George Rebane
A couple of weeks ago I sent The Union a letter mostly to see what they would do with it. It was time sensitive and related to the cynical aspects of the partial shutdown. Since the letter was not published during the shutdown, I assumed that it was rejected. But lo and behold, several readers informed me that it was published today (also available online behind their paywall) under the title ‘Who told National Parks to ‘make life difficult?’ For the record, I reprint it below –
It will be harder than ever for our progressive neighbors to deny that platoons of federal agency workers are just a phone call away from reverting to local units of government goons. Recall that these people are in jobs of last resort. They would not be hired by anyone in the private sector. They are utterly loyal to the only hand that will feed them. And the beast reveals itself more with every passing month and opportunity.
Of all the reports coming in about the conduct of federal agencies during this government shutdown, the editorial “The Park Police” in the Oct. 21 Weekly Standard is most revealing of what we are really dealing with. No surprise then that one park ranger explained to the Washington Times last week, “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can.”
The first question that comes to mind is: ; 'Who did the telling?' But my more urgent question is: 'Where in hell are the local county sheriffs when the federal government straps on their brown shirts and jack boots?'
George Rebane, Nevada City
A couple of weeks ago I sent The Union a letter mostly to see what they would do with it. It was time sensitive and related to the cynical aspects of the partial shutdown. Since the letter was not published during the shutdown, I assumed that it was rejected. But lo and behold, several readers informed me that it was published today (also available online behind their paywall) under the title ‘Who told National Parks to ‘make life difficult?’ For the record, I reprint it below –
It will be harder than ever for our progressive neighbors to deny that platoons of federal agency workers are just a phone call away from reverting to local units of government goons. Recall that these people are in jobs of last resort. They would not be hired by anyone in the private sector. They are utterly loyal to the only hand that will feed them. And the beast reveals itself more with every passing month and opportunity.
Of all the reports coming in about the conduct of federal agencies during this government shutdown, the editorial “The Park Police” in the Oct. 21 Weekly Standard is most revealing of what we are really dealing with. No surprise then that one park ranger explained to the Washington Times last week, “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can.”
The first question that comes to mind is: ; 'Who did the telling?' But my more urgent question is: 'Where in hell are the local county sheriffs when the federal government straps on their brown shirts and jack boots?'
George Rebane, Nevada City
A friend who is also the ‘designated reader’ of local leftwing literature emailed some comments that my letter drew from their fans and followers. As you would anticipate, none of the comments addressed the government’s cynical response to the so-called shutdown – that would have been worth a headline itself – instead, their response was the usual attack on your friendly commentator. Still, nothing newsworthy there.
However, I do want to highlight one comment from the litany of inanities because it again illustrates the inner workings of the liberal mind, in this case as typified by Mr Peter Van Zandt, former Nevada County supervisor, presumably still administering a liberal NGO, and definitely a thought leader for those locals in need of such leadership. Peter apparently found the egregious behavior of the federal government a bit too big to grapple, but was able to focus on my inclusion of RR's long-repeated indictment that most public employees are working for their employer of last resort.
That contention apparently was the red meat that The Union wanted to hang out there, even though my letter’s ‘moment’ had long passed. Bingo!
Peter’s immediate reply was “In a striking turn around it appears that Mr. Rebane now considers law enforcement and fire fighters are in “jobs of last resort”. Sad…” (Interesting that he left out the EMT people and the military.) His “turn around” comment leaves me puzzled, but throwing in first responders with the hundreds of thousands of faceless bureaucrats and armed thugs who now populate the ranks of federal employees was a bit of a stretch surely meant to strike a chord with the thoughtless.
Emergency response is truly an uncontroversial jobs category of government. Except for their egregious benefits packages and occasional instances of corruption that contribute to the line of jurisdictions today standing at the Chapter 9 window, these men and women perform a service needed to assure our quality of life. Apparently the Van Zandts of the country do not understand that all public employees are not created equal.
But that doesn’t change the point of my letter. Once a young person commits to a career in fire fighting or law enforcement, it is hard even for them to return to the private sector and find work that sustains their quality of life while in public service. Nevertheless, given the available career paths in police and fire work, this sacrifice is not seen as being too great when we witness the hundreds of applicants queuing up for every available job.
Given this, we all understand the value of first responders and have been more or less sanguine when their retirement packages come due, often at multiple millions of net present value per retiree. And here’s the rub. We also understand the value of the legions of faceless minions who are nothing but extremely expensive anchors holding back the public weal while sinking our country deeper into indebtedness. These employees number many times that of the first responders, and these lead weights are invisible to the progressive elites who at every turn seek to increase their number.
