Union Defends 13 Calif. Lifeguards Making Over $120,000: ‘Very Fair & Very Reasonable’
- Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:41am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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If I told you that there were 13 full-time lifeguards making over $120,000 a year in Newport Beach, CA, what would you say? Well, while you contemplate that, let’s review what the union said.
“We have negotiated very fair and very reasonable salaries in conjunction with comparable positions and other cities up and down the coast,” Brent Jacobsen, president of the Lifeguard Management Association, told the Orange County Register. “Lifeguard salaries here are well within the norm of other city employees.”
The details of those “very fair and very reasonable salaries” are given by the group Americans for Prosperity, which exposed the pay in a video last week:
Yes, you heard that right. One retiree will receive $108,000 per year for the rest of his life and will make well over $3 million in retirement if he lives to age 80.
The Register recaps the entire salary debacle:
According to a city report on lifeguard pay for the calendar year 2010, of the 14 full-time lifeguards, 13 collected more than $120,000 in total compensation; one lifeguard collected $98,160.65. More than half the lifeguards collected more than $150,000 for 2010 with the two highest-paid collecting $211,451 and $203,481 in total compensation respectively. Even excluding benefits like health care and pension, more than half the lifeguards receive a total salary, including overtime pay, exceeding $100,000. And they also receive an annual allowance of $400 for “Sun Protection.” Many work four days a week, 10 hours a day.
Such fiscal practices are not uncommon in California. As Business Insider pointed out last year, there are 16 city managers earning over $300,000.
“The Newport Beach City Council – as well as other beach cities – ought to take a hard look at reforming the pay scale and compensation for lifeguards as well as the way in which the department is organized,” Brian Calle writes in the Register. “This is a reasonable starting point for applying some fiscal sanity to public employee compensation.”
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Comments (249)
bandi9
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:29amLiberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Report Post »what a total moron. i would be curious to know how many lifeguards have actually saved a life. oh, wait, when they blew their whistle and told the kids to stop running, does that count? sometimes i just shake my head at what spews out of a liberals mouth
Apologist
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:26amI agree that these salaries are high and a review of the management and compensation structure is in order. But guarding at Newport Beach is no “day at the beach” (punn intended). Warning signs and beach closures don’t keep the curious or stupid out of often dangerous surf conditions and the guards who patrol these beaches are some of the best trained and experienced in the world. I can’t even begin to calculate how much the city is saving in legal fees and settlements with stupid people by paying these professionals more than many of us would think is fair.
Report Post »Markster 72
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 6:20pmYou sound like a city employee. There is NO justifying this payscale. It is exactly why California is broke.
Report Post »Apologist
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 7:51pmNo Markster, just a former lifeguarding professional that worked many of the same beaches these professionals do…but I never made anywhere near their scale.
Report Post »Igno Ramus
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 9:13pmY’all need a idiot law. It works like this. If you are so stupid as to swim in an area that is known to have rip tides, whether the area is posted or not; then you get the dubious honor of paying ALL expenses incurred when someone else has to come to your aid and/or rescue. ALL EXPENSES
Report Post »Yes, I said all expenses; including, but not limited to salaries, overtime, fuel, wear and tear on vehicles, supplies used i.e. ropes, bandages, iodine, etc. Also you would be held responsible for the injury and/or death of anyone who came to your aid. That would include medical expenses, rescue expenses, funeral expenses and any other expense incurred
As well, just for good measure, you would be fined at a rate of 100% of ALL expenses for causing the rest of us a hassle in the first place. You would be allowed to pay the bill in installments.
If more than one person is involved in this foolishness, each individual would pay 100% of the bill. They could not split it 50-50. Each would pay 100% of expenses AND fines. Remember that’s EACH.
People might start thinking, but then it‘s California we’re talking about here. YES?
bandi9
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:23amwhat is even sicker, they will expect the rest of the nation to bail their lazy, sorry asses out.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:23amBlame it on the Hoff
Report Post »liberalsarealiens
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:23amIt’s the water I tell you! There is something in the water that’s effecting the brains of the people who live there! What ever it is it’s causing terminal liberalism!
