New jersey Governor Chris Christie is on the road trying to sell his ideas to fix the dire fiscal situation his state is in. During a town hall, a government school teacher confronted him about her benefits and compensation for indoctrinating so many students.
Christie told her if she was unhappy, perhaps she should look for other employment:
“Teachers do it because they love it.”
That’s not true. You may do it, and you may love it, but you do it because it pays you the money you think you are worth. If it didn’t pay you fairly, you would quit, which is what the governor said. It’s called the free market. You don’t have to do a job. No government employee ordered you to teach specifically in New Jersey.
When I left the Navy, I pledged to myself that I would never work in a job where I dreaded coming to work each day. I told myself that I would simply quit.
You see, if you have not served in the military, you can’t really appreciate the freedom you have as an employee. You can, if you chose, just stop coming in. No one is going to arrest you. You can look for a job, find one, quit your current job and start a new one, just like that.
In the military, you are stuck. You can’t quit without some major league hassles. You signed one the line, you do your time. You can change jobs in the military, but that takes time also.
Not so in the civilian world.
If you are unhappy teaching in New Jersey, then do it in another state.
And one last thing. Just because you love doing something doesn’t mean you get paid whatever you think you are worth. I love blogging, podcasting, and vlogging. I don’t get paid jack. I don’t demand the government pay me because I love it.
I just do it and try to earn a few bucks when I can.
I really have a hard time accepting this justification.
And if you don’t know what she’s so upset about, here it is: she had her pay frozen for a year and has to pay 1 1/2 percent of her salary to pay for her benefits.
She’s lucky to have a job. I didn’t get a pay raise this year either. And I’m not expecting one.
I’m just glad we have not seen pay reductions. Those were pretty common during the Great Depression.
Count your blessings, