Here we are on the precipice of a New Year, a new State Governor and perhaps, and this one's up to you, a New State. With the new year comes that great implied hope for change or something new, different and not like other years. This year more than any other, Maine will need you to get involved, to stand up, have your voice heard and demand results. When Maine fought for statehood, it was because Mass-o-2-shits would not stop their oppression of our Maine people. Maine was not represented it was controlled. Here we are again, with government telling us what it will do or not do. What it will cut, eliminate and create. I have Had it.
Out of State politics belongs out of state, and the out-of-staters running our state as if they know what is good for Maine is PIG swill. It is still we the people. We pay, and not for what we want, but for what we get. The same lack of representation of the 1800's is here now. Some of this is truly our fault; we have become numb, complacent and disenchanted. We have allowed ourselves to believe the political lie that we, you and I, have done this to ourselves. Beyond our acceptance of Their facts, we are guiltless.
The Government itself has perpetrated The Great America Give-Away. Surrendering us to Corporate America, while Corporate America held us hostage under the threat of Their failure. All the while republicans cried about the redistribution of wealth to the lower classes. They truly left nothing to redistribute. They stole the wealth of the Nation under the guise that their corporate friends should be saved. They convinced us we could save ourselves. Fools we are. Now the same group that stole the money, says "you can not tax us, we create the jobs." Lies. They do not create jobs, they create profit and only that, or they have failed. The only jobs created in the last 5 years have been government make work jobs, Homeland Security and the TSA. Sadly, though in reality, both of these new institutions were created to protect business and not us. Corporate America does not wish to pay for their own protection, or pay taxes. We pay for them. Yet, the Corporate monster spreads its wings round the world grabbing wildly with its claw like talons, seeking only profit, with no responsibility.
Jobs will not fix Maine. A new Governor will not fix Maine. If you want to have a rite-aid, cvs, wal-mart, ding-dong doughnut, or what have you, on every corner, than you can just continue with the old flow of the years gone by. And believe the lie that it will help. You can just stand there and out of the corner of your eye watch Maine disappear, into overdeveloped worthlessness. But I no longer can.
This year have your say, let everyone know, this is your state. You have a right to expect results for what you want. Not what the force will feed you. They will make a lot of excuses this year. There is no excuse for failure. Especially when you are paying the bill. God Bless Maine, and all of us.
Keep your hopes high, your mind sharp, and Have a great New Year.
Wishing you all the best, Ms. Paula Page
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
"Some Are More Equal Than Others"
There it was staring me right in the face the whole time, The Pigs and Dogs have it really well.
This page title and the pigs and dogs line, for those of you who do not remember, is a reference to the book, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. I am referencing this because what we have for The State Of Maine, is the double standard of the Pigs. If you remember in the story the Pigs deserved all the apples, for their brain work was hard. The Pigs also controlled all the money, to use for the greater good (which turned out to be their greater good). Whenever the Pigs had a desire they changed one of their seven laws ever so slightly, that the animal population did not really notice. Today the Pigs still run the state and the Dogs have all the paying positions in the private state. The private state has changed with the Dogs in charge, the public state has not. No longer do Dog companies offer full pensions, no longer do their companies offer good health benefit packages. Most companies have some form of 401k, which is really just the worker saving money in a gamble that it will increase, or even be there, when that imaginary day of retirement comes. The Dogs companies have lousy overpriced health care offerings for their employees, where the employee shells out more than half of their earnings for marginal benefits, with high out-of-pocket costs on top of high deductibles.The Dogs also seek and get many tax breaks from the Pigs, who have always been thankful for the Dogs.
The State worker, the Public worker, the Administration, almost without exception make more in salary and benefits, than their private state counter parts. Why is this? Is it justifiable? What do you think? Perhaps at one point, we, the state, thought it was the model for business to follow. Perhaps at one point we followed an old business model. But that model is dead. In the private state only executive Dogswine get the benefits they deserve for their brain work. In the private state business uses outside contractors and independent sources for much of its labor to reduce cost and liability. In this way, the private state has power to negotiate its contracts, always reaching a lower price; thus a satisfactory outcome. Our state needs to find ways to create jobs with our tax money. I say contract out the work to the people in the state. Let more Dogs in. Why does the state need to pay a $40,000 salary plus benefits to a photographer in the state's employ? Are there no photographers willing to take the state's call, when it's picture day? Why must all the plowing be state trucks on state runs? Are they better, more capable of doing the job right? Are the state plows cheaper to run? Probably not.