Report Post »I_Hate_Libs
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:21amLifeguards making over $120,000.00 a year AHAHAHAHAHHAHA!
THE HORROR OF THE DEMOCRAT MIND!
Report Post »Longing for Change
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:18amMy son makes $8.75 / hour here in Utah as a life guard. I think I am going to kick him out of the house and have him move in with my cousins in Newport Beach. He has been a lifeguard for almost three years and he is only making a poor man’s wage. He will be kicked out today! This is an outrage that he only make a few hundred dollars a month. Where is the justice!!??!!
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:18amHave no fear. You and I and the rest of America will be paying for this.
Report Post »Soetoro WILL bail out kal-y 4 nya. Why not?, he owns the state.And the unions.
Or should I say the unions owns him and the entire democrat (aka marxist) apparatus.
I saw on the news there is a town in this marxist state that said the American flag could no be flown, not because it was illegal, but if the American flag was flown, they would have to fly all other kinds of flags.
Folks, really, California is not part of the US. it’s a foreign country for all intent and purpose.
When our American soccer team plays the Mexican national team in Cal, the American team is the one that gets booed by the majority of Mexicans, Mexican Americans and illegals Mexicans in the stands.
LARR
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:15amNurses sometimes save lives, firefighters sometimes save lives, police sometimes save lives, Military sometimes save lives. I’m sure they would all like $120K a year as well…. (actually, in CA I imagine some of them do!)
Report Post »StevenL1955
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:13amWe need the Tea Party to now form a real 3rd party and end this insanity. If a Tea party formed and simply showed in ad’s all this stuff, he or she would be elected in a heartbeat
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:38amI am not so sure about that.
Report Post »55% of this nation votes and puts communists in office.
The real problem is that 90% of this 55 are so ignorant, they don’t even know they are communists.
Most of them thinks the the other 10% only wants to take care of them from cradle to grave.
For the price of their votes of course.
I did say they are ignorant. They are so stupid , they don’t even know they are slaves.
SLR Cameras
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:12amI am in the wrong line of work. I’m sure they could find some college drop outs to be life guards for a lot less. I don’t get how they try and justify this type of pay.
Report Post »conservativemom99
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:12am…and they will sue the state for job-related skin cancer…
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:06amLOL, lifeguards making $129K, now I really know why CA is BROKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They can drop into the ocean any time now and I could care less.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:04amI must have been living under a rock all these years, until I came to the Blaze I had no idea the unions were screwing us so badly. I’ll never vote Democrat again, that’s a promise.
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:25amthat is very refreshing to hear, someone spitting out the koolaid
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:59amWhat dork would leave their car on the beach to be flooded? Too much smoking the funny stuff.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:58amI’m a good swimmer! Where do I sign up? But, I don‘t want any part of the union BS so I guess I’m disqualified.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:10amI’m would love to sign up, that is until I realize that I would have to live in California.
Report Post »PIL
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:58amDamn, I have 4 years of college, 2 years of trade school, and I’m only making $55,000. What do lifeguards have? I know, a certification from the Red Cross to do CPR and hot bodies. Wow, I’m impressed.
GOT FAT KIDS? ILLINOIS RINO WANTS TO TAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTION AWAY.
Report Post »http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/2011/05/illinois-republican-tries-to-punish.html
starman70
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:58amAnd we wonder why the cities of California and the state pension fund are BROKE.
This is the most outrageous revelation since the pay for the administrators of Bell, CA. The real fault lies with the complacency of the voters and taxpayers in California. No one questions where or how their tax money is being spent until things get totally out of control. The ciitizens apparently were happy to let the union thugs be in control. They paid no attention while the LUNATICS RAN THE ASYLUM.
It is up to us, as Glenn puts it,“ To question with boldness” the actions of government at every level, Local, State and Federal. Unless citizens investigate and “Rock the boat” these kinds of abuses will continue to happen.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:56amLife guards save lives – unlike plumbers, carpenters, and radio talk show hosts.
