Time You Enjoy Wasting Is Not Wasted Time

The New York Times has an article (link) quoting Governor Paterson on his plans to possibly increase taxes on the wealthy. He claims that he consideres taxing the rich as a last resort because it “automatically kicks in less job creation and leads to people leaving the state” which I’d like to see him back up with statistics becuase that doesn’t seem to make sense to me. Whatever, as long as he follows through and doesn’t just do it in name only.

Supreme executive power is derived from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!

I uploaded some pictures of the girls playing in the snow from the other day to my Flickr.

Because for every negative thing you should try to find a positive, here are the things I liked about Paterson’s budget proposal dealing with state workforce.

1. Adding a Tier 5 to the pension system. This makes logical sense, and allows the state to retain its commitment to existing workers while modifying the commitment to new workers. I am a big fan of defined benefit reitrement plans, or traditional pensions. I know this is another area where people like to blame the unions, but at one time defined benefit plans were the norm. The propoasl for the Tier 5 seems very reasonable and if I were a new employee being in Tier 5 would not deter me from entering the system.
2. Modifying the future retiree contributions for health care. Again, this makes sense. If you are in the system the full 30+ years you get the full benefit. If you leave early you get a reduced benefit. That seems equitable.
3. Requiring contributions to Medicare Part B Premiums. I don’t really understand what this is, but it does not seem too onerous.

As I’ve said, it’s too early to predict what will happen by the time the budget passes. I only hope that in the end an equitable arrangement can be found.

I needed to run out to the store today. I was dressed very casual, in sweatpants and T-shirt. Not that I dress up to go to the store, but sweatpants are really an around the house item for me. Nothing against people who wear sweatpants in public, but it is not something I feel comfortable doing. But I didn’t feel like getting changed, so Karen said well you’ll just look like a college student who’s just finished up some finals. I thought about it and thought, how appropriate. I am a college student who just finished up my finals. I submitted my last final paper last night! So now I have a month off from taking classes. I am very excited about that. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but grad school is definitely not easy. So I am glad to be done for a little bit.

In other news, while I was out I saw that gas prices have fallen to $1.88 a gallon!! I feel a strange feeling now when I have to put gas in my car. Something close to the opposite of dread.

New York’s imposed Governor Paterson (he was not elected, and in my opinion is un-electable) released his proposal for the 2009-2010 budget yeasterday (read it here). He has some interesting ideas, but a lot of bad misconceptions as well. The parts that concern me the most as a state employee is the part of the budget dealing with the State Workforce.

First off, he passes along the misconception that we are over-compensated by stating “State employees receive an average compensation of $62,453 plus generous fringe benefits.” Of course the problem with averages is that it is misleading. Certainly there are many state employees (myself included) making considerably less than $62,453 and I believe that the ones who are raising the average are part of the administration and management, not the rank and file worker. Yes we have excellent benefits. That is really what makes a state job attractive. If it was about salary I would have went with private industry. All of my friends in IT make considerably more than I do, and did right out of college as well. But I chose the state because of the benefits. So to assume that our benfit package is too generous is not looking at the whole picture.

Second, he wants to withold 5 days of pay. Using his average salary figure we can see that this amounts to $1,201.02. That is a lot of money to give up, especially for those workers who must live paycheck to paycheck.

Third, he wants us to give up our 3% raise. Unlike the 5 day salary deferrment this is a career-long loss. Again assuming the average salary, that is $1,873.59. But that is money that otherwise would have gone into base salary. So if an employee has 20 years left in their career that 3% loss has cost them at least $37,471.80. And that does not count any compounding or future raises.

Fourth, he is very vague on fringe beenfit savings. Is he referring to our share of our health insurance premiums? Or what? My health insurance premium will already be going up 37.25% in January. Any salary increases I might be getting would be going to pay for my more expensive health insurance, and even that won’t cover the cost increases. So what is his intention? To make us pay even more while he whittles away at our salaries?

It is still too early to tell what will actually happen, but it is clear to me that the Governor wants to lay both the blame and the burden on the working class of New York.

Here is a tribute to that fabulous era when the guitars were loud and the hair was big, the 80′s.

Faster Pussycat

Poison

Motley Crue

Ratt

Skid Row

Lita Ford

David Lee Roth

Governor Paterson plans to shift more of the State’s financial burden to those most unable to absorb higher costs. According to a preview of tomorrow’s budget proposal (Buffalo News) there will be higher taxes and fees along with cuts to education. What is missing is any mention of a progressive tax structure. Over the last 30 years the highest tax bracket have had their share drop from 15.38% to 6.85% effectively robbing New York of much needed revenue and forcing those at the middle to shoulder more of the costs. Before taxing the Native American cigarette sales, which may be violating ancient treaties, before cutting funding to education, before increasing other fees, the Governor should reinstate, immediately and retroactively, the 15.38% tax on the highest income bracket. If a few ultra-rich people leave NY because of this, then good riddance. They weren’t paying their share anyway. I am sick of seeing the working class get shit upon because we might offend some rich person. Trickle down economics doesn’t work unless you are one of the rich benefactors. If you’re the one being trickled, more like pissed, upon there is no benefit.

Paterson also wants give backs from the State workers. Let’s stop blaming Unions for all of our economic problems. Should we all be minimum wage Wal Mart greeters? Even as cheap as Wal Mart is, you can’t shop there if you only make minimum wage. For too long the middle class has been an anathema with everyone shooting for the ultra-rich lifestyles that appear so glamorous. For the majority who don’t attain riches though there is no middle to go to anymore. You should be able to support a family on a single income, enjoy vacation time, have good health benefits, and then know you can retire in comfort with a fair pension. That is the American dream. But the rich have taken it away for most people and want to take it away from everyone. Instead of railing against unionized workers everyone should be confronting their sub-standard wage paying employers and their wealthy CEO’s and demand that things change.Let’s stop the corporate feudalism we are being forced to live in.

In solidarity.

Check out the Benny Hillifier. It is full of teh awesome!

The only thing it doesn’t do is speed up the video, maybe in version 2?

Could this be the next RickRoll?

see Sarah Palin pictures

Reference, just in case.