Municipal workers like fire and police game the system as well to get 6-figure pensions, and their supervisors and boards and city/county government officials are willing, active participants.
Unions for municipal workers are the source of all this chicanery. It all starts there, and is a circular system of money moved between unions and local politicians.
Pensions were created by railroads in the 1880's to get rid of old, unproductive workers and replace them with younger teenagers who were 3x more productive.
The older workers usually died within a couple years of starting their pensions, so it was really a huge, money-making move for the railroads back then.
I also get tired of people arguing that we need to pay our fire and police so much more because they risk their lives for the public good. If they gave a rip, they'd be lobbying for higher pay for these occupations. Note what jobs are not listed here (from OSHA):
Top 10 most dangerous jobs:
1. Logging Workers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 100.7
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Contact with Objects and Equipment
2. Roofers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 57.5
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Falls, Slips and Trips
3. Fishing and Hunting Workers.
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 50.9
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Transportation Incidents
4. Helpers in Construction Trades
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 38.5
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Falls, Slips and Trips/Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments
5. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 35.9
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Transportation Incidents
6. Drivers/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 30.4
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Transportation Incidents
7. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 22.6
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Transportation Incidents
8. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 21.3
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Slips, Trips and Falls
9. Underground Mining Machine Operators
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 20.1
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Contact with Objects and Equipment
10. Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers
Fatal Injuries per 100,000: 20
Leading Cause of Fatalities: Transportation Incidents |