When such critiques as mine are encountered, the best that the liberal mind can do to combat these ideas is to scream that ‘Rebane (or whoever) hates the police and fire fighters!’ And that usually is enough to deflect the argument – here, about government corruption and overreach. Meanwhile, they will hire more militarized guards to keep us out of public memorials, monuments, and parks, even to the point of not allowing us to look at them from a distance. The liberal mind does not question such government.
However, I do want to highlight one comment from the litany of inanities because it again illustrates the inner workings of the liberal mind, in this case as typified by Mr Peter Van Zandt, former Nevada County supervisor, presumably still administering a liberal NGO, and definitely a thought leader for those locals in need of such leadership. Peter apparently found the egregious behavior of the federal government a bit too big to grapple, but was able to focus on my inclusion of RR's long-repeated indictment that most public employees are working for their employer of last resort.
That contention apparently was the red meat that The Union wanted to hang out there, even though my letter’s ‘moment’ had long passed. Bingo!
Peter’s immediate reply was “In a striking turn around it appears that Mr. Rebane now considers law enforcement and fire fighters are in “jobs of last resort”. Sad…” (Interesting that he left out the EMT people and the military.) His “turn around” comment leaves me puzzled, but throwing in first responders with the hundreds of thousands of faceless bureaucrats and armed thugs who now populate the ranks of federal employees was a bit of a stretch surely meant to strike a chord with the thoughtless.
Emergency response is truly an uncontroversial jobs category of government. Except for their egregious benefits packages and occasional instances of corruption that contribute to the line of jurisdictions today standing at the Chapter 9 window, these men and women perform a service needed to assure our quality of life. Apparently the Van Zandts of the country do not understand that all public employees are not created equal.
But that doesn’t change the point of my letter. Once a young person commits to a career in fire fighting or law enforcement, it is hard even for them to return to the private sector and find work that sustains their quality of life while in public service. Nevertheless, given the available career paths in police and fire work, this sacrifice is not seen as being too great when we witness the hundreds of applicants queuing up for every available job.
Given this, we all understand the value of first responders and have been more or less sanguine when their retirement packages come due, often at multiple millions of net present value per retiree. And here’s the rub. We also understand the value of the legions of faceless minions who are nothing but extremely expensive anchors holding back the public weal while sinking our country deeper into indebtedness. These employees number many times that of the first responders, and these lead weights are invisible to the progressive elites who at every turn seek to increase their number.
When such critiques as mine are encountered, the best that the liberal mind can do to combat these ideas is to scream that ‘Rebane (or whoever) hates the police and fire fighters!’ And that usually is enough to deflect the argument – here, about government corruption and overreach. Meanwhile, they will hire more militarized guards to keep us out of public memorials, monuments, and parks, even to the point of not allowing us to look at them from a distance. The liberal mind does not question such government.
Dr. Rebane, I believe it is best to keep secret the identity of the unfortunate who drew the short straw and was exiled to become the designated reader over at The Purple Purgatory Blog. Lord knows that is not something one would want on a resume during one's lifetime. Best to let our designated reader suffer in anonymity.
It would be most fitting if Ozzie the tent maker who was hired to shield Mount Rushmore from the public's view could find the time to fashion a stunning outfit for the Phew. Purple is the color of royalty.
This shutdown thing got many a federal public servant upset because they were labeled as non-essential", Shrinks' couches across the land are being occupied by federal employees who feel...er...non-essential. Suck it up or just crawl under the couch if you feel less than you ass wipes. Assume the fetal position.
I did suffer a wee bit during the shutdown. Deprived me our my favorite show about critters.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/government-shutdown-forces-national-zoo-to-turn-of,34062/
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 26 October 2013 at 09:25 PM
George, the left and its acolytes actually fo to schools where they teach the tactics of extreme rhetoric like Peter used. Remember, these are the same people who said the very same thing about ICE when the local lady was picked up. But, how soon they forget.
When Prop 13 was being debated the democrats used the same extreme language to send fear into the people that tey would have to cut the services like cops, firemen, libraries etc. Is is simply a Sal Alinsky strategy. All NGO's from the left are trained in this language.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 27 October 2013 at 06:25 AM
All my life there has never NOT been the threat of laying off firemen and police officers and closing libraries when a local tax measure was being proposed by those that lust after the people's money. Even as a kid I was sent home after school with literature to vote for some bond measure or my teacher would be thrown out on the streets to be devouring by wolves.