The state has actually sucked away the jobs for itself. It only wants to invest in itself as well. Take for example, investments in subsidized housing. We artificially lower the rent, so the private sector does not have to pay the employee enough to rent. We pay the rent for them through the state taxes instead. Yet we already gave the low interest loan to the private LLC to build this beautiful new low cost housing unit. The Dog makes money, The Pig gets fat and Human Services keeps their low income clients. We get hit three times for this. Our money is continually wasted.
Another example, we have a huge mental hospital, Dorothea Dix (BMHI), which costs millions to heat, has minimal clients, could never ever turn a profit as a private business, and we pay state employees to run it with huge benefit packages. The Dogs would never own it. These things, and many other examples of this kind of thinking need to be addressed. We need to get some share of those apples back from the Pigs. Let's start saving the state money by creating a private, competitive jobs market. Everything from Accounting and Labor to Photographer and Priest should be outsourced by the state, to the state. No other business really tries to pay a livable wage. Why should we? Well it's all something to think about.
Talk to you soon, Ms. Paula Page
This page title and the pigs and dogs line, for those of you who do not remember, is a reference to the book, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. I am referencing this because what we have for The State Of Maine, is the double standard of the Pigs. If you remember in the story the Pigs deserved all the apples, for their brain work was hard. The Pigs also controlled all the money, to use for the greater good (which turned out to be their greater good). Whenever the Pigs had a desire they changed one of their seven laws ever so slightly, that the animal population did not really notice. Today the Pigs still run the state and the Dogs have all the paying positions in the private state. The private state has changed with the Dogs in charge, the public state has not. No longer do Dog companies offer full pensions, no longer do their companies offer good health benefit packages. Most companies have some form of 401k, which is really just the worker saving money in a gamble that it will increase, or even be there, when that imaginary day of retirement comes. The Dogs companies have lousy overpriced health care offerings for their employees, where the employee shells out more than half of their earnings for marginal benefits, with high out-of-pocket costs on top of high deductibles.The Dogs also seek and get many tax breaks from the Pigs, who have always been thankful for the Dogs.
The State worker, the Public worker, the Administration, almost without exception make more in salary and benefits, than their private state counter parts. Why is this? Is it justifiable? What do you think? Perhaps at one point, we, the state, thought it was the model for business to follow. Perhaps at one point we followed an old business model. But that model is dead. In the private state only executive Dogswine get the benefits they deserve for their brain work. In the private state business uses outside contractors and independent sources for much of its labor to reduce cost and liability. In this way, the private state has power to negotiate its contracts, always reaching a lower price; thus a satisfactory outcome. Our state needs to find ways to create jobs with our tax money. I say contract out the work to the people in the state. Let more Dogs in. Why does the state need to pay a $40,000 salary plus benefits to a photographer in the state's employ? Are there no photographers willing to take the state's call, when it's picture day? Why must all the plowing be state trucks on state runs? Are they better, more capable of doing the job right? Are the state plows cheaper to run? Probably not.
The state has actually sucked away the jobs for itself. It only wants to invest in itself as well. Take for example, investments in subsidized housing. We artificially lower the rent, so the private sector does not have to pay the employee enough to rent. We pay the rent for them through the state taxes instead. Yet we already gave the low interest loan to the private LLC to build this beautiful new low cost housing unit. The Dog makes money, The Pig gets fat and Human Services keeps their low income clients. We get hit three times for this. Our money is continually wasted.
Another example, we have a huge mental hospital, Dorothea Dix (BMHI), which costs millions to heat, has minimal clients, could never ever turn a profit as a private business, and we pay state employees to run it with huge benefit packages. The Dogs would never own it. These things, and many other examples of this kind of thinking need to be addressed. We need to get some share of those apples back from the Pigs. Let's start saving the state money by creating a private, competitive jobs market. Everything from Accounting and Labor to Photographer and Priest should be outsourced by the state, to the state. No other business really tries to pay a livable wage. Why should we? Well it's all something to think about.
Talk to you soon, Ms. Paula Page
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Our Hopes Must Change
"God bless us everyone," I hope that you have found the spirit of Christmas in your
hearts and homes this season. As we head into a new year, I can only
hope that you see some of the responsibilities our great nation faces.
