We’re all on the same side
To the editor:
As a taxpayer, I take offense to Hayes Gahagan’s characterization that class warfare exists between taxpayers and public employees.
He writes, “It’s unfortunate and unnecessary for this money-matter to become an adversarial class-warfare confrontation …” This in the midst of a column clearly designed to accomplish exactly that. Throughout it he attempts to vilify public employees and depict them as the enemy of Maine taxpayers, implying that they are socialists and support of them will lead to “tyranny, loss of individual liberty, property and death.”
According to Mr. Gahagan, the way to avoid this is to cut back to only essential services. It is not at all clear what he believes are the inessential services that we must cut. Is it the public employees who educate our children? Is it the public employees who clear our roads? Should we cut back on firefighters, police, and game wardens?
Public employees are also taxpayers. They are our friends, neighbors, and family members. They do not participate in the Social Security system and cannot draw from it. Turning them into the enemy will not reduce the pension fund debt. They have been fully contributing to the pension fund. The percentage of their own pay that they contribute to Maine Retirement System is more than what private sector employees contribute to Social Security.
The pension debt is a result of the state not contributing its share, misusing employee contributions on spending unrelated to the pension, and the stock market crash. Big government and public employees didn’t cause the stock market crash. It happened because of Wall Street greed. Taxpayers bailed the banks out and their executives continue to reap the rewards of extraordinary salaries and bonuses.
Governor LePage’s budget would require state employees to contribute an even higher percentage of their pay to cover the state’s outstanding debts. That would mean that they would be paying twice because they are also Maine state taxpayers.
What worries me most is that scapegoating public employees for budget problems will drive the best of them away. Denying them the right to collective bargaining will not fix the problem. Asking them to contribute more to fix problems created by others will cause bigger problems. Unfairly portraying them as overpaid and threatening their livelihoods is not an effective way to attract and keep highly skilled, educated professionals.
The average starting salary for Maine teachers is $26,643. They go in early, work late, and bring their work home with them. Most people agree that public education is in trouble already. I have children in the public education system. I consider it absolutely essential. I fear that attempts to wage war on public employees will discourage the most competent and talented teachers. Some of the ones I respect most are already leaving.
Attempts at vilifying working citizens only complicate problems and shift focus away from solutions. Problems are not solved by exaggerating the issues, turning friends into enemies, or creating false “battle lines.”
Shelly Mountain
Mapleton