Remember when Arnie tried to pass some reforms after he won the recall? The airwaves were flooded with commercials showing a fireman with his perfect kids asking "Why does the Gov want to hurt firefighters?" A nice compassionate nurse was asking "Why does the Gov want to hurt nurses?" Nothing new under the sun.
Yep, threaten John Q. Public with his house about to burn down or no police to call when armed crazed hooligans are busting willy nilly into your homes and neighborhoods and you can't take your youngins to the library (even if you could traverse the potholes in the streets). Never mind the planners are never given the ole pink slip.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 27 October 2013 at 07:03 AM
When eco groups and other NGO's need to raise the dough they bring out the big cats, the little fuzzy critters or show a clearcut. Then they beat it to death as the destiny of the planet or people . They have to be over the top in their words and deeds to get action. This is a tried and true tactic used by Peter starting with the Colfax Highway tactics he employed against the safety and widening back in the late 80's. They even had people go put yellow ribbons around the trees. If you were for the safety project you were a tree murderer and anti-environment.
There is no middle ground, there are two or more visions for the progress of humanity. It is a death match, politically speaking, and the liberals are the best at the violent speech.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 27 October 2013 at 08:13 AM
"Except for their egregious benefits packages and occasional instances of corruption " -- How does this differ from Wall Street CEOs? Are those who put their lives on the line for the public good less deserving of compensation? Are those who put their money on the line somehow more deserving of the huge benefit packages that dwarf any compensation a cop or fireman would ever get? There was a story about an Iraq War vet who got a job as a body guard for a Wall Street CEO. His job was to put his body on the line for $15 an hour protecting a man who made more money in an hour than his body guard made in a month, and more in a year than his body guard will make in his lifetime. Yet one man is risking his life and the other only his money. How is this rational?
Posted by: Joe Koyote | 27 October 2013 at 09:46 AM
JoeK@09:46AM
Please use the Internet to check your assumptions:
A recent study of bodyguards in different parts of the country revealed that bodyguards in New York make an average of $65 an hour (or $650 for a 10-hour day), while counterparts in Los Angeles command only $20 an hour (or $200 for a 10-hour day). If you hire these bodyguards through a well-respected agency, the rates may be even higher than this.
That said, bodyguards and Wall Street CEO has much different skill sets and are paid accordingly. If bodyguards had the same skill sets and the CEO, they would not need to be a bodyguard. I am reasonably confident that Wall Street CEO’s that need bodyguards are not hiring off the street thugs, they are hiring highly trained personnel that can demand more than $65.00 an hour.
Posted by: Russ Steele | 27 October 2013 at 10:15 AM
The point remains the same Russ, even if the bodyguard makes a hundred bucks an hour. One person is presumably supposed to stop the bullet for the other. The bodyguard is offering up his/her life to protect another person who is only offering up their money, the amount of which in relative terms is a pittance for the CEO. I just find that putting a dollar value on someone's life based on a skill set seems a bit out of synch.
Posted by: Joe Koyote | 27 October 2013 at 10:37 AM
Mr. Koyote. It is not one's skill set per se. It is the job's requirements. A pro football receiver is paid to catch a ball, period. No excuses. A policeman is paid to protect and serve, even with his life on the line. No excuses. They know that when the apply for the job. Remember shocked and dismayed people where when the New Orleans cops walked off their jobs during Katrina. That was not protecting nor serving.
A bodyguard's job description is to protect, catch a bullet on purpose if necessary. A Security guard's job is usually to observe and report, even though he might be in the line of fire during his career. Its all about job requirements. Like what an old movie director told a pampered starlet back in the day. She did not like the script and was expressing her opinion over a scene to the point production was shut down. The director told her "Your job is to act. Now act!"
Federal employees receive adequate compression to put it kindly. I bet your bodyguard friends don't receive life time pensions and benefits like a street sweeper does. Heck, a bus driver in DC or Frisco is compensated quite nicely, but they have that gawd awful requirement to deal with the public in those gawd forsaken places.
A federal non essential employee finds a bottle in the bottom of his desk drawer. He rubs it and the genie grants him 3 wishes. He is now lounging on a hammock enjoying Paradise Tropical Island. A bit lonely, he asked for 20 maidens to rub his feet and swoon over him. Then the genie asks what he desires for his 3rd wish. The man says he never wants to work a day in his life again. POOF! The man instantly finds himself back at his desk.
