You are correct. Everyone's situation is different.

I'm currently caught in that "too old to get another job but too young to retire" age bracket. Maximizing savings to minimize the time in this situation is the highest priority for me. If I can ride out this downturn, I shouldn't have to worry about the next one. But that's a big "if."

NPR is making a big deal of the fact that, because of the industries hardest hit, something like 80% of the layoffs to date are men. That could cause problems in some homes...given that men supposedly tie more of their identity with what they do for a buck.

 

Sorry I disagree i have been on both sides, and the bottom line is Unions are money grubbing self serving whores who don't care about their members. And if its any consolation I also believe in flagmen! And on a serious note i don't like to see anyone losing their job, but LEO's that purchase homes and vehicles based on their anticipated OT + salary, instead of their salary, are no different than the idiots at BK that took on mortgages on no income verification, adjustable rate arms, and when the time comes to refi, they can't get approved. Sorry if you don't like this statement, but it is the truth. I personally have 2 good friends that are LEO's that purchsed homes and vehicles based off their salary + OT, and are having a hard time. Now times are tight, and town budgets are being cut and they are struggling. Just like the housing market was way over inflated, I think the same about some public service positions. The State Police for example are way over paid! Over 20% of all Mass. State Police make over 200k, that is redonkulous! Unions suck....... as the kid who I just hired who was laid off for 9 months from the Carpenters Union. Union Credo: more money...less work!

 

 

i don't want to be laid off and not because of the free hdtv, free cheese and free benefits (we get those right) but rather i enjoy going to work. Getting the job done and the comradely of it all . work is a part of who i am but if I do you an bet I would be selling wood, working at a gas station, selling my blood to pay the (what now seems to be) the very over priced mortgage

 

well all u gotta do to feel better is find out what it cost to rent a room at the holiday inn for 30 nights straight, ill bet ur mortgage wont seem overpriced compared to that quote

 

The guys at the state police and my job that are making $200k a year are working three times as many hours as a guy making $60k. They never go home and spend little time with family because they want to give them a better life. Why would anyone care how many hours a guy works if his job offers it because the work is there? Sounds like jealousy to me. No one bitches about a contractor that makes rediculous money when the housing market is good. No one would say "man, that mechanical engineer makes way too much money". Penis envy.



Unions FTMFW!!! Many of you folks complain about how unfairly your bosses treat you and how they can just cut employees at will and chop benefits you have worked hard for. Then in the same breath you complain about unions that would protect you from such abuse. Again, penis envy.

 

Partially true... I see it mostly as they can't stand their nagging ass wives who are driving their kids around in Yukons or Suburbans so they work all these " Details" to actually pay for their girlfriends that they have met since they are never home.

And as for the why would anyone care, I don't . But I'm sick of hearing LEO's whine about losing money because there aren't any details, or their city or town is cutting back. No-one should take a job expecting OT It's not my fault that they took a job that pays 36k a year, but they thought" hey I can work 80 hrs a week and make 80k" So they go out and purchase a 500k home, 50k SUV,etc., etc. etc.

The reason why our towns are in such fiscal dismay is the wasted money they spend on police details alone. Let me see, pay a flag man $15 an hour who will actually wear a neon uniform and be seen and wave a flag that can be seen, and who is actually happy to be at work, OR....pay a LEO $ 50 an hour who has already worked 8 hrs. straight....stands on the sidewalk ( without any flag or neon vest to be seen) talking to the verizon , underground, etc. instead of directing traffic, or ( the #1 and most common seen) standing talking on hiss cell phone ) instead of doing his job. As far as I'm concerned most LEO's should be happy that they are employed. I mean what other job can you hang out all day go to DD, local rest. sit in your car parked door to door w/ another cruiser and talk to your buddy in a parking lot for hours, then bust people's balls when your in a bad mood, and talk to your girlfriends all day while your wives are at home with your kids?? Now unless you work in a big city like Lynn, Boston , Worcester, Lowell, etc. where there is real crime, you basically have it made, you write traffic tickets, bust high school kids balls, and respond to Medic calls of elderly people who lose their bowel functions and call 911.

And the difference between you job and a contractor is, they actually work for a living and earn their money. You guys expect jobs like sitiing in your cruiser reading the paper while the guys doing the real work ( cable, electric, sewer, gas ) are actually working!

Well keep puming your Union fist, because you are high up on your list for termination, but ask the guy who is about to lose his job if he feels the same. This country is losing 100k jobs daily, and you want pity about what you have earned??? Like I said the union doesn't care about it's members... it will let guys get laid off, but will it's officers take a pay freeze or cut ?? hell no, all they care about is its Dues? I used to work for a Co. that was union, that is no NON Union, and everyone said they are much better off, EVERYONE! Unions are a front, i would rather work and earn my job and secure my position with good work, than work for a Co. that pays all employees the same. Unions are good for the lazy shitbags that need someone to protect them from being fired. My job is protected from my good work , don't you wish yours was????

 

YIKES - Jeff does work in a rough town and i would not want his job for all the $$$ in the world - try having a job where people hate you just because you got a ticket from some other guy (ie broke the law anyway) and have some silly preconceived notion that they are all out to get you


most details are paid by the company doing the work and not via tax dollars so again you are incorrect.

I can understand why most cops don

 

uhmm steve if it's road work who do you think is paying the company that is doing the work?
So instead of paying the detail cop, your paying the detail cop and a 25% uplift on the labor.

The detail work that drives me nuts is on the pike.
These guys are sitting in their cruiser behind a row of cones sipping coffee.
You could set up flashers and have the same net effect.

 

jerry do you think Verizon / comcast / would lower it's rates if they paid a flag man - nope

do you think your town will lower your taxes if they switched to flag man - i sure as hell know mine wouldn't