This is from an email that I wrote Rush Limbaugh today:
Rush Limbaugh,
I'm a Police Officer very near the end of my career with over twenty years of service. I also honorably served in the military for 10 years. I am a Conservative and always have been. I understand what you are saying about the public sector unions. There was a time when our department did not have a union or collective bargaining and the politicians in charge took advantage of it. The job was the job and they did what they wanted to do with us whenever they wanted to. They could change your starting hours at anytime or your schedule or where you worked. The standards were much lower. The unions and collective bargaining helped bring the standards up and our profession has improved remarkably.
These types of professions are filled with many dangers and in both I've almost lost my life, have suffered numerous injuries and have had close friends who have laid down theirs, for our fellow citizens freedom and security. I have to admit that our Government does build nice memorials for us. We ensure that our society and way of life continues.
I won't get anything from the military since I did not stay long enough. Our city and state have made it that we will not receive any social security since we are receiving our pension. The pension will be a percentage of what I make. It starts at 50% after twenty years of service with 2% for every year after. We pay for our own health insurance if we retire before 30 years of service and only pay a small part after until we are eligible for medicare. The final amount that we get will not change much over the years and it is what my wife and I will depend to live on. Let's say that if I retire at $20,000 a year, then that is what I will get if I'm lucky to live another ten or twenty years each year with a small cost of living increase. It does not compound like the politicians pensions. What do you think that will be worth then? So I have a pension, a house that is underwater, some small savings and some VA benefits perhaps.
Police Officers and Firemen in our city put in 9% into our pension and will get no social security. Our city made a mutually agreeable contract with us. We have kept our part of the bargain and now when it comes to the municipality to keep their end it is now a problem. It never has been before. What do we do to those about to retire or those that already are retired? The politicians that made these contracts
I don't think that you understand that when we choose to go into these professions we do not do it for financial reasons. Military, Police and Fire Fighting are not careers that lead to much money. We all swear an oath to the Constitution and we love it's principles more then the air that we breathe. It is a very hard way of life but I don't complain about it. I have done things with my life that people go to the movies to see. I'm proud of my service and have always striven to match or excel those that have come before me.
I understand that the economy has tanked. I'm not happy that it did but I recall that we were always laughed at us when everybody was making money hand over fist. I remember that all my friends that I grew up with, went to jobs or professions in the private sector. They would always asked why I and the rest did those types of jobs that we had. I could only tell them that I loved my country and loved the Constitution. I have sworn an oath and will always honor it. I have noticed that the Progressives have put in place policies through the years to cause these failures in our economy. I feel that we are now the next target for them to try to destroy. Why not? It will only bring about one of their objective, making everyone equal in poverty.
So once we get rid of the public sector unions for cops and firemen, where do we go next? Do we go after the military people who put in 20 years for their pensions? They make more then those that will just get social security. I think that will be the next target. Who then do we target next? Do we go further into class warfare like Obama and his ilk want to? How would you feel if the contract that you made for your radio show were to be cancelled and any money owed to you not paid?
What will happen when Romney becomes President? The economy will start improving. What happens next to those in our professions? We are usually lumped in with lawyers also. I mean that nobody wants a cop around or a Fireman until they NEED one and then we can't get there fast enough. I don't think that we are the problem to what ills our society.
I understand everything that you say about unions and they should never have made their bed with the Democrat Party. It is wrong and maybe some of these issues will get fixed. I have mixed issues with this entire topic but more so because I have skin in the game. In the end, no matter what happens the job will be the job. Somebody will always be there to keep our society chugging along.
God Bless,
Adrian Gregorio Jr
PS. Love your show and will continue to listen to it. I don't always agree with everything that you say but I will always defend your Right to say it.
