Yes, take a pay cut
This letter is in response to Mr. Michael Militano’s (Tribune-Herald, May 7) regarding possible pay cuts for state and county employees.
In this time when many small businesses are in jeopardy of closing, or already have, and larger companies are laying off their employees, you are insulted by asking to accept a small reduction in pay?
Yes, government employees perform valuable services. So do many in the private sector. And, yes, everyone who is keeping things running, at base level, needs to protect themselves and their families.
The government is one of the largest employers in both the county and state. How is that “sustainable” ? There has to be some real production, creation, innovation to provide the funds for the government.
I think it is time for more than a pay cut. I think it is time to abolish government employee unions. Where in government, is the big bad capitalist, profiting from the cheap and dangerous labor of its employees? The cost of employee benefits is a huge portion of the budget.
Our schools are falling down, our roads are in shambles, we can’t continue to recycle or do other things our “cut services and increase taxes” mayor has deemed nonessential.
I know there are many dedicated government employees who go above and beyond. I think of the police officer with the chainsaw who helped clear a fallen tree on the old Saddle Road. I think of the county dump-truck driver who stopped to pick up several bags of opala off Volcano Highway. I think of the building inspector giving me guidance on how to meet an obscure code requirement, etc.
But for each of these exceptions, I think more of the four-man county truck at the end of a cul de sac, everyone asleep at 3 p.m.; the transfer station attendant reading his newspaper in his car; the bureaucrat that won’t acknowledge me at the desk; my friend who was fired from a department (for not leaving enough work for the other people in the office); the “for official use only” car unloading groceries and a bicycle in their driveway; etc.
The hubris, chutzpah, arrogance that would call for us to “fall on our knees and thank God” for overpaying them for the (mostly) menial tasks they do is insulting, at the least.
We cannot pay our police, firefighters and teachers enough. But, it is time we base compensation for government employees on the private sector average for the same or similar position.
We need to eliminate the ridiculous employment packages, that we cannot afford, and direct tax money to infrastructure before it falls completely apart.
Working for the government is a privilege, not an anointment.
Jeffery Lux
Volcano
Mahalo, lifeguards
Your story in May 5 Tribune-Herald about all 17 of the West Hawaii lifeguards passing their tough re-certification was good news. They are out there, laying it on the line for us all, as water sports activities are still allowed in many places, while lounging on the beach is not.
My brother and I are both longtime wave-riders — surfing for me, body-surfing for my brother. By “longtime,” I also mean we are slightly older than prime time, though we have never stopped.
The other day we decided to body-board the small waves at Richardson Ocean Park. Neither of us are adept body-boarders. An akamai lifeguard was walking the shore, doing his job, even wearing a mask.
Spotting us older guys heading toward the surf, he told us what happened to him earlier. He had gotten in from rescuing a floundering older body-boarder who was exhausted from the current, which is often deceptively strong. As he got near the guy to tow him to shore, the guy coughed right in his face.
The lifeguard checked us out in the most friendly way, not wanting to do another rescue. And earlier he was out there, quite possibly saving a life.
We appreciate the crucial work they do for us all. Mahalo nui loa.
Peter Easterling
Pahoa