LETTERS

Twice the cost in taxes

Posted 6/30/15

To the Editor:

This is in reply to Capt. Ian Bowles MNI, who wrote a letter to the Beacon asking for a “normal” 40-hour-a-week work week for firefighters, who wonders what firefighters have …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
LETTERS

Twice the cost in taxes

Posted

To the Editor:

This is in reply to Capt. Ian Bowles MNI, who wrote a letter to the Beacon asking for a “normal” 40-hour-a-week work week for firefighters, who wonders what firefighters have done to deserve the animosity of the citizens of Warwick and whose plan to help relieve the unemployment in our state is to “raise taxes.” First of all, people are not heroes because they claim that they are heroes, heroes become heroes because of their actions. The latest, most public and recorded actions of the firefighters are at the City Council meeting when Bob Cushman presented his concerns about the cost of the firefighters and retirees and benefits, etc. The firefighters who were there behaved like bullies and adolescents, crowding Mr. Cushman and coughing and making noises while he tried to speak. That was not heroic behavior. Bullies are never seen as heroes! The next public action was to threaten to boycott CVS, where Mr. Cushman worked, for heroic reasons? Then, you claimed you weren’t trying to get him fired. Like anyone believes that lie.

Hire more firefighters by raising taxes? We don’t have the money to fix our schools even though 73 cents of every dollar we send in taxes goes to the schools. We don’t have the money to buy Chrome Books for the kids to try to use the current technology to have them have access to the latest information. Raise taxes? My sister lives in Massachusetts in a house that cost two and a half times what my house cost and her taxes are half what mine are. They have garbage pickup, firefighters, police, and public schools. Sure, their roads are in terrible repair, but so are ours! And we pay twice as much for this!

Dangerous jobs such as firefighting should have appropriate staffing. But when minimum manning turns into an overtime scam, then you loose the sympathy of the people who have to pay for you. Disability pensions should absolutely be available to people who have to be 100 percent healthy to keep their jobs, whose jobs are dangerous. But, when those pensions are abused by some weight-lifting firefighter, that’s disgusting! Abuse of disability pensions not only robs the taxpayers, but spits in the faces of your colleagues who are really disabled. And, once again, you do not look like heroes.

One thing that none of our public unions, including you Cpt. Bowles, recognizes is that the people who have to pay for you, the taxpayers, aren’t rich people sitting on pots of gold. We are regular working people who have to contribute to our benefits and arrange our own retirements because almost nobody has a pension these days, except public unions. We have budgets, which we have to live within. We can’t just demand raises from businesses who also have budgets and want to remain solvent. The public unions have no concept of budgeting. Everyone would love to have a firehouse minutes from their house. Everyone would love to retire after 20 years of work with full pay and free health care. We’d all love to live in mansions on the water and drive expensive cars. But we can’t afford it! If we could afford it, we’d have brand new schools with the top technology. But we don’t! We can’t afford it!

I have no idea what your normal working hours are, but if a change means more taxes, that’s ridiculous. Don’t forget, disgusted taxpayers can leave the state. Ever wonder why there are so few kids in the schools? Ever hear of Detroit?

Diane Keogh

Warwick

Comments

4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • JamesSabin

    Very well stated, i wish there was more people in this city that were aware as you are.

    Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    Nice letter even though 90% of the info is false. Keep up the attacks. The smarter general public knows better.

    Wednesday, July 1, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    1) "Everyone would love to retire after 20 years of work with full pay". Completely false statement.

    2) weightlifter was a providence FF. Please show me 1 disability scam here. You can't

    3) minimum manning is far from a scam as we are already operating at bare bones staffing.

    4) can you name the town that your sister loves in. With all that and half the taxes?

    You people all want the world but don't want to pay a dime for it. Please come see "my mansion", my 14 year old car. It's amazing the lies and false info. People will put out. Diane please do a little research before you speak.

    Wednesday, July 1, 2015 Report this

  • patientman

    Notbornyesterday, I don't blame you for driving a 14 year old car. Who can afford the car tax on a new one. Your very prudent with your money.

    Thursday, July 2, 2015 Report this