Comedy gold (Jack Bog's Blog)

The newspapers have finally gained access to the pension records of retired Oregon public employees, after nine years of hide-the-ball by the state's PERS system. The media went to court to get the information, and the pension fund has settled the case by agreeing to disclose it. Thus, in a short while, we'll be reading all about who's getting what out of the PERS till. No doubt there will be some outrageous stories, and outraged taxpayers, included.

But for now we can all have a laugh as the union people get their defenses up. This quotation strikes us as hilarious:

Unions representing public employees did not intervene in the Oregon court case, but said they disagreed with the outcome and would examine legal options to protect their members' privacy.
"All it will be used for is to inflame the public against people who do jobs nobody else wants to do," said Mary Botkin, lobbyist for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Does she have to send a royalty check to La Raza for that one?

Anyway, you can't make this stuff up.

Comments (12)

It's not a coincidence their acronym involves the word 'SCAM'

The coming civil war (rich vs. poor) is not at all what they thought it was going to be.

Posted by Getting out | September 11, 2011 12:15 AM

It's looking more and more like the public's willingness to fund public employees pensions and benefits; no matter what the cost, will be coming to an end sooner rather than later..

Posted by Dave A. | September 11, 2011 6:08 AM

Dave A: True, but after watching events in Wisconsin last Spring, they're not going to give anything up quietly.

Posted by boycat | September 11, 2011 6:39 AM

Let's not rest until the public employees are down below the poverty line with the rest of us. Otherwise, how will the wealthy ever have enough?

Posted by Allan L. | September 11, 2011 8:59 AM

Re: "...how will the wealthy ever have enough?"

"As promised in this week's print edition of WW, here is the compensation information for every city of Portland employee in the 2011 fiscal year."
http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-27586-who_are_the_highest_paid_city_of_portland_employees_new_salary_data_for_9000_city_workers.html

Posted by Gardiner Menefree | September 11, 2011 9:13 AM

Allan L., maybe if all citizens are given the chance to even vote fairly on urban renewal that takes over 30% in just taxes from schools, fire, police, parks, etc., then maybe citizens wouldn't be so critical of PERS and other public employee costs beyond just their wages.

Why don't the public employees along with other union employees and others who want to lavish tax dollars on every unnecessary planners dream see the reality and help themselves as well as others repute the boondoggles that take dollars from even their own purses?

Posted by lw | September 11, 2011 9:20 AM

Blame public employees. It's easier than thinking.

Posted by Conrad | September 11, 2011 9:41 AM

"Otherwise, how will the wealthy ever have enough?"

Funny, I was going to say the amse about the non-public employee taxpayers.

Posted by Steve | September 11, 2011 9:42 AM

I question the intelligence of an organization that employs someone who makes such a stupid and demeaning statement about her fellow members.
"All it will be used for is to inflame the public against people who do jobs nobody else wants to do"
Were I a member of that union I'd be calling the offices and asking for her resignation

Posted by tankfixer | September 11, 2011 8:13 PM

Aside from constantly reminding yourself how smart you are Conrad, no one is laying blame on individuals.

Posted by Getting out | September 12, 2011 11:38 AM

"Let's not rest until the public employees are down below the poverty line with the rest of us. Otherwise, how will the wealthy ever have enough?

Particularly in Oregon where per capita income "lags far behind" the rest of the nation and the far west (according to the Oregon Labor Department), to most of "the rest of us" public employees are the wealthy, times ten counting early retirements, pensions and medical benefits.

Posted by Sally | September 12, 2011 1:45 PM

After that can we actually find out if Brad Avakian is a relative of Revolutionary Communist Party Chair, Bob Avakian? Both families are from Fresno based Armenian immigrant families. Hmmm.

Posted by Ron Swaren | September 13, 2011 7:10 AM

Search this site

About

Clippings

Archives

Links

E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Comedy gold

Comments (12)

Sponsors

In Vino Veritas

The Occasional Book

Road Work