How much should a life guard make, given that they can save a life. As much as a doctor?
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:03amLIBERAL – ATHEIST / CRITICAL THINKER… Now there’s an oxymoron for you!
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:05amWOW.
I think a lot of us on this site like to kid about how liberals are completely mindless. Kind of a shock to see when they actually are.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:10amNo answers eh?
Should a high-school educated radio talker show host (Glen Beck) make more than a lifeguard that can save a human life?
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:11amOnly a mindless liberal could come up with an analogy comparing a lifeguard to a doctor. Do doctors belong to unions and get paid with taxpayer money? How many lifeguards perform surgery? IDIOT!
Report Post »Wedge
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:12amI’ve had CPR training in the military, now I’m not the best swimmer so doubt I could do that job, however……………………………………………………….
120K a year is a LOT over the top. If you want to compare to doctors, how much education expense comes along with becoming a doctor? Yes, they both save lives which you can’t put a price on, but come on….. a 120K a year.. plus perks.. nah… can’t see it :(
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:16amMy analogy still stands – doctors save lives and get paid well for it.
Life guards save lives and get paid well for it.
How much is a human life worth?
How much is a radio talk show host worth?
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:16amHere I came up with a few more. How many Lifeguards go to college for 8 years to become Lifeguards? Are Lifeguards required to carry million dollar malpractice insurance? Better drop that critical thinker part off your screen name but I have no doubt you are a Liberal Atheist by some of your stupid posts.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:18amWedge,
At least you attempted to address the question, good for you.
How much then should a person that saves lives make per year? Give me a number.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:22amBlackhawk1 said -
“Here I came up with a few more. How many Lifeguards go to college for 8 years to become Lifeguards? Are Lifeguards required to carry million dollar malpractice insurance?”
What you said is beside my point. The end result is that they save lives. How much is that worth Blackhawk?
“Better drop that critical thinker part off your screen name but I have no doubt you are a Liberal Atheist by some of your stupid posts.”
I‘m not going anywhere and your insults don’t affect me at all. I’ll be here until they either censor my free speech under the rules here or ban me. Most of the members here I talk to are far more insulting and hateful than any of my posts have ever been.
Report Post »wifezilla
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:23amWhen you can go to a lifeguard for heart surgery or an appendectomy, you will have a point. Since that is not the case…thanks for playing.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:23amNot the brightest bulb in the pack liberal ath……bla bla bla. What does make me curious is what these other cities are paying for their employees, and for what jobs. Lifeguards at this salary? And that retirement package? (are they members of Congress?) And that being in line with other public jobs? Those are some pretty lopsided figures compared to what the rest of us non-union folks are making.
Public Unions should be illegal.
Silversmith
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:24amIf that’s your reasoning then lets pay them around what a EMT makes in the private sector. ya dumb azz. It still amazes me how out of touch the lib mindset is. I think in your heart of hearts you know the truth and your just yanking chains. With that we agree, I like twisting it once in a while myself just to get a rise out of folks:)
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:25amCritical thinker my arse. I’ve taken cpr classes. Lots of people have taken cpr classes. I can save a life. Lots of people can save a life. Have you not taken any cpr classes, first aid classes? Get off your arse and learn cpr then let us know when your pay increase happens.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:31amYour analogy couldn’t stand if it had four legs. Doctors and lifeguards are both related to the medical profession. To equate them is like equating a Q-tip to an MRI imager as both being medical equipment and capable of saving lives. Just cuz you say so – don’t make it so — sort of like your handle!
Silversmith
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:37amlol – did anyone see anyplace where I said how much a lifeguard should be paid?
No.
All I am doing is asking questions and posing scenarios and everyone gets all bent out of shape. If you can’t even stand the fact that someone asks questions then you should not be participating in the comment area.
Pretty sad.