I want smaller, smarter government. Sending a private tax-payer funded airplane to pick up the Obama's pet and fly Fido from the Bahamas to Aspen is not smaller, wiser, smarter. It is the actions of jet setters, not our public servants. Hey, lets have a Convention in Hawaii. Its essential cause it is hard to send/receive e-mails and communicate official business to fellow non essential public servants when they are all surfing porn most of the day.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 27 October 2013 at 11:19 AM
Sigh.....Joe, Joe, Joe.
"Except for their egregious benefits packages and occasional instances of corruption " -- How does this differ from Wall Street CEOs?
A Wall Street CEO won't arrest (and quite probably shoot you if he deems you to be non compliant), try, and imprison you if you opt out of his services (I should qualify this by saying there are some services the CEO provides where opting out isn't really possible....food stamps are administered by J.P. Morgan Chase I believe....... feel free to complain about this to TEAM DEMOCRAT)
Are those who put their lives on the line for the public good less deserving of compensation?
I suppose you would really have to tighten up your definition of "public good". Soldiers are paid a pittance compared to police and firefighters and they're lives are in far greater danger.
"Are those who put their money on the line somehow more deserving of the huge benefit packages that dwarf any compensation a cop or fireman would ever get?"
They absolutely are as long as no public monies are used to provide these benefits! You can be as offended as you like about the outlandish compensation Wall Streeters receive....it's not your concern unless you are a shareholder. If you are a holder of these firm you have voting rights and theoretically can effect changes to policies you find distasteful.
There was a story about an Iraq War vet who got a job as a body guard for a Wall Street CEO. His job was to put his body on the line for $15 an hour protecting a man who made more money in an hour than his body guard made in a month, and more in a year than his body guard will make in his lifetime. Yet one man is risking his life and the other only his money. How is this rational?
Rational? Who gets to make that call? The bodyguard does....not you. No one compels him to take this risk.
Posted by: fish | 27 October 2013 at 11:29 AM
Shit Bill...I didn't need to comment at all....you addressed it all quite nicely!
(Hat Tip)
Posted by: fish | 27 October 2013 at 11:34 AM
$65 through an agency. Is that like the mechanic who gets $30 of the $90 the local car fixit place charges you?
Posted by: Douglas Keachie | 27 October 2013 at 12:05 PM
$65 through an agency. Is that like the mechanic who gets $30 of the $90 the local car fixit place charges you?
Yeah it is. Don't like the split start your own "fixit" place.
Posted by: fish | 27 October 2013 at 12:24 PM
...... they're lives are in far greater danger.
"their"
Sorry...grammar FAIL. I hate it when I do that!
Posted by: fish | 27 October 2013 at 12:42 PM
v The System
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-auOewlYc
Posted by: Al | 27 October 2013 at 06:46 PM
Again we note our leftwing friends' silence on the subject of this post - egregious government overreach and corruption in how the recent partial shutdown was handled to inflict maximum inconvenience on citizens and display armed power to intimidate at every turn.
Instead we focus on the Marxist litany of wage inequality and unfairness in the job marketplace. If this had been a Republican administration orchestrating such a shutdown, the Democrats in Congress would have demanded hearings and investigations at the highest levels to identify the official perpetrators. Another confirmation of the asymmetry between our polarized approaches to governance. Meanwhile, we enjoy the crickets.
Posted by: George Rebane | 28 October 2013 at 07:34 AM
"$65 through an agency. Is that like the mechanic who gets $30 of the $90 the local car fixit place charges you?
Yeah it is. Don't like the split start your own "fixit" place."
And then if you get successful and hire some mechanics, you'll pay them something near what the market will bear and spend a huge amount of time jumping through the hoops the government requires of an employer, and pay a big chunk of money to local, state and federal coffers, not to mention things like health insurance that only employers can buy with before tax dollars.
Sometimes customer's checks bounce. The employee gets paid. Sometimes employees and managers make mistakes that require a do-over at no additional cost to the customer. The employee gets paid.
And some of your employees will also get ticked off that they're only getting $30 of the $90 that gets billed the customer.
Posted by: Gregory | 28 October 2013 at 02:20 PM
Dr. Rebane, read this and thought of you. Nowhere to put it, so I choose this spot. Human nature is human nature and fame is fleeting:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/11/16/when_the_obama_magic_died_120680.html
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 16 November 2013 at 10:43 AM