tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post1704294317813984680..comments2023-10-29T20:20:10.914+10:00Comments on Random Hypercritical Thoughts: Judges and the austerity holidayJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-60093836489226049652007-11-12T16:17:00.000+10:002007-11-12T16:17:00.000+10:00i think it's the latter.i think it's the latter.Brad Ruszalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14540336893648127319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-14381746175397253462007-11-04T08:55:00.000+10:002007-11-04T08:55:00.000+10:00Don't forget the "spokesmen" for just about every ...Don't forget the "spokesmen" for just about every agency in government. Is it because nobody else can write a legible sentence or present a coherent answer to the public? Or is it to put a buffer in the way to head off direct criticism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-16192223098961765042007-11-03T13:48:00.000+10:002007-11-03T13:48:00.000+10:00I totally agree. The Governors office alone has gr...I totally agree. The Governors office alone has grown from the Governor and a cabinet of six to 14 or more, each with secretaries and assistants of their own. Departments have grown from a Secretary and a secretary for the Secretary to a Secretary, a PIO, two accountants, an Executive Secretary, Admin assistants, etc. etc.<BR/><BR/>I just don't understand why the administration can't sit down and come up with a plan. Knowing your position will be "phased out" in six or twelve months is better than coninuously wondering if you won't have a job tomorrow. At least you'll have time to job hunt, save and plan.Lil' Hammerheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937533318872228053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-66051527920023416882007-11-03T10:53:00.000+10:002007-11-03T10:53:00.000+10:00I don't think broke maintenance people should be c...I don't think broke maintenance people should be cut. I do believe there are a lot of patronage jobs that can be eliminated completely.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-2139511620630776942007-11-03T10:12:00.000+10:002007-11-03T10:12:00.000+10:00And I know a maintenance guy, who is one of many w...And I know a maintenance guy, who is one of many working at one of our largest agencies, who breaks his back in the hot sun or driving rain every single day, who makes $12,000 per year (less last year due to the austerity holiday), who will again be affected by the cuts. Is this right? Of course not. <BR/><BR/>I don't disagree with parcing out who is more crucial and what programs are more important, but it needs to be part of a comprehensive plan. No one speaks for that poor maintenance guy.. the Judges and Teachers on the other hand have loud mouthes. Just because they scream and yelp when cuts are around the bend, doesn't mean the poor maintenance guy should get shafted and the Judge or Teacher shouldn't.Lil' Hammerheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937533318872228053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-57240198476407816892007-11-03T09:51:00.000+10:002007-11-03T09:51:00.000+10:00Anonymous said..."Do you seriously think that teac...Anonymous said...<BR/>"Do you seriously think that teaching PE is the hardest job in your school? Harder than an English composition teacher, suffering through written papers of tortured grammar and making meaningful comments- spending perhaps 10-15 minutes per paper to critique it, mostly after school or during lunch?"<BR/><BR/>have you seen how pe class works here? you get three kids who will run, ten who will trot, and fifteen fatties who will walk around so they don't get a failing grade. <BR/><BR/>we need to raise chris farley from the dead so he can give some of these kids the "i live in a van down by the river" motivational speech!<BR/><BR/>sucks for the english teachers, too. especially since they can't go all the way back to elementary school and build a foundation for the kids early on.<BR/><BR/>the folks in high school are paid to be there and deal with whatever passes through the system.<BR/><BR/>i mean, teachers, honestly, what percentage of high school students read at a high school level?<BR/><BR/>i guess it's a draw between the pe and english teachers. <BR/><BR/>or maybe jack black said it best in 'school of rock' when he said, "those who can't do, teach. those who can't teach, teach gym."Brad Ruszalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14540336893648127319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-90960423789536233002007-11-03T09:35:00.000+10:002007-11-03T09:35:00.000+10:00At my school there is no shade, no gym, limited eq...At my school there is no shade, no gym, limited equipment, lousy changing facilities, large classes and the PE teacher has to try to get teenagers, many not too keen on physical activity, to exercise in the middle of day. We've had like 14 PE teachers since I've been here. I don't think that's an accident. So yes, I think it's the hardest by far. It's both mentally and physically taxing.