Report Post »Alphonso
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:38amBy your logic, Liberal Thinker, school crossing guards should also make $120k a year. They save lives. Change “critical” to “shallow” and you will have a more accurate handle…
Report Post »Iowa_man
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:41amLib_Ath_crit_thinker. I’m not sure the logic of your question is sound. Many people save lives, its the worth of the skill set that determines the pay recieved. A doctor, who goes to school for years and learns a specific and difficult trade with many costs above his schooling is much more justified to command a higher wage than a lifeguard. Doctors earn more than fire fighters, policemen and many other trades that directly or indirectly save lives. The value of a human life is not measured, the skill set of those who save it, the number of people with that skill set all help determine the pay received for the service performed. Now unless you can explain to me why the skill set of the lifeguard is worth the higher reward, your argument has no validity. its the same analogy as a burger flipper at McDonald’s earning the same amount as the 5 star chief who is well schooled. Its apples and oranges.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:44am@Liberal- anti-God-indescriminate-thinker,
Tell us what you do for a living so that we might be able to set your pay scale (since you’re a fan of setting peoples worth). This would help us understand where you are coming from. Besides, if the “lifegaurd” can get endorsements he should be able to improve his income. Maybe surf board mnfrs, sun screen companies, hair gel, torpedo bouy’s, sunglass mnfr’s, etc….
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:49amIowa_man,
I agree with you. What I have done in this thread is an experiment to see what reactions I would get to a simple series of questions, and the usual suspects played along just as I suspected. I did not agree that the lifeguard should be paid that much, I simply asked questions about his/her value compared to other jobs, and do you see what happened?
Most people here jump to conclusions just because of my name and they get defensive automatically, retorting with pre-conceived notions about what I think or what I might say. You approached it logically and I thank you for standing out from the crowd.
Report Post »POdVet
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:51amAn Aspirin can save a live too. Does that mean we should pay $1,000 per aspirin?
Report Post »Oh wait, don’t answer moron I know you will say yes as long as someone else has to pay for it instead of you/
Czar Casm
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:58amThinker. then let me ask you. I can save a life. I take first aid and cpr classes. I‘ve got the little Red Cross card in my wallet that say’s I’ve been trained. So how much should I get paid? As much as a doctor?
Lot’s of plumbers, carpenters and talk show hosts can save lives. How much should they get paid? As much as doctors?
Nurses save lives. Most don’t make what a California lifeguard makes. Firemen save lives. Most don’t make what a California lifeguard makes.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:01amAll I see is a moron, nothing oxy about an atheist, just garbage to kick to the corner!
Report Post »ninjasam
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:15amYou are a drone and a moron….but, I digress.
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:22amUm, members iof the Coast Guard saves lives.The average swabbie don’t make that kind of $$.
Report Post »You are babbling about Apples and Oranges.
Lets take the radio talk show host bit for instance.
The free market sets the value of all radio talk show hosts, except of course, government(aka tax payers ) talk radio.No unions or government guarantees the host’s paycheck.
If a radio talk show host don’t bring in the revenues/advertising $$, (see Air America)he /she goes out of business.
A private plumber or electrician rates are based on competitive market prices. IOW. if you price your craft too high, competition will put you out of bidniz.
Now w/ the marxist dems in control of public unions,(they get union kick-backs in the form of campaign $$)or the unions in control of the marxist dem party, it’s a pay to play scheme.
The more $ the dems get for their union pals, the more campaign loot thy can get. It’s an insidious practice paid for by taxpayers.
You can bet your bippy if a private business was contracted for lifeguards,the broker than broke state of Cal. would not have the taxpayers in the tank for this blatant ripoff.
Oh! Another thingy. all it would take is signs posted swim at your own risk.You drive at your own risk. the government don’t pay for your car insurance. People do many things at their own risk.
Yer marxist propagnda ain’t working. Put a sock in it Wllis.
Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:25amEvery commenter except for Iowa_man did exactly what I predicted. You showed your pre-conceived and biased personalities by me simply asking questions. I never agreed to any salary or that they got paid a rational amount.
If you are so afraid of questions you probably should not involve yourselves in conversation here.
