I'm going regret this as I'm sooo out numbered on these boards... I try to NEVER get into political discussions.
When I finished serving my country in the US Navy (tax user) where I could have already been retired from by now and collecting a pension,(users) I went to work for a NAPA store as an auto machinist (tax payer).
I took and scored high on the firefighter’s civil service test. I was offered the job while away on my 2 weeks of active duty military service while I was still in the Navy Reserve.(Tax User)
During the interview, I was told straight up "It's a very good job 95% of the time but the other 5% ... well, they can't print enough money for that. You'll never get rich being a firefighter but, you will get free health care for life, the ability to retire after 25yrs of service and collect a pension."
So I left a higher paying job at NAPA, (Yes I was earning more at a dang NAPA store than the Fire Department was paying) because I wanted to serve and protect my community while paying my dues (in MANY ways) toward the promised benefits 25 years down the road.(Tax PAYER and User)
I'm now just under 4 months away from my 25 years. I have been exposed to all kinds of toxic chemicals, gasses and asbestos. Once my skin peeled off my face and neck from exposure to smoke from a factory fire (tax payer) while saving their facility, majority of their finished product and the jobs of their employees (tax payers).
I’ve had to directly deal with well over 2 dozen (quit counting) dead burnt up bodies including many children and babies as well as personal friends (it's a small town). I've cut mangled dead teenagers out of cars and even picked up baby fingers out of the dirt on the side of the road(many of which were successfully reattached
)
It took 23 1/2 years before I actually got to save a woman/mother (Tax payer) from an upstairs bedroom of a fully involved house fire. Then a couple months later using our new rescue boat pulled a man (Tax payer) from an overturned car in a flooded icy river. Only 2 good saves out of dozens of mind blowing, traumatizing experiences during my career. I’ve nearly been killed several times going above and beyond. (Foolishly in many cases)
The past 15 years of negotiating we have continually made concessions to our City knowing the economic situation in our manufacturing based community is hurting. (The jobs all went overseas so the companies could avoid being or employing Tax Payers. We pay more for health care now. We pay more for our pension and have not asked for cost of living increases MANY times. We fight fire with 4 men which is well below the minimum manning required by the Nat. Fire Protection Association. (Unsafe)
My pension will be just over 2k per month before taxes. (Tax payer) To keep my current level of insurance will cost 750 per month so I’ll end up collecting about 1k per month.
I’m not crying the blues, only stating that the reasons I’ve taken these risks for the promises made are now being taken away. I’ve always known people only care about us when they need us. Then before we get back to the firehouse we are back to being a burden to the community.
I’ve paid taxes and into my own pension for those 25 years. I feel I’ve earned it. I’ve been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress and can’t sleep without seeing dead people. I could even get disability but not even applying for that. Just trying to survive 4 more months without another dead baby… I’ll probably die of cancer like many other firefighters. I knew this going in. The average firefighter draws his pension for 7 years before he croaks. I’m 48. I’ll still be working and paying taxes as who can live on 1K per month. Otherwise I’ll be homeless…
Issue 5 allows our employers to say, “Times are tough, we can only pay you minimum wage from now on and forget about vacation or seniority.” Merit bases layoffs mean get ride of the experienced older guys as we earn more. You’ll get the protection you deserve. Guys who stand outside and spray water through the windows. Not a guy like me who fought my way into a crack heads house to attempt to save the 2 year old left alone in the house while mom was next door smoking crack. All the while listening to them stand outside and scream at me to “SAVE MY BABY!!!” I carried her out dead… while the crack heads all survived.
Issue 3 wants to take our pension, which we’ve paid into and invest it “for us” in the stock market. I bet that will work well. “Sorry we lost your money so we won’t be sending you anymore earned and promised checks.” They also want us to work 5-7 more years for the same pension.
But, hey I feel very appreciated for my lifetime of service to our country and our community. Not! Who are really the USERS?!
