I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Notself -- To answer your question (and not answer it at the same time!), it's the very same folk who vote against their own self-interest, whether through ignorance, a weakness for propaganda and demagoguery, or selfishness (if I can't have it, no one else can either).

We Canucks value our teachers.  They are the second most important influence in our children's lives.  It's considered an honour to be a member of the teaching profession.  I'm astonished at how some states seem to consider teachers as mere budget expenses, rather than the tremendous assets they are to society.  I just read some stats which equated the devaluing of teachers (lower pay etc.) to students' scores in maths and reading.  If I were a parent (or even just a resident) in those states, I would be very, very worried, AND very, very vociferous in condemning the legislature for lowering educational standards.

One of my coworkers, in the clerical staff, retired about a month ago, i.e, the lowest paid of the lowest paid.  She worked about 15 years, coming to the organization late.  In retirement, she has to pay the government!!  Her pension benefit (she is under the FERS post 1984 plan) is less than her health insurance obligation  (as I said, we pay about 1/3 of our premium, working or retired).  My guess is, she isn't quite eligible for SS, so she is getting the pension part only.  This probably means her pension is less than $300 a month.

Okey dokey, just saw an example out of my office window of why you want a well-trained, fairly-compensated, motivated Federal employee at the console in the tower at National Airport. A helicopter was lifting off from the helipad at the Pentagon and flew a little close to the runway at National airport on which a passenger jet was on its takeoff roll. The plane had just rotated when the helicopter flew rather closer than I wanted to see. The helicopter banked sharply back toward the Pentagon and the airplane went up a little sharper than usual. Ugh. I need to stop looking out my window. It might not have been as harrowing as it looked from here, but it was enough make me hold my breath until the plane was well up and the helo was over the river.



L

Let me add non-for-profits employees who are also paid a lot less than market value. It's even worse if you work for a religious organization. People act as if you should work for free, that it's your "Christian obligation." I left a corporate job in 2003, making 74K. I started my present job in 2004 making $51,000. If my 2% raise is approved by the Trustees at our annual meeting later this month, I'll be making a whooping $70,000. I have 40 years in the work force and a MSW. 70K is a very good salary, but doing similar work in the corporate world would easily double it. I have no idea if I'll be able to completely retire ever. End of rant. Oh, as someone reminded me earlier today, women are cheaper than men.

Bartender, rant on. Non profit pay is a mortal sin!

So this discussion begs the question.....who is fairly paid? That is, neither over-not under-paid. And it is possible to be fairly paid and make billions or peanuts...

Any candidates of people or professions?

Sandy, good choice.

I also nominate highly skilled workers like plumbers.

Is Warren Buffet fairly paid? I say yes because he is self-employed, an entrepreneur, and is in the business of growing money, which he does very well.

But many a CEO on Wall Street who do mediocre jobs, get bailed out by taxpayers and reap huge bonuses they never earned are parasites.

Most university professors are probably well paid MOST fairly so.

I say most writers are grossly underpaid - hope it won't happen to you, though, Sandy. :-)

C'est incroyable ce qui se passe chez les voisins....les sottises, les conneries!!

(Don't mind me. Long day at work.)

ETA: I think, Blue, that you and I are saying the same thing!

I had to put that in the Google translator, Athena-my high school French is very rusty. Ha!

Mary

Come and tie my shoes, seafood plate.



And that is the limit of my French.



In other news, I picked up my new reading glasses today and can now see in 3D for the first time in my life. I feel like I'm in a science fiction movie with a bad headache.

enjoyful - hysterical!!!!!!  Love the image of the 3 d glasses. 

Mary

sick, sick, sick...http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/01/07/groups-to-hold-national-gun-appreciation-day-this-month/

I hadn't heard of it before you posted.  Every day I am learning more and more how much I APPRECIATE and respect the President of the United States, and how grateful I am he was re-elected.  More than grateful, really. 

Hopefully on 1/19, most people will be busy getting ready to celebrate the Inauguration.  I certainly will.