Report Post »BetsyRoss1513
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:33amI can save a life, even though my job is registering patients for radiology. Don’t you know the Heimlich maneuver or how to give mouth-to-mouth? Where’s my $60/hour?
Report Post »GiveUsJustice
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:40amLiberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:56am
Life guards save lives – unlike plumbers, carpenters, and radio talk show hosts. “Should a high-school educated radio talker show host (Glen Beck) make more than a lifeguard that can save a human life?”
“How much is a human life worth?”
“I did not agree that the lifeguard should be paid that much, I simply asked questions about his/her value compared to other jobs, and do you see what happened?”
————————————
Actually you didn’t just compare his/her value compared to other jobs. You specifically threw in what humans lives are worth.
I’m not sure why you are acting like all you did was ask a simple question when your relations were way off.
You mention carpentry, well, he builds homes, and one not well built will crumble in strong winds and kill someone. Radio talk show host, believe it or not, they get results by giving information we don’t see sometimes, which directly could lead to policy changes, people getting involved, etc etc (how many lives might have been saved through their work and being HEARD).
Your point was to try to degrade some jobs themselves instead of focusing on an overpaid job, just because YOU don’t believe it “saves lives”.
You are just another person that thinks he is superior no matter what you do or what comes out of your mouth. If you are a liberal, then you just did your own party an injustice. You guys stand for equa
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:41amgood for you libera, i happen to not care wht you and your kind think anymore – you people seek to destroy America! jump in a lake of fire!
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:49amCritical thinker my arse. “Experiment” my arse. If you can’t stand having an irrational, nonsensical comment like you posted thrown back into your face then maybe you shouldn’t post. Next time crank up the “critical” part of your thinking.
Report Post »ChrisBoundsTX
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:59amThe premise of your question is loaded, but above all contradictory.
You state that doctors safe lives. That is true. You say that life guards save lives. That is also true. However, you say that “plumbers, carpenters, and radio talk show hosts” do not save lives. That is not so true which invalidates your overall question about the value comparison between a life guard and a doctor.
Does a good plumber not allow for the delivery and use of clean water and efficient waste management? If so, that saves lives. Impure water and improper waste management increases health risks thus costs lives (and increase the value of doctors). That argument can be stretched to fit carpenters, radio talk show hosts, and virtually every other profession known to man.
To answer your question about value comparison – value is based on market need. Doctors save lives. It takes a lot of skilled training to become a doctor. The market sees that as highly valuable thus the income potential is higher than other professions. The same concepts are in effect for life guards. I consider life guards to be skilled labor, but the training needed is far lower than that of a doctor so the free market sets the income potential much lower. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. Of course, the free market can be temporarily bypassed when you add labor unions and politicians to the mix. Votes to secure power are be pretty influencing.
Report Post »Alphonso
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:01pmOh, the liberal did a little social study on us and our answers and found us lacking. How cute is that…?
Report Post »NEAF
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:04pmLife-saver‘s don’t save life’s. They prevent people from drowning, most of the time. A Navy Seal (avg Special Operation soldier) makes $55k at year. Any other avg soldier will make $33k at year. What am I missing here? Average congress make from $125k to $230k at year, plus many other perks.
Report Post »the_zazzy
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:16pmIf it takes 12 years of school and hundreds of thousands in student loans to pay for lifeguard school, than sure…pay them as much as doctors. And, Critical Thinker, try to think through this one. A radio talk show host is paid for by private funds, not tax-payer funds…ooops, except for your NPR bafoons. Private funds vs. public funds = big difference. No go try and wrap your little mind around that one!
Report Post »the_zazzy
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:29pmLIBERAL_AETHEIST_CRITICAL_THINKER:
Report Post »I have a question for you…have you done this little “experiment” on the Huffington Post? Try commenting with a name CONSERVATIVE_CHRISTIAN_BUSH_SUPPORTER and post similarly antagonistic threads and see what kind of “pre-conceived and biased personalities” exist on that side of the aisle. Only when you do it to the left, your life may be in jeopardy. I’d like to know the results and which side is more biased!!!!
