We're not all in this together until the public sector steps up

[Anonymous]

Where do people in the public sector think the money comes from?



I and others have presented the idea that we could lessen the debt we are building if the public sector took a small wage hit while the private sector is experiencing far worse.



Roughly 20% of working people are in the public realm, paid by government through taxes. One in every five workers, when the private sector is working.



Of the remaining 80%, more and more are losing businesses and jobs. Government subsidies will not save many of those businesses nor will they sustain the lifestyle of many families.



Savings will be used up and fortunes will be lost to failed business – businesses mandated to close – while the debt is mounting to a level we cannot predict.



One million jobs have been lost, but practically none of those were government jobs. Their salaries and benefits continue to flow.



Public sector workers write to me saying that they spend their money so that drives the economy. No, their wages come out of the economy in the first place.



That is not to say they are not doing valuable work, as were the now unemployed private sector people. But to follow their logic, we would be even richer if we gave the public sector an across the board massive raise in pay.



But, of course, that would only increase the debt.



Public sector workers also argue my point by claiming I just want to hurt public employees, yet those same people will also say, in the same breath, that closing businesses is a necessary move.



They will support total unemployment for others while refusing to help out by 10% to keep the debt a bit more manageable.



Where is the greed? And where is the common sense from elected officials? Their first thought in the morning seems to be, "Should I shut down more businesses?"



Cutting the cost of government isn't their last thought, it is a thought they just don't have.



Where is the heart? It is not heartless to demand that the public sector participate, it is necessary.



The size of government is massive and a 10% cut in government wages would add up to billions the private sector would not have to pay off during recovery.



Ten per cent would not hurt employed civil servants anywhere near the pain currently experienced by the people who pay their wages.



All of the debt – all of it – will have to be paid from private sector businesses and employees who will first be taxed to pay the on-going wages and benefits of the civil service before chipping away at debt and the interest on the debt.



Numerous studies have shown that overall public workers have for years enjoyed better salaries and benefits for comparable work than the private sector. Yet even now, they refuse to help.



Many public workers form the front lines in hospitals and nursing homes. They are doing great and dangerous work. Thanks to them for doing it, but it is the job they chose.



A million people can't do the job they chose and their families suffer.



It is a cruel joke to hear politicians and public workers say we are all in this together. We are not.



The public sector just doesn't seem to care.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/agar-were-not-all-in-this-together-until-the-public-sector-steps-up">https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnis ... r-steps-up">https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/agar-were-not-all-in-this-together-until-the-public-sector-steps-up



The growth of the public sector across Canada with it's defined benefit pension plans is simply unsustainable. Thanks to powerful unions and craven politicians, the suggestion of public sector employees sharing the pain and paying their 'fair share' is not even being suggested for the most part.

[Anonymous]

As a provincial civil servant, I'm aware our union management hates the provincial government even though they really haven't proposed much in the way of cuts..



But, I know with debt piling up across this country cuts to the the provincial and the federal civil service are inevitable..



It will not translate into the pain our union management says it will.....they're exaggerating.

[Anonymous]

Pampered civil servants are the only 'working' people we progs don't have on our (s)hit list.

[Berry Sweet]

There are many people who have government jobs that are completely useless.  They should start to eliminate some of those people.



Can't have thousands losing their business and jobs but only government workers are protected.  Milions of dollars can be saved by eliminating useless twats.

[Anonymous]

There are many people who have government jobs that are completely useless.  They should start to eliminate some of those people.



Can't have thousands losing their business and jobs but only government workers are protected.  Milions of dollars can be saved by eliminating useless twats.

There was a time I would've disputed what you wrote Berry, but not anymore..



Someone doing a similar job to mine in the private sector is no less essential than I am..



But, they have had to make sacrifices in this pandemic and I haven't.

[Berry Sweet]

You are lucky.  Some places need to be looked at, they know who the slackers are.  Some of the people on top, managers etc...they can make $60/hr and most of the time they playing or fooling around on the computer,  walking around drinking coffee and doing nothing.  Not everyone who works for government is smart and deserving of their jobs...anyone who believes that needs to wake up.  There's a lot of stupid people out there, and some of them have degrees...probably just barely passed or paid their way thru...no joke...this world has become pathetic.

[Anonymous]

You are lucky.  Some places need to be looked at, they know who the slackers are.  Some of the people on top, managers etc...they can make $60/hr and most of the time they playing or fooling around on the computer,  walking around drinking coffee and doing nothing.  Not everyone who works for government is smart and deserving of their jobs...anyone who believes that needs to wake up.  There's a lot of stupid people out there, and some of them have degrees...probably just barely passed or paid their way thru...no joke...this world has become pathetic.

Some of the people I work with are sick a lot....at least they call in sick and get paid for the day.

[Berry Sweet]

Are they really sick?  Hardly.  Just taking advantage cause of covid.  Maybe a couple actually are but I don't believe it.

[Anonymous]

Are they really sick?  Hardly.  Just taking advantage cause of covid.  Maybe a couple actually are but I don't believe it.

This was long before COVID..



With COVID, we have the choice of working from home or going to the office.

[Anonymous]

Are they really sick?  Hardly.  Just taking advantage cause of covid.  Maybe a couple actually are but I don't believe it.

This was long before COVID..



With COVID, we have the choice of working from home or going to the office.

Snivil serpents are far more likely to be sick than their counterparts in the private sector. Are Ottawa and the provinces hiring sicker candidates than the private sector or are paid sick for the serpents providing an incentive to stay, do nothing and get paid.