We need to pay our bills. I know it will hurt; it hurts more the longer
it is put off. Our nation can not afford to be a debtor society, where
through fear of collapse the rest of the world follows our lead. We must
always lead by example. The examples of freedom, liberty and justice
come to mind. To be free, our obligations must be met. To exercise our
liberty, our obligations must be met. For any justice in this great
country to be fair and equitable we must pay our debt. The Greater world
is closing in, taking a hard look and exercising their influence for
their desired outcome. The time is now, 2011. We need to cut ourselves
back. Take inventory so to speak. Get spending on unfunded items
removed. Get out of the Global Security business. Be a partner to the
world, not its dictator at large. Take back our control of our nation
for our people. Corporate America needs to decide if they are American
companies that bring jobs and money home, thusly enjoying our
protection. Or, if not, they need to get out from under our wings, stop
free-riding on US, and move to their respective Chinese base camp. Now
is the time. Show the America that is proud, strong and true. Stand up,
wake up and be. We the people have a say. Don't let your right to that
go away. Pray, think, feel, act and love, but hold our politicos
responsible. For that they are. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I'm praying for US.
Sincerely, Ms. Paula Page
Thursday, December 23, 2010
So This Is Christmas, and We're Welcome
Christmas came early for Lauren, King Paul's 22 year old daughter, as she will be moving to the Blaine House, and has been hired as a staff worker by the state. Her pay will be justified, during this hiring freeze, by the cuts to the pay of the clerk and secretary that we spoke of on an earlier page. No, this was not nepotism, this was necessary. Lovely. Yes, Christmas is here. Not soon enough for the states that are running out of money and in need of retail sales taxes to pay bills. Christmas to our state has got to be the largest economic indicator of the populations well doing. If the numbers are low we are in worse trouble then we thought. If the numbers are high, we will predict a coming out of crisis, and a new projected revenue surplus. "Ah yes," Christmas must be lovely at the State offices. New tax numbers project our economic growth, they do not however represent people feeling they must do for others to the point of serious debt; Or the reality that the State is completely broke, living on its credit card that is rapidly increasing in interest, while losing in debt limit. Merry Christmas.
Now on a serious note, it is Christmas in Maine. There are many people this year who despite their hard work and personal giving find themselves in a rough patch of the woods. These particular people are not the free riders of society. No, they are the workers, the neighbors, friends and relatives of us all. Through work shortages, stoppages, bankruptcy, layoffs and closings, these people have little to be thankful for and the holidays can cause a lot of extra stress. If any of you know someone in any of these categories please go out of your way to help them have a Merry Christmas. Let them know that miracles do happen. Let them know they are not alone, that they will make it through. What ever help you can honestly give, Give. Not your money, necessarily, but your compassion, your prayers. Maine cares about friends and neighbors. Lets not forget them as we head of into this Blessed season.
To the Christless amongst us, Happy Holidays, and read your Bible. To the rest of you, have a Merry Christmas, be safe and spread love and joy to the world.
All the best to you always, Ms. Paula Page
Now on a serious note, it is Christmas in Maine. There are many people this year who despite their hard work and personal giving find themselves in a rough patch of the woods. These particular people are not the free riders of society. No, they are the workers, the neighbors, friends and relatives of us all. Through work shortages, stoppages, bankruptcy, layoffs and closings, these people have little to be thankful for and the holidays can cause a lot of extra stress. If any of you know someone in any of these categories please go out of your way to help them have a Merry Christmas. Let them know that miracles do happen. Let them know they are not alone, that they will make it through. What ever help you can honestly give, Give. Not your money, necessarily, but your compassion, your prayers. Maine cares about friends and neighbors. Lets not forget them as we head of into this Blessed season.
To the Christless amongst us, Happy Holidays, and read your Bible. To the rest of you, have a Merry Christmas, be safe and spread love and joy to the world.
All the best to you always, Ms. Paula Page
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Mr. Lepage What We Have Here is Overpayment.
Ms. Paula visited a rather startling site today. The site was full of horrific numbers, and positions and departments and pay. Something titled www.maineopengov.org , c 2009 The Maine Heritage Policy Center. On this site we all can see the cost to the State of Maine, by the State of Maine. The horrific thing is what we pay to ourselves in wages and benefits, that is if you work for the state, instead of paying for the state. I only looked at this page for a little while before my eyes began to blister. With very little investigation, one probably shouldn't make large and assuming statements, but I am about to. Looking at a record of 15,847 Maine employees, we paid a total of $532,949,052 in regular wages. We paid out another $16,185,390 in overtime wages, and a mind numbing $345,596,246 in benefits. Dividing the total expense by the number of workers on this page Ms. Paula comes up with $56,460.50 per unit of labor. Very costly, when we consider that many of these people are part time workers.
Here are a few wild examples of our state: Career Center Consultant, $66,295 in wages, $30,754 in benefits (the guy you go talk to when you are unemployed and seeking work through our career centers). Guess he Found the right job. For a total of $97,049 I could pay three of me and still have change.
How about this one: a Recreation Therapist at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric (BMHI): her total haul of your money $81,598. Not bad. Could you teach someone how to play for that kind of money?
