McCamy Taylor's Journal - Is This Really My America? America's firefighters are...

Sometimes you have to wonder if the picture painted of our country by the Internet is accurate. Or, does Google show you a Hieronymus Bosch version of reality?

I decided to search the Internet. Here is what I found. Welcome to America. I hope you enjoy your stay. Oh, and do not miss the poll on your way out.

This is out of control. Become disabled in the Military and you get health care. Become "disabled"in the fire department and get half a million dollars, free health care and a fat retirement. I can't tell you how many times I see the Fire Department working out at the Gym or in the local grocery stores stocking up on food supplies. On the other hand, I don't see alot of fire trucks zooming around town responding to fires. What a racket!

http://www.lvrj.com/news/firefighters-rank...

"Firefighting is a cushy job."

http://www.slate.com/id/2090573

During discussions on how to confront the city's growing budget shortfall, he singled out the fire department for reducing its current-year budget by just $39,000 at a time when the community services department is slashing more than 10 times that amount. "It's almost like the fire department giving the city the finger," he said.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/...

"Firefighters should stop whining, you've got it good and the public is on to you."

http://www.topix.com/forum/source/san-mate...

When firefighters are supposedly working - they are actually sitting around the firehouse reading porn - as reported by the real news - and sexually harassing women staff members and monitoring San Jose Mercury News posts - to enhance their image and protect their overpaid salaries and benefits -

http://forums.mercurynews.com/topic/illino...

"They don't care about public safety; they care about their pay and benefits."

http://forums.mercurynews.com/topic/san-jo...

"The problem with fire (as with police and other public employees) is only half fiscal. The other half is cultural. We've spoiled them."

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...

Firemen are overpaid. Miami-Dade County is facing a $400 mil to $500 budget gap. Union employees must take pay and benefit cuts. Of course, union employees are free to leave the public payroll and try their luck in the private sector.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/201...

"There a bunch of whiney over paid cockey jerks. I am glad the public is now aware of this outrageous abuse of tax dollars."

http://www.mynews3.com/story.php?id=12499

"Hogs at the trough. Cut 'em off NOW."
http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.ph...

Don't blow smoke up the ass of someone who knows the facts, who used to stop by fire stations every night to take a leak or write a report in the Fire Station Parking lot. The overtime for the F.D. is outrageous, what do you guys knock back on a 24 hour shift, $1,300 to $1,500 for just another 24 hours on shift. You know what it is called when everyone works for the government? It is called COMMUNISM!

http://rate.forbes.com/comments/CommentSer...

" If you and 3\4 of the f-ing fire jocks in BPT were not MINORITIES you wouldn't have the jobs and you all would be lucky if KMART or WALMART would hire you! "

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/07...

"(M) aybe getting paid 90 percent of one’s maximum pay for another 25-30 years for doing nothing isn’t so unjust, as they received high salaries for working very little before they retired."

http://www.sthelenastar.com/articles/2010/...

Given the relative lack of formal education most of these people have (very few have advanced degrees, and many don't even have a bachelor's degree), their compensation is probably higher (depending on what municipality we're talking about) than it should be, given the compensation paid to others in the public sector.

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/are-...

"We pay, they play."
http://miamiforchange.blogspot.com/2010/05...

"If these heroes don't think that they are overpaid, they should have a reporter follow them for a week and see how much work they actually do. That will never happen because it will expose how overcompensated they are."

http://www.lvrj.com/news/firefighters-figh...

Just saw on MSNBC that Rep. Danny Rehberg is attacking Montana forest firefighters for burning trees on his property. The sub for Ratigan rightly criticized Rehberg's greed and praised heroic firefighters, but didn't point out that this is par the course for Montana Repubs. Then-Senator Conrad Burns called firefighters lazy in 2006

http://mydd.com/2010/7/6/repub-rehberg-att...

"Fire all the union monkeys and start over. Overpaid, underworked pratt boys."

http://www.lvrj.com/news/county-fires-back...

Thats the truth of the gravy train. Those days are over. Many communities all across the state are trimming the fire service and its about time. There was a need in the past to have a larger fire department but with these economic times have changed.

http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/...

"Firefighters are parasites. Over paid lazy goverment union trash. Privatize NOW!"
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/0... /