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-25544627021746552132007-11-03T09:11:00.000+10:002007-11-03T09:11:00.000+10:00Good opinion piece and good argument against the g...Good opinion piece and good argument against the general stance that any cuts for now should be across the board. Not only can serious cuts be made just by cutting fat but it wouldn't hurt to realign the gov't workforce to get people out of the aircon and outside collecting money. I still haven't figured out how to put change into those meters on Beach Road Garapan.SteeleOnSaipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08670956825971149563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-70550603206368809622007-11-03T09:06:00.000+10:002007-11-03T09:06:00.000+10:00Do you seriously think that teaching PE is the har...Do you seriously think that teaching PE is the hardest job in your school? Harder than an English composition teacher, suffering through written papers of tortured grammar and making meaningful comments- spending perhaps 10-15 minutes per paper to critique it, mostly after school or during lunch?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-49709987555621802102007-11-03T07:28:00.000+10:002007-11-03T07:28:00.000+10:00I don't have retirement or medical benefits. This ...I don't have retirement or medical benefits. This is Saipan. This is PSS. <BR/><BR/>I don't even know what you're talking about with PE teachers. They work the same and more as any other teacher. In fact, PE teacher is by far the hardest job at my school. Out in the hot sun all day, coaching sports and we have limited PE equipment.<BR/><BR/>I think teachers, doctors, lawyers, judges, police are more important jobs than public information officer to the muncipal council. Not all government jobs are equal. Sorry.<BR/><BR/>Your PE comment makes absolutely no sense.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-56960683988695317282007-11-03T07:11:00.000+10:002007-11-03T07:11:00.000+10:00Lets see.. my guess is that you receive $30-$35 an...Lets see.. my guess is that you receive $30-$35 an hour for your 190 days of work per year. Maybe more, especially if you add in your benefits such as medical insurance and retirement benefits.<BR/><BR/>So let me see if I understand your logic. If a PE teacher only worked 5 hour days and played games all day received the same salary as you, who probably grades papers at home after school and weekends, that PE teacher should take a pay cut and not you? Because you have a real job? You are important and the PE Teacher is not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-63298123587932311062007-11-02T17:57:00.000+10:002007-11-02T17:57:00.000+10:00And those are the decisions that need to be part o...And those are the decisions that need to be part of a plan.. until then "across the board cuts", should exclude no one. The Judiciary needs to be cut drastically as it is. Judges like to yelp that their salaries need to be on par with their stateside counterparts.. so should everyone elses than.Lil' Hammerheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937533318872228053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-12049983405547861652007-11-02T16:12:00.000+10:002007-11-02T16:12:00.000+10:00...true. if luis was a hot asian chick i might cut......true. if luis was a hot asian chick i might cut her some slack.Brad Ruszalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14540336893648127319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-48423820955821425332007-11-02T15:41:00.000+10:002007-11-02T15:41:00.000+10:00A lot of people don't have real jobs and real educ...A lot of people don't have real jobs and real educations. Doctors, lawyers and teachers are legitimate functions of government, and things we need through supply and demand. They aren't equal to assistant director of Chamolinan Affairs that any political hack can be stuck in to get a paycheck. One group is important and one isn't.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-91639856717304097522007-11-02T14:23:00.000+10:002007-11-02T14:23:00.000+10:00Alot of people have real jobs, and real educations...Alot of people have real jobs, and real educations (not that that usually matters in my experience). The cuts, however, they come, should be fairly across the board. All should sacrifice.<BR/><BR/>And I say this of course in lieu of any real long-term plan. People should sit down and decide what and who is going to remain and what and who is not, and a strategy over a period to make this happen. If this was done, blanket cuts wouldn't be needed. As it is, however, cuts should apply to every single employee.Lil' Hammerheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937533318872228053noreply@blogger.com