Another wonderful thing I noticed was the fact that there are many, many, way too many Public Service Managers. On the state list, all departments have one, two, three and more and their salaries with benefits, around $130,000. Again not bad. You manage a bunch of over paid state workers who really don't want to lose their job. Sit back, smoke a cigar, oh right its not the 80's. Well go home for lunch, visit with the wife, you know spread the love, and don't bother coming back, you're really not necessary. There are thousands of examples of absurdity on the above mentioned web site, but do not go there if you have a weak heart or a quick temper.
The way I see it Paul, lets start the cuts right at the problem, in the problem. Why cut services first? People we get rid of will need them. We should begin with rewriting jobs, firing the over paid, as their job will no longer exist with a rewrite, and rehiring with no benefit package. Instant saving, both short and long term. Don't you agree? I'm sure you do.
Total expenditure for this page: priceless
Total jobs created by this page: none
Total benefits: you, your comments and thoughts.
Thank you for your time, Ms. Paula Page
Here are a few wild examples of our state: Career Center Consultant, $66,295 in wages, $30,754 in benefits (the guy you go talk to when you are unemployed and seeking work through our career centers). Guess he Found the right job. For a total of $97,049 I could pay three of me and still have change.
How about this one: a Recreation Therapist at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric (BMHI): her total haul of your money $81,598. Not bad. Could you teach someone how to play for that kind of money?
Another wonderful thing I noticed was the fact that there are many, many, way too many Public Service Managers. On the state list, all departments have one, two, three and more and their salaries with benefits, around $130,000. Again not bad. You manage a bunch of over paid state workers who really don't want to lose their job. Sit back, smoke a cigar, oh right its not the 80's. Well go home for lunch, visit with the wife, you know spread the love, and don't bother coming back, you're really not necessary. There are thousands of examples of absurdity on the above mentioned web site, but do not go there if you have a weak heart or a quick temper.
The way I see it Paul, lets start the cuts right at the problem, in the problem. Why cut services first? People we get rid of will need them. We should begin with rewriting jobs, firing the over paid, as their job will no longer exist with a rewrite, and rehiring with no benefit package. Instant saving, both short and long term. Don't you agree? I'm sure you do.
Total expenditure for this page: priceless
Total jobs created by this page: none
Total benefits: you, your comments and thoughts.
Thank you for your time, Ms. Paula Page
Monday, December 20, 2010
The complex rules could keep Paul in check.
It is said "we don't make the rules we just have to play by them." Well King Paul thinks the rules are too complex, so much so that he wants to have legislators bring him the rules whenever they write a bill.
I am wondering if this is so he personally can rewrite the rules. Well, that is not the governor's job. The Governor either signs a piece of legislation or does not sign it. If King Paul wants to write the bills that come before the governor, perhaps he should have run for a state seat, representative Lepage sounds better anyway. In the Portland Press Herald article Lepage: Rules too complex, by Susan Cover today, Lepage is quoted as saying "If you want me to sign a bill, show me the rules and regulations, everything, and I will sign it."
Well I say to my fellow legislators keep these rules hard and tight and by all means complex, for the last thing we need is King Paul passing any laws without rules. Paul, every law is a rule. We don't call them rules though because they are more complex, and often times law requires a little more study than a simple rule. Regulation has only gotten more complex because business always find a way around a law. It has never been the people finding away around the law. We submit, we pay our taxes or lose our house. On the other hand, business goes more like "we put arsenic in the ground water? No we didn't." Then comes the good one "prove it," which is the start of the business just sucking away state resources as we spend to defend ourselves from poison. Last, comes the business generated report, "that the arsenic while at very high levels, and not previously noted, is natural and was always there." Lovely. That my friends is a sample of typical business. Without regulation, rules if King Paul likes the term better, not only will we be the lowest paid workers in the Northeast (which we are), we will be the most polluted and corrupt State. I'm all for Liberty and truly want more of it, but I'm not ready to let King Paul give his business cronies a free pass, to ride Maine into the ground, for their 'liberty without the rules'.
Well, I have to go, be back soon to finish this up and make it coherent, Please, have a good day, thanks, Ms. Paula Page
I am wondering if this is so he personally can rewrite the rules. Well, that is not the governor's job. The Governor either signs a piece of legislation or does not sign it. If King Paul wants to write the bills that come before the governor, perhaps he should have run for a state seat, representative Lepage sounds better anyway. In the Portland Press Herald article Lepage: Rules too complex, by Susan Cover today, Lepage is quoted as saying "If you want me to sign a bill, show me the rules and regulations, everything, and I will sign it."
