The problem with Obama’s new hedging on taxing those who make below $250,000, or his administration’s taking credit for victory in the Iraq war that they so once fervently tried to abort, or the flip-flop on renditions and tribunals, or the embarrassments over closing Guantanamo and trying KSM in New York or Mirandizing the Christmas Day bomber,or trashing/praising Wall Street grandees, is not that presidents cannot change their minds as circumstances warrant, or even that all politicians are at times hypocritical. No, the rub is that Obama is not merely flipping and triangulating on issues in a desperate attempt to shadow the polls, but he is doing so on matters that he once swore were absolutely central to his entire candidacy and his signature hope-and-change agenda.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Yup, But The Genius Probably Doesn't Even Realize It
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I am retired on a pension from the State of New Jersey and I know the system up close and personal.
Some New Jersey pensioners are more equal than others. Teachers and policemen can retire after 25 years with half pay and full medical benefits for themselves and families. Some of these cops are 50 years old when they retire and will be collecting for a long time.
The police have a strong union and have been favored by politicians for years. Rutherford, a town of 20,000, has a small police force, led by a chief who makes a comfortable 6 figures. These cops get lots of overtime and when I worked for the borough it was not uncommon for a patrolman to make $100,000. The figure now is probably higher.
On the other hand, ordinary retirees don't get such a good deal.
Let me point out, also, that State and municipal employees do not have a choice. Participating in the pension system is mandatory for all employees above a certain threshold of income. It used to be $1,000 a year but is probably higher now.
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