CygnusX
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:52pmWhy are you trying to place a dollar value on life? If each life is worth all of the money in the world who gets paid?
If that’s what California feel their lifeguards are worth, so be it. Pay them $1 000 000 per year I don’t care. Just don’t come asking the other 49 states to pick up the tab when you can no longer afford it. Try asking the patrons who use the beaches what the lifeguard should get paid once you start charging them for the use of the resource.
Money is nothing more than a means to exchange ones abilities and resources.
Report Post »COjohngalt
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 2:04pmGlenn should make what ever the market will bring for his products/services…just like the non-union life guards in my town, which is about $10.00 an hour for your info. Guess the lives of the folks in our pool just aren’t as valuable as those in CA. Probably has to do with the fact that they aren‘t liberal atheist and are just plain ol’ Americans…Liberals always think they are worth more than what they truly are.
Report Post »Tony Cat
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 4:48pmLiberal Atheist, I’ll answer the question you posed – who much should they make? (you know, since they save lives and all) Well, I’ve pretty sure the PART-TIME lifeguards ALSO save lives, and they’re making $16-$22 an hour. So there’s your answer! They should be making $16-$22 an hour just like the P/T lifeguards, who also save lives :)
You know, in grade school, I saw a kid almost run out into traffic and get creamed… if it had not been for a “soccer mom” Crossing Guard, who Saved His Life! Gee, by your enlightened Liberal logic, we should be paying Crossing Guards the same amount as we pay Doctors!! Would you agree with that? And to think they volunteer for it! What an injustice!
How bout you actually do a little critical thinking, and realize that your sole criteria of pay based on “saving lives” is absurd. There are many more factors that a “critical thinker” would consider.
So you happy now? $16-$22 – sounds fair. And that’s not my #, some Govt official agreed with that.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 6:07pmYes, if it can’t swim it should stay out of the water.
Report Post »Runandtellthat
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 8:22pmIf, you were a critical thinker, at best you’d be agnostic. Lets do this, lets take the bible out of the equation. Now, now my friend you have no more evidence to proof that god doesn’t exist, then I do to prove that he does.
Report Post »Igno Ramus
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:31pmHey Chicken—How much Ox and how much Moron?
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:51amWhat a bunch of crap. CA is a mess of their own making. Thank God I’m in Colorado!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:40amFellow Coloradan here, Tron. With Denver being a sanctuary city and Hickenfruitloop as Governor, we will soon follow down the same path as California.
Report Post »The_Rev_In_Co
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:00pmDittos to that, and Amen.
Report Post »COjohngalt
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 1:55pmThings in CO have been heading the way of Cali for years. If we can’t get Nick out and find a conservative to run for gov we will be right behind them. Check out PERA, our state’s pension is broke too. Couple that with the growing number of libs that that are populating the front range leads me to think that it won’t be long before I have to pull out of SE Colorado and head to TX.
Report Post »BornCitizen
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 6:32pm@liberal_atheist
Report Post »I was in the Military for four years and I could save a life…and I never made 120,000 a yr. You sir are an Idiot.
jeff.cooper
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:50amThe person in the Newport Beach City payroll office earning $15.00/hour is kicking him/herself right now for not passing the CPR section of the Lifeguard Test.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:49amBut if they all look like the ones on Baywatch, they are worth it, right? NOT.
Report Post »Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:07amIf they looked like the ones on baywatch, they could make more money some place else.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:49amOr, just stand there and watch like teachers in the teachers union do.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:46amPut up no swimming and wading signs and fire them. Then use the money for real issues in your state. But then again it’s California so what do you expect.
Report Post »Igno Ramus
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:28pmFirget the signs! If‘n y’all wantsta swim wif the sharks, swim. No lifeguards or rescue boats ner anny thang else neither.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:44amAny questions about why California is bankrupt?
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:51amGee I wonder why California is 34 Billion in the hole?