Well I say to my fellow legislators keep these rules hard and tight and by all means complex, for the last thing we need is King Paul passing any laws without rules. Paul, every law is a rule. We don't call them rules though because they are more complex, and often times law requires a little more study than a simple rule. Regulation has only gotten more complex because business always find a way around a law. It has never been the people finding away around the law. We submit, we pay our taxes or lose our house. On the other hand, business goes more like "we put arsenic in the ground water? No we didn't." Then comes the good one "prove it," which is the start of the business just sucking away state resources as we spend to defend ourselves from poison. Last, comes the business generated report, "that the arsenic while at very high levels, and not previously noted, is natural and was always there." Lovely. That my friends is a sample of typical business. Without regulation, rules if King Paul likes the term better, not only will we be the lowest paid workers in the Northeast (which we are), we will be the most polluted and corrupt State. I'm all for Liberty and truly want more of it, but I'm not ready to let King Paul give his business cronies a free pass, to ride Maine into the ground, for their 'liberty without the rules'.
Well, I have to go, be back soon to finish this up and make it coherent, Please, have a good day, thanks, Ms. Paula Page
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tough Questions For Paul Lepage At Lyman Moore
While reading the article, Lepage Fields Tough Questions At School, in the Morning Sentinel, by Kelley Bouchard, http://kbouchard.mainetoday.com, Ms. Paula was startled by the statement that The state of Utah only spends $5,706 per pupil in their education system, while Maine spends $11,644 per student.
How could the discrepancy be so great? Are we really wasting that many resources? Well, Ms. Paula had to find out. Here is the truth according to the Utah state government, and the Maine state government. Utah in its most recent release of figures 2007-08 spent $8,224.00 per student. Up 111% since 1970. Maine in its latest release of figures 2008-09 spent $9,625 per student an increase of 2.5% over the last report. That brings the State of Maine within $1401 of Utah in its per student spending. Utah's total spending for education for the year reported was $4.42 Billion, while Maine's Total spending for education was $1.4 Billion.
Comparing these two states is ridiculous. Maine Ranks among the lowest in the nation with its per student spending. Maine is also the lowest spender in the northeast. I suggest that whom ever is giving King Paul his relevant data, supply him with relevant data sets. We are moving forward in a new administration that will need to find cuts everywhere, so please lets be sure to get the facts straight.
These facts came from: www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/2009/geninfo
and: www.utaheducationfacts.com
Here is an update to this entry Sunday, Dec. 19th by: Ms. Paula Page, for some reason the link above now sends you to a Maine government page and the relevant page has been moved to the 2006-2007 document. Why? This link was in the right place and worked after the posting of this article. Now the State of Maine has hidden the 2008-2009 info in the wrong year. Well, here is the new link for this page: www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/2009/geninfo.htm . Thank you, Mike for letting us know about this sudden change in state file placement.
To Ms. Paula education is all Maine has left to give it's children, even if they up and leave the state after we educate them. They become our ambassadors, for they are us.
Well, for today, I say "Be, think, Do" all of Maine depends upon you.
Bye for now, Ms. Paula
How could the discrepancy be so great? Are we really wasting that many resources? Well, Ms. Paula had to find out. Here is the truth according to the Utah state government, and the Maine state government. Utah in its most recent release of figures 2007-08 spent $8,224.00 per student. Up 111% since 1970. Maine in its latest release of figures 2008-09 spent $9,625 per student an increase of 2.5% over the last report. That brings the State of Maine within $1401 of Utah in its per student spending. Utah's total spending for education for the year reported was $4.42 Billion, while Maine's Total spending for education was $1.4 Billion.
Comparing these two states is ridiculous. Maine Ranks among the lowest in the nation with its per student spending. Maine is also the lowest spender in the northeast. I suggest that whom ever is giving King Paul his relevant data, supply him with relevant data sets. We are moving forward in a new administration that will need to find cuts everywhere, so please lets be sure to get the facts straight.
These facts came from: www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/2009/geninfo
and: www.utaheducationfacts.com
Here is an update to this entry Sunday, Dec. 19th by: Ms. Paula Page, for some reason the link above now sends you to a Maine government page and the relevant page has been moved to the 2006-2007 document. Why? This link was in the right place and worked after the posting of this article. Now the State of Maine has hidden the 2008-2009 info in the wrong year. Well, here is the new link for this page: www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/2009/geninfo.htm . Thank you, Mike for letting us know about this sudden change in state file placement.
To Ms. Paula education is all Maine has left to give it's children, even if they up and leave the state after we educate them. They become our ambassadors, for they are us.
Well, for today, I say "Be, think, Do" all of Maine depends upon you.
Bye for now, Ms. Paula
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