Comments on: Privatize fire departments

By: Kevin Sarkasian

Kevin Sarkasian — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:50:43 +0000

Let’s face it: firefighter is the BEST job in America; think about it, if a job is tough to get, then it MUST be great….I, for one, have NEVER heard of a firefighter quitting his/her job….ever see a billboard advertising that city XYZ is looking for fierfighting help?

Half of them, it seems, are on disability anyways further screwing the public while they do construction on the side….Great gig, firefighters, but you’re not fooling me….

Another note – you work the wildfires charging OT like crazy then retire based on that income – gives us all a break…

By: Peyton Farquhar

Peyton Farquhar — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:00:41 +0000

If the union doesn’t wise up and agree to its members paying a portion of its retirement and health bennies ::JUST LIKE:: every one else has to, privatizing the FD and any other public services is exactly what will happen. And while we’re discussing bloated salaries/bennies, let’s also include the state legislature in that equation. Reduce it to PT status and make them pay for their own bennies. They’re all millionaires anyway.

By: John Seiler

John Seiler — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:03:46 +0000

Thanks, David.

With governments having caused the ongoing Depression, I suspect a lot more cuts are coming — soon, to the governments themselves.

By: DavidfromLosGatos

DavidfromLosGatos — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:33:47 +0000

It’s too bad, since we would all like to hold firefighters up on a pedestal. It’s a tough job, and they do get injured and killed on the job from time to time, as do police. We want them to be there to save our lives and property, if needed. Their unions have played this card well. They will never agree to a real pay cut (e.g., 25%), and will be perfectly happy to lay off the more junior (and less expensive) guys so that public service is reduced and threatened. They will run television ads showing your house burning down because of lay-offs. They will show heroic fireman saving babies (OK City), inferring that with the cuts and layoffs, babies die. Perhaps some 9-11 thrown in for good measure.

So it goes.