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:51amWow… just, wow.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:51amFrom the union’s point of view, it must be that CA is not giving enough money to the unions in the usual manner of bribery…I mean, gifts and government contracts along with backbreaking taxes on the non union members and businesses.
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:52amDo these lifeguards walk on water, if not then they are way over paid. If they do then I think it is fair pay. Because, if they walk on water then they would be able to heal and cast out demons and work miracles. However, this is why we are in the trouble that we are in.
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:53amToss this in with the illegal issue, and you saeewhy cali is going to fall off into the ocean
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:57amWhat would I say? I would say that they are waaaaay overpaid. I wasn’t paid that when I was a lifeguard at a public pool in SC, and I had to pull them out, children and adults alike. True, lifeguarding at a pool isn’t like lifeguarding at a beach, but $120k a year? Get real!
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:59amRight on Dagneyt, the scary thing is that the liberals see nothing wrong with this. In fact they will want more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmL6evAnyf0
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:01amWhy can’t union thugs see the hole they are digging?
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:02amWhat do ya say, that public employees only get what they contribute and set aside for themselves? How’s that for common sense? Or is that too real?
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:04amThen this means that ALL of the employees of the city are OVER paid. DUH
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:05amNo bailouts for california!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:08amThese folks and the union progressives sound like the three I deal with all too much here in AZ; today I got to see the riot of them trying to round up chickens that have escaped from the neighbours down the street – imagine the sight, three progressives trying to catch running chickens and howling about how hard it is to do so…and I am trying to get the video my friend made of the event.
It is just like the unions, chasing everything while complaining about it being so hard to work and such nonsense.
Report Post »ME
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:10amSarcasm alert!!!!!
Will these suffering public servants ever get a break? They are just doing the jobs all of us would do but don’t have to relatives for it.
The thin blue line between you and the shark and you want to mess with that what kind of animals are you??
Report Post »SUPERREDHAWK 9.5
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:19amWhen I told my father I wanted to move to the beach and be a lifeguard after HS(class of ‘88), he laughed his arse off. He said there was no future in it. No “room for advancement” is the phrase I think he used.
Report Post »wildjoker5
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:22amGee, why don’t they have any money for schools?
Report Post »swalt
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:27amUnion dues are a PERCENTAGE of what the worker is paid. The more the worker is paid, the more the union sucks in.
Report Post »Rillobymorning
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:29amI thought liberals hated rich people….guess that‘s only when it’s not them.
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:30amThe more I hear about public employees…. the more I realize we just don’t need them.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:41am120,000 a year at 40 hours a week with two weeks off for sick and vacation comes to 60 an hour. Yeah Cali. in trouble. But the answer is simple fire all public life guard out source the jobs to private companies and that alone will cut the cost by 2/3 or more. The entire state then declares bankruptacy and voids all union negotiations and reboot the system from the ground up.
Report Post »TheLascone
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:15amWhere can I get that job ? I even have experience …. I used to do that at a summer camp.
Report Post »http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630227@N06/5586513107/in/photostream/
CultureWarriors
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:51amThis is an outrage and someone should be in jail. How long are we going to let these criminals get away with this stuff?
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 12:00pmThat’s crazy.
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 1:20pmEven the life guards are union ? we need to bust these farking unions where ever we can
Report Post »its_time_to_arrest_our_government
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 1:53pmand they call us crazy for wanting to stop this? who do these criminals think they are? if this isnt a call to put the whole batch in jail
Report Post »Jediusetheforce
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 2:08pmThe weather is the best in the nation. The salaries in the whole country are messed up period. We need a reset of everything.
Report Post »nlasmus
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 2:09pmThese are city salaries, I believe, not state money. The state of Calif. is in financial distress over a myriad of stupendously stupid laws and regulation. At the city level, it appears morons have taken over as well. It’s time citizens start taking back their state at the local level–very important first step, while at the same time trying to restore fiscal sanity in Sacramento–a much bigger task. I live in California and I agree with everyone around the country: DON’T BAIL CALIFORNIA OUT! LET US FAIL AND RESTART!
