Most of us know a little bit about the Salt River Project (SRP), the company that provides our electrical power here in the Valley. But, according to "SRP FACTS FY11", SRP is actually two (2) entities:
The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, a political subdivision of the State of Arizona. The district provides electricity to about 949,000 retail customers in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
The Salt River Valley Water User's Association, a private corporation. The association delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to a service area in Central Arizona.
SRP has over 4,300 employees here in the Valley, and the key phrase here is that SRP is actually "a political subdivision of the State of Arizona." SRP is virtually a government monopoly.
While perusing their "PULSE" (newsletter publication), I couldn't help but notice the number of service anniversaries of 35 and 45 years. Good for those folks, and SRP is a great place to work, but possibly SRP could consider some kind of "30 & OUT" program. Let those folks enjoy their retirements, and spend their generous pensions (with benefits) and 401Ks, and let some other (younger) people in to move up through the organization.
That's part of what's wrong with the U.S. We bemoan the 55+ unemployment situation; and while the wealth disparity in America is at its worst in decades, the disparity actually favors the 55+, while the 20/30-somethings' unemployment rate is huge, plus their net-worth is virtually zero.
And the people in the middle are kind of lost in all this. That's partly what's fueling the Occupiers. I guess I can't blame them.
John & Patti Latson
Mesa
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:27 pm on Mon, Nov 21, 2011.
The Geezers with the "35" and "45" years at the job can't quit because then they won't get their "full" Social Security. A good Medicare Supplemental Insurance that pays a hefty chunk of the Medicare "left-over" costs are in the $300-$400 a month bracket. On some of the retirement funds you have to pay hefty taxes to access them.
So bottom line....the Geezers aren't moving out so that the Un-Employment Generation can move in. Employers like Geezers too because they were brought up with manners and a work ethic. They have enough vacations so they don't have to call in sick to get some time off. They "know" the job because they have been doing it so long. They aren't closet "druggies" or tattoo and body-pierced "freaks". Employers don't have to be worried about "unionization" or "discrimination lawsuits" or having a "stolen identity".
Geezers don't feel that they ..."entitled" to their wages, they feel that they need to ... "earn" their wages.
I am sick and tired of hearing that there are "NO JOBS" out there because when I go to the Fast-Food Franchise down the block...who do I see but "Illegal Aliens" yelling ..."hamburgesa"..."dos tortas de pollo"..."fritas largas" to the equally "Illegal Aliens" in the kitchen. When I start hearing "chicken" pronounced with a "C" instead of a "S"....then I will have a little more sympathy.
Rich posted at 11:06 pm on Mon, Nov 21, 2011.
There is a solution. Go build a business, if you're young, it isn't that hard though it is time consuming and doesn't pay well for quite a while, and soon as it does the taxman shows up with his hand out, the government passes a new law that says you have to buy another insurance policy, and be sure to get e-verify because only you can prevent illegal immigration. By the time you've paid enough that the government doesn't go belly up, you've handed millions to insurance companies, paid off the corrupt union bosses, and brought back prosperity, you will be the old geezer and everyone will suggest you give your money away and quit working to make room for your spoiled brat children who are avoiding working by camping out in the park.
VofReason posted at 1:13 pm on Tue, Nov 22, 2011.
Anyone who presents this line of thinking cannot usually be reasoned with. Remember, the Progressives need you to think if something is going wrong in your life, it is someone elses fault and challenge to fix. You just need to make sure they know about it.