I know a few tax accessors, they all say the same thing, taxes are very high (over $12K/year and up to $20+K) because of the police and teachers. That is just reality here in NJ.

 

[mrsap]

We have police chiefs making $170,000. a year in little towns in bergen county, NJ, where crime is very low. The police also get "road jobs" where they sit in their police cars with the lights on (not even directing traffic), in front of or behind a telephone or cable company truck and get $80 and hour. I know a few tax accessors, they all say the same thing, taxes are very high (over $12K/year and up to $20+K) because of the police and teachers. That is just reality here in NJ.

One again- clueless and uninformed!!! Taxes do NOT go towards paying cops on OT jobs!!!!! ( or "road jobs") They are paid by the companies that hire them!!!!!! KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE POSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DOREEN1779]

We have police chiefs making $170,000. a year in little towns in bergen county, NJ, where crime is very low. The police also get "road jobs" where they sit in their police cars with the lights on (not even directing traffic), in front of or behind a telephone or cable company truck and get $80 and hour. I know a few tax accessors, they all say the same thing, taxes are very high (over $12K/year and up to $20+K) because of the police and teachers. That is just reality here in NJ.

Like mrsap responded, road jobs are not paid by the town. Those wages are funded by seperate entities and wages specific to those jobs are processed seperately. Also, out of that initial hourly wage, besides the taxes, a fee is tagged on for use of the patrol car. Again, check your facts before posting.

 

[HeatherC]

While the last two posters may be correct in some ways, if the road they are working on here in Mass is state owned then it IS the tax payers money paying them $80 an hour. If it is an electric project say, then it would be the electric company paying. So...sometimes the taxpayers money does go to this.

Also...to add fuel to the fire. My BIL is a fireman...not in Mass. though. He is very proud of the fact that while he works a 4day week, he is able to "call out" on his scheduled days and switch hours with his friends so they can then all work each others hours at the rate of double time pay. This goes on week after week. Guess who is paying that bill? I shake my head and wonder how people can live with themselves while doing that. And these are all great people. So these guys whose salaries are $45,000 a year are being paid well over 6 figures because they are allowed to continue calling out. No wonder towns and cities are broke.

 

[DOREEN1779]

While the last two posters may be correct in some ways, if the road they are working on here in Mass is state owned then it IS the tax payers money paying them $80 an hour. If it is an electric project say, then it would be the electric company paying. So...sometimes the taxpayers money does go to this.

Also...to add fuel to the fire. My BIL is a fireman...not in Mass. though. He is very proud of the fact that while he works a 4day week, he is able to "call out" on his scheduled days and switch hours with his friends so they can then all work each others hours at the rate of double time pay. This goes on week after week. Guess who is paying that bill? I shake my head and wonder how people can live with themselves while doing that. And these are all great people. So these guys whose salaries are $45,000 a year are being paid well over 6 figures because they are allowed to continue calling out. No wonder towns and cities are broke.

The post is about NJ and a specific comment made about overtime and road work. Every state and town operates differently. This is how it works in NJ. I do appreciate your viewpoint in regard to your brother. What is upsetting is the comments about how easy people think the job is and how the rate of pay is not justified without knowing the facts. Are there people who abuse the system? Absolutely. But because they are in the public sector, it is reported on with more enthusiasm because "when it is our taxes that pay your salary" you become more interested. Look at what a professional Football Player makes a year. Can you honestly say that his job is more important than that of military personnel or any aspect of protective services?Yet we still cheer for them every Sunday, buy their Jerseys, and pump money into the organization. Welcome to NJ!

 

[lilpig]

I have noticed increased prices at the store. Some things have gone up to where I will not buy them anymore. Well unless they go on sale or I have a coupon that makes their price back to what I use to pay.. and some of those things were really YUMMY!

 

[mefordis]

I have noticed increased prices at the store. Some things have gone up to where I will not buy them anymore. Well unless they go on sale or I have a coupon that makes their price back to what I use to pay.. and some of those things were really YUMMY!

Like what for example? Just curious

 

[nunzia]

It is very sad and alarming that your son has opted out of health care due to cost. I hope that situation will change in the very near future.

Do not see that happening. The kids are covered under New Mexico Medicare which I think has every single kid in the state covered. His police officer salary is low enough that his family qualifies easily.