The problem with politicans / schools & government in general
Yesterday we commented on how much we appreciated state Sentator Tim Burchett for sponsering and helping to pass a bill that bans phishing in Tennessee (post here) and we still do, but then today we came across a story at Six Meat Buffet about another piece of legislation Sentator Burchett is working on (post here).
This is a fundemental problem that occurs anytime you praise / support polticians or government in general. They do one thing you agree with and then another you can not stomach. It is true at the local, state, and federal level. So, that is why I will always be independent - i.e not associated with one party or the other offically. I do not do group think, and I will not support people, causes, or action just because of a party brand or badge. Politicans have the right to make their own decisions, and I have the right to agree with some and cry foul on others. No party, no politican, no cause is perfect, flawless, and none can be totally loyal to any of them without some personal compromise of principle, values, or opinon at some time. That is why I refuse to be a member of group or organization that requires my complete loyal to it for me to remain a member.
Now back to this second piece of legislation that Senator Burchett is pushing. It would give EVERY UT employee a 1,200 a year raise, across the board. Burchett says these are just good hard working people and he just helping them get their fair share. To echo Preston over at Six Meat - I am a good hard working person myself too and I want my share of taxes I pay in BACK!!!
The supporters of this talk about how 1000 UT employees make below 10.63 (the base to feed and care for a family of four in this area). I know a lot of people in industry that make below that so does that mean that all the employees at Wal Mart, Target, McDonalds, Burger King, Kroger, Bi Lo, etc should make that too - well guess what the cost of purchasing goods just went up as business will / does and should have to pass along these new costs. UT keeps raising tution, they need to keep some of that money and pay their staff if they like, but it is no t the duty or business of the state legistalator to force a raise which will only result in increased taxes for citziens.
We hear about these that do not make this 10.63, do all fo them people have famlies? If a person is single shouldn’t they be passed over for the raise as they are not supporting a family? If someone lives at home, i.e. rent free, does that mean they should not get the raise? If someone makes over 10.63 shouldn’t they get passed over too? Shouldn’t the only ones that are the sole income provider be the ones that get the raise? Truthfully the answers to all of those questions are unimportant as raises should be merit based not position based, but unionization takes that option off the table. The simple truth is that UT has to compete with other employers that have the same jobs / level of jobs. If the salary UT pays is so offensive then no one take the job. The fact that people want to work for UT speaks to the fact that the pay is fair in the market for the job. The simple fact is that MOST, not all but most, people want to work for government (which UT is) is because they know that few government jobs are ever really cut. People trade higher salary opportunites for job security, and that is their right, but it is also their choice and that choice has a conscience.
The salaries of UT employess are paid by a combination of tution, and tax payers, not by profits. UT salaires do not come out of profits. So, the people that should control salaries are the people that pay them - students (or their benefactors) and tax payers. Ask those two groups f they want to pay more money into UT to see higher salaires for workers. I think, especailly after double digiet tution increaes and higher state sales taxes, that those two group would say that UT needs to look toward less expansion, less growth, etc if they want to pay higher salaries.
The fact that the means that is being employed to push for higher salaries is view a state bill / law says much about the situation. If to accomplish getting raises / funding you have to say “it is for the kids”, or pass a law to get it, then it is probably a bad / flawed idea from the beginning. Taxes come out everyones pocket, and funding does not just appear via magic. Good hard working people have to give up something to give the government something and that is one of the most overlooked facts in these situations.
On top of that education is the largest budget item in govenment. It is not that there is no money in education (at all levels), it is where and how the money is spent. Be it from elementary to college no one seems to ask why it takes so many middle managers to make education work. We hear about gaps in classrooms, but we never talk about clearing out a few seats in conference / meeting rooms. If UT wants to give raises then fine, just don’t ask for more tax money for them them. Find postions to cut, find projects to cut, scale back a few things, etc. Do that and find the amount you need. My bottom line issue here is that the raises are being brought on via a bill, not via a search for savings in current plans. Education is just every other form of government - all cuts are fought because of the need for someone to keep their job. Guess what, trimming budgets cost jobs.
Before all you UT employees (or retired UT employees like Tim Burchetts dad) get all hyped up and start the spamming, hate comments, etc remember a few things - 1) my father was a teacher that became a elementary school principle - he retired from Knox County, and 2) my mother is retired from UT - as a secretary / admin assistent. I know about education, I know about teacher pay, I know about UT, etc. So don’t come trying to school me bucko because on this topic I will take you to the woodshed and WEAR YOU OUT!!
Lets get a few things straight - teachers are one of the most valuable assists a society has, but they also work 9 1/2 to 10 months a year. If you look at their salary over that period they are fairly compensated. I said fairly as you can never pay a teacher the real value of what they do, the same is true of police and fire. The only way to make big money in those professions is to move into leadership / management (just like everywhere else). The base / entry level position does not come with a high salary in many fields. Yet, when you look down the road, i.e. after some time in and with the system, teachers, educators, college workers do ok. I know for a fact that a starting, that is right starting, teacher in Knox County makes more money then my wife, who also has a four year degree, and works 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year. She also has 5 years of professional experiance.
UT is a good school, good people work there, and they deserve to get paid a fair wage, but it is unfair to decide via state law that a raise is mandatory just because the education union wants it. Tax payers elect representatives to look out for the best interest of the tax payer, not the employees that are getting paid via tax dollars. If Tim Burchett wants to see raises across the board at UT why not try to get the UT board to pass a 3 - 4% additional tution increase, oh yeah students would riot and parents would scream, people would point out that lottery money is not covering education cost, but if you just load it on the tax payers everyone is cool. Well this tax payer is not cool with it.
