I am not a real political person but sometimes I wish that I were. I wish that I had a greater understanding of the complexities of the great Healthcare dilemma and how to solve it. I wish I could keep track of who is fighting who in the middle east and why and how the
But yesterday I found myself thinking about this… I was waiting in the Muni building to resolve some parking tickets. The first red flag was the fact that I had received THREE parking tickets for one violation in less than 24 hours; two of them were within an hour of each other. There wasn’t even time to correct the mistake (the direction of the wheels) and of course I started thinking that parking guy must have been really bored circling the block over and over and my wheels were the only thing he could find so he couldn’t help himself and had to keep writing it up- more/less it was probably just something to do. Wait a second- I think to myself… “And my tax dollars pay this guy?” Hmmm… I realize this was probably just my defense of a scorned parker in the city. But I went to the Muni office to plead my case that I only deserved one ticket, which in all fairness I was willing to pay. As I waited there with my number in hand, A087, I fell into conversation with my neighbor and I commented that I wished I knew that all of the money they received from tickets went to a good cause because then it would at least make it a little easier to pay, right? Then I learned the quite likely true rumor that the whole parking violation department barely breaks even from what they bring in, and have been in the red many times. Apparently they bring in just enough to cover management fees, rent, employee salaries and benefits. So what’s the point? It seems like a big-ole’ mess that takes money from some people just to give it to other people. Sure- they need to create jobs, but couldn’t they do something more productive than drive around their little tri-wheel cars? I understand the need for some regulation but I feel that they may just have a little too much time on their hands, which means- I not only get three times as many tickets, but I am also paying tax dollars towards unnecessary hours worked. On top of this- I recently learned from a highway patrol officer that they are forced to retire after 30 years of service and then they are paid out 90% of their salary for the rest of their lives!!!! The particular officer started when she was 25 and is retiring this year at 55. This seems quite out of date! We are likely to pay these people for another 30 years, half the work and double the pay? And I guess this is how many government positions are, which is why cities and states are going bankrupt. They can’t afford it! They need to make adjustments, just like corporate
