LOTS OF ROOM AT THE TROUGH

Is this what they refer to as pork barrelling in the United States? Todays Waterloo Region Record carrys two stories about public employees living high on the hog, courtesy of the taxpayers. The one story by Paige Desmond is titled "Politicians made $200,000 for roles on boards in 2013" and the other by Jeff Outhit is titled "Police, firefighter salaries spark debate". While in the second story certain politicians are quoted complaining about provincial arbitration decisions, I think there is more to it than that. Who do you think the police and firefighters negotiate with in the first place? You got it, with the same politicians who themselves are not unaware of the benefits of the public trough. From what moral highground can either police boards or municipal politicians preach restraint to police and firefighters? I will say this; most of the time the public at least get value for their money with police and most especially firefighters. What value do we really get from politicians? All they do is spend every last nickel we give them and then more.

Paige Desmond's story is really quite pathetic. Short of parenthood there isn't a job going with fewer requirements than politicians. Besides salaries with no day to day supervision or accountability they also get paid extra for various Boards they sit on. They collect more money with zero to negligible accountability including mandated hours of work or attendance. As far as qualifications give me a break. Some of these people aren't competent at anything other than getting elected. As we have sometimes seriously suggested with M.O.E. inspectors..."they couldn't find their own asses with both hands during a snow storm". Is this a little bit harsh. Yes it is but I do keep in mind that it isn't fair that 95% of politicians give all the rest a bad name.