At the same time, don’t hate all of us in the Golden State–many of us here are outnumbered conservatives! Please don’t tar us all with the same brush. I‘m a 6th generation Californian and won’t leave without a fight!
Report Post »SLEUTH
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 2:12pmAnd they just keep on spending….but not to worry, when the ‘BIG’ one comes, CA will be in the ocean.
Report Post »then all their financial problems will wash away.
meamerican
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 2:34pm“Lifeguard salaries here are well within the norm of other city employees.” – I think that explains why CA if flat busted.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 3:14pmdon’t worry, when california is declared insolvent, we will pay these life guards and their pensions. Look at Greece, they sucked the eu dry andnow want to leave the eu, that is california.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 3:16pmLet the lifeguards and state employees bail out California…..they can afford it. Just don’t ask the rest of us to give a penny to such wastrels.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 3:51pm.
I can’t wait for the lifeguard union!!!
“Help!!”
Report Post »“I’m on break.”
Danang1972
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 4:50pmLet California go down to where Bin Ladin is and then start over.
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 5:01pmgee, i wonder where AND TO THE REPUPLIC is. After glorifying Bristols recent decline in the gutter, this too should sound like capitalism at its best!
Report Post »BenThereToo
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 6:24pmUh….no, no questions, dagneyt. A review of California needs to be done to see if they should be allowed to remain attached to the United States.
Report Post »fireyogi
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 6:49pmDid they tell you that most of the money came from Overtime. The reason for the overtime is they won‘t hire enough employee’s. I’ll bet most of the overtime was force overtime. Meaning he wasn’t aloud to have a day off in much of the 4 months at summer time.
Report Post »Which now makes him a bad guy. How many lives do you think he saved. I know of congressman at the fed level who make 174,000 $ and full health care and retire with the money and health care for just 4 yrs of work plus many many perks. How many lives did they save and how much skin cancer are they dealing with.
ME
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 7:06pm@fireyogi
You poor soul you must suffer on some government payroll and grieve for your brothers pain. I do hope that was sarcasm but painfully does not appear so. I will say that no one in government should make over median income of the private sector. If some pig can spend 1 billion to become POTUS he don’t need a pay check. Can’t wait till every single person in government employment is forced to compete in the real world. blah blah blah with your skin cancer and tuff hours on the beech god forbid you have to work on the north slope or on a oil barge or as a labor in the sun on one of a million real jobs that are 12 hours a day seven days a week.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 8:46pmWe are talking about a HUGE tourist industry that revolves around those beaches. Next, those beaches have notorious rips, some are very dangerous. Forget the sharks. We can’t have tourists drowning in them. Following that, Lifeguards are a large part of coastal PR. Yeah, it’s extravagant. Yeah, it’s part of the brain dead behavior of Hollywood that runs Cali. by remote control and has resulted in horrendous fiscal irresponsibility that NO ONE IN THE STATE RECOGNIZES! Priorities are an unknown concept to them, thanks to those U.N. indoctrination centers they call ‘public schools.’
Report Post »hud
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:42pmI sense that folks don’t see the positive side of the story. American sticktoativism. Their dedication and hard work have been rewarded, it’s the American way
Report Post »Igno Ramus
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:10pmIf’n Ida noed that whin I wuz a chile, Ida probly lernt how ta swim. Is any uv em hitched? Good God they‘s hole famblys din’t make that las yar. I ain’ta gonna move me to no Californy anytime soon. Even if’n I wuz to hit a patch uv oil whilst I wuza huntin.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:12pmunions are the reason the state is broke, I live in Michigan and I can see what they have done to our automotive industry, look at states that don’t have unions, they are doing a lot better than union infested states, unions are distroying this country wake up people, they are full of communist,socialist, and marxist, seiu,uaw,teachers union etc.
Report Post »v-vet1968
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 11:50pmcalling all californians time for a trip the the local john deere dealer to have your heads removed from your rectum.
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