My distrust in government is built on a lot of little bit and ti

My distrust in government is built on a lot of little bit and tiny things.

- I live in Chicago. We have this public bus system called CTA. They are subsidized by Illinois tax payers, partly. This year, they are $600 millions short! Cook County, where CTA operates, is Democratic Party rich territory, like San Francisco. The County Broad then put out a proposal for tax increase (a combination of sale tax, various fees and everything, poor democrats depend on). It angered a lot of residents. Almost all of country broad members said it would be dead on its arrival. I live in suburb and work in Chicago downtown. I followed this news closely and kind of enjoy it. They finally did it to themselves. These hardcore democrats believe in taxing to rich. Now their voted Democrat officials want them pay more tax to run the bus. I say good and see if they can learn a lesson. I take a closer look at CTA financial problem. It turned out that these $600 million shortfall is not because of any bus operation related expenditure. It is related to CTA employee pension. I was surprised to find that in CTA, on average, their employee earn at least $60k. Most of bus drivers earn $80-$90k a year with old-fashion pension system. This pension system is not like our 401k and employer matching. They retire early with close to 100% payout for their rest of life. With equity market turning south in recent years, their pension got into red. That is why they need more money. Does it anger anyone? You bet. It is outrageous. Most of people in Illinois do not feel obligated to pay for their shortfall. Guess out? Somewhere somehow, the proposal go through. Can this kind of thing happen to private company? Absolutely not. If you see a bus passing by in Chicago, 7 of 10 times, that bus only has 4 - 6 people in it most of time.

- Have you heard that cop in Illinois, called Peterson who is suspected to kill his wife Lacy? No evidence is found to prove his guilty. That is not point. News reported that he retired lately with $5000 per month payout. That is $60k a year. He is only 53? Most of police officers and firefighters retire at every early age, with nice and generous retirement payout


- Most of teachers in Illinois earn on average $50k a year, with much better pension system than private company 401k. They do not work all year long. They enjoy spring, summer and winter breaks as their students do. You can not fire them because Teacher Union protects them.


- Last year, I watched news about California economy and heard that prison guards there earn 6-figure salary. Is that true?


- Every time I step in government office like INS local office, driver license facilities, court room, social security agency and even postal office, old memory brings me back to old days back in China how I was treated by CCP government office. Just look at their face and read their facial language, you know that you are nobody.


I believe that inherently, government is enemy of free people. I do not trust them to run anything except defense of country against invasion. They are not even able to watch over a border for God sake! And someone tell me they can healthcare system for us !? Are you kidding me? Are you out of your mind?! Look at the messes they made in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They are all good-will, big federal programs and now they all go under, rapidly

I say that before government fix all these things, do not even think about running anything else! US government needs to be audited every year and tell people how your tax dollars are spent.

所有跟帖： 

• Either GOP or DEM will spend your money, one way -Wxc1204- ♂ (554 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:16:02

• Interference is good. We need good interference by government -baiwen- ♂ (838 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:34:26

• 回复：Interference is good. We need good interference by government -用户名被占用了- ♂ (658 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:43:51

• Anyone? what about Hillary? She tried once. Now she try it again -baiwen- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:53:58

• time is different now :-) -用户名被占用了- ♂ (173 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 19:04:51

• Defense spending is different by nature. It does not have human -baiwen- ♂ (559 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 19:04:40

• Again, you made some very good points. Like you I don’t trust th -用户名被占用了- ♂ (1563 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:33:37

• Yes, you are right. Heathcare problem, I am afriad, is too big -baiwen- ♂ (113 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:39:50

• Every once a while I receive phone calls from all kinds of -baiwen- ♂ (264 bytes) () 02/17/2008 postreply 18:52:11