The World at My Fingertips

I don’t claim to know everything about the government or how to run it.  I am, afterall, a simple Californian, who seems to be stuck in a pickle.

I live a good 1 hour train ride away from work.  In order to get to work, I take the BART.  At this moment, I pay about $12 a day just to get to work and home.  I haven’t factored in the cost of gas or the maintenance of my car into this.  That would make the cost a little higher each day.

I also work for the State of California.  I always enjoyed working for the government because of the stability and the confidence that in the end, the government will pay back with a nice retirement.  But now, I’m wondering what the government is thinking?  First, in February, we received mandatory furloughs because of the budget crisis.  Since then, we’ve had furloughs which we could take at our own discretion so that state offices can still continue to function and serve the public (which is what most state departments should do).

Now, this month, we’re back to the mandatory furloughs, only this time, instead of two, we have to take three days off, closing offices on Fridays.  I suppose that this helps with the budget by saving the state the electricity bills, and what not… I still don’t understand it sometimes… how cutting my pay will help the economy and the state.  Why pick on the little people who are trying to make a living and not the ones who are given six-figure salaries with endless expense accounts and allowances?  Do the higher ups REALLY need that money?  Do they REALLY need an allowance for a car?  During this budget crisis, shouldn’t the government ask these high paid employees to voluntarily cut their spending or salaries?

And another thing.. the BART negotiations.  The governor has chosen to reject a 60-day cooling off period for the negotiations.  Now, is that a good thing?  If the BART strikes, many many more people will drive, congesting the freeways and roads, causing more accidents and trouble.  If the negotiations go sour, there’s the possibility of a strike… without the cooling off period, there may be one and then we’re screwed!

I wish I knew what the governor was thinking when he rejects plausible ideas and requests.  Shouldn’t we all be compromising so that everyone can be satisfied with the end-results?  I hope that BART doesn’t strike and I hope we get a budget soon!