I normally don't get involved in conversations such as this, but I would have to challenge your challenge. I am not sure if you are aware but public employee's pay into their own retirement system (at least in California). So that alleged $5,000.00 a month for retirement is paid into by the police officers and firefighter/EMTs. It is true, in this day and age police officers and firefighters are very well compensated as they should be. I would also have to challenge your made up statistic that only 20% percent of police officers are commited to public service. I find it hard to believe that the other 80% are risking something as valuable as their LIFE just to "be in it for themselves.....period". Now I know absolutly nothing about the floor covering business but I would find it hard to believe that when you leave for work, you wonder if you are coming home. In the first 26 days of the new year, 15 police officers have been killed in the line of duty, 12 have been shot in the last 48 hours. Again, I must plead ignorance because I am not privy to the statistics of individuals in the flooring industry but my guess would be that none have been murdered this year while at work. I don't know you at all, but if you or one of your family members life was in danger and you needed immediate police assistance I think you should pray that the officer responding is one of the 20% that is committed to public safety. I am just glad that the 12 of my friends who have been killed in the line of duty, including my partner were all commited to public service.

Greg Rickman
www.inmemoryofthefallen.org

WOW!! I wish Obama could read this stuff.He might wake up and smell the coffee and really try and change the way our goverment does thing's.He think's he only selling our kids down the river.But it his kind that will really be in deep shlt because they can't do anything for them selve's but stand in line w/their hand's out.Wanting the rest of us to fill their plate's.Obama was running for relection last night.If he is lucky enough to get relected in 2012 He will go right back to selling the working class back down the river.God bless real american's.

Bottom line is jobs. Everything else is a mute point.

If a million dollar car build is for sale for a dollar and you have 50 cents, then the ridiculous low price still doesn't have a buyer.

China is laughing at us bigtime.

Tax things that are not made in America, so we can make it here for the same price as the taxed goods from China. Sure it will cost a little more but at least an american has a job and a person on welfare isn't buying the cheap good from somewhere else.

Foreign made at lower cost / American on welfare , (i.e. no job) buys the foreign made product. Pretty soon you run out of other peoples money.

We need a business man to step up.

My sincere condolences. Our area is very similar to Bolder and Berkley. Over the years I've worked closely with numerous chiefs and 60+ patrol officers, DA's, Judges, etc. many considered friends. We've had our share of corruption and medical discharges. I will always support those who make an a reasonable effort. I've been supporting a police dept via task forces and committees in a community that would prefer not to have one and is now becoming a popular place for gangs being centrally located off I-5. I'm sure it my business ha

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

My sincere condolences.

Our area is very similar to Bolder and Berkley. Over the years I've worked closely with numerous chiefs and 60+ patrol officers, DA's, Judges, etc. many considered friends. We've had our share of corruption and questionable medicalmental discharges. I will always support those who put forth a reasonable effort. For years I've been supporting a police dept via task forces and committees, acting as a liasion between patrol officers and desk jockeys in a community that acts like they would prefer not to have one. To the point many officers have turned in their tazers because of personal liability. Now area is becoming a popular place for travelers from all areas of the country and more bothersome, LA originating gangs since we're centrally located on the I-5 corridor.

I'm sure it my business has lost numerous customers because of my fundamental principles and support of law enforcement.

In our area, which I've lived all my life, the level of service in the majority of public sectors has been declining, IMO due to internal policy and procedure regualtion and animosity is rising as value deminishes.

At this point, in 1976 when I went to work for our company I wish would have got on the department, I'd have comfortably retired 5 years ago and worked 20 less hours a week. Now, at 52 years old, retirement is doubful. My mistake. Thankfully I'm much better off than the average American.

There needs to be reasonable balance.

Really too many issues to blame just one thing. But just a few that are MY OPINION :thumbsup:
Unions were good in the past, but now most (not all) are led by scumbags that could give a flip about the employees, except for the worthless employees that is and then they protect them from getting fired. Just like the government and welfare, they (both govt and unions) breed an entitlement mentality, that someone is "owed" something. Which breed all kinds of other issues. Nobody is "owed" anything, they can work for it, which is fine, but not owed.
Then there's "fair trade".......Whatever!! If it was fair, the freighters going back to china would have product in them, not just US cash!! Lol! But some of that can bring up another union and too high wage argument also.
Then there's the whole crooked and totaly out of touch and control government! There needs to be new rules to term limits, and then rules that state that after the term is up, they can't go work for any company or lobby that is on the tit! And also their retirement for being a public servant is cut in half (or more!) so they are off the tit!!
Then there's welfare and unemployment, MAKE THEM TAKE A DRUG TEST!!!! The rest of the working world has to, make them!!!

But NONE of this will ever happen because the politicians have to vote for the changes. That won't happen because it will take too much power out of their hands.

So, in essence we are screwed!! Happy happy, joy joy!!:willy:

and there ya go ............. I love a good political debate, but not on this site. They always turn that way unfortunately.