Greed Knows No Pig Like A Retired Sheriff

      Without fail, every time I  think it is safe to rhyme about human emotions and spirits and be freed of the mundane columns on hypocrisy, dishonesty, greed, ineptness, money influence and a never ending  host of other failings in our body politic, the news of yet another retired public "servant", this time a Sheriff of Ventura County whose retirement pay is more than his last year of compensation, seeking more money in a court of law. At least Brooks will be the poster child of a referendum in Ventura seeking to eliminate defined benefit plans and offer only 401(k)s for new employees. Almost 3/4 of Ventura voters are in favor, but, of course, if it passes look to court challenges by the unions representing our public "servants". Almost every state in this country due to spineless elected officials who sated on the proverbial mother's milk from public unions is facing huge unfunded pension liabilities. When are we going to relegate defined benefit plans to the footnote of history and when will we either eliminate the public unions or at least eliminate their ability to collect dues or require approval before dues are spent for political purposes? Or to frame the question in another way, how many Stocktons, Vallejos and Detroits must we endure. Hope you enjoy my muse comment below:
Sounds of Oinks in the Retirement Trough

The news out of Ventura County should have taxpayers in a fit of absolute rage

As yet another public “servant” from the pension trough cannot disengage

Another former sheriff with a pension all mere mortals would aspire

Benefits beyond our fondest dreams when one would retire

Leaving a job at a salary of 227 thou yet a pension check of 50 grand more

Any wonder why the unfunded liabilities in California continue to soar

What is tragic is that he is not a lone wolf, our retired Sheriff Robert Brooks

Only a man with a spineless Board and a great lawyer to know how to read a benefits book

The news without the sounds of oinks and slurps another item reveals

Brooks is suing for more, needs 76 grand as part of the law’s retirement deal

In the 60’s and 70’s unrest all cops were unfairly labeled as pigs

Attacking protestors, Blacks, Hispanics and throwing them into the brig

The true pigs were not in uniform protecting our streets

But in civilian clothes after retirement with guaranteed and rising benefits to greet

With the growth of public unions and contributions to fuel a candidate’s for office run

Our public “servants” have seen their benefits and pensions rise at a pace that can only stun

With gimmicks akin to fraud like uniform allowances, bonus, vacation and sick pay for pension

spikes

Creating a system we cannot afford and Red or Blue all should detest and no one should like

There is a silver lining in any cloud and Brooks’ greed has certainly fit the bill

Ventura will have on the ballot a referendum to defined benefits plans kill

All new employees will now have only 401(k)s and others will have to choose

Increase your contributions or a portion of your future benefits you will lose

Never underestimate the power of public unions to confuse and distort

Or flock to block the will of the people they “serve” in the courts

Already the Mayor of Ventura serving himself and in essence telling his voters to take a hike

Has announced he will file suit to correct the statement to something more likely the union will like

And like a Pavlovian canine coming to sound of a dinner bell to feed

The Blue State AG wants language in statements that may cut into the taxpayers’ lead

But almost 3 out of 4 voters who feel rightfully so they are being fleeced

Favor the referendum to have this sort of public greed end and cease

As for Brooks whether he wins or loses in court is a winner in this poet’s book

His greed was the lightening rod for us taxpayers and for fiscal sanity we finally retook.

We all should wish Ventura well and be pounding on our Boards’ doors

Demanding a similar referendum to curb pension benefits continuing to soar.

But unless public unions are either outlawed or payment of dues they cannot force

They will try to outflank us faster that a stream facing a boulder changes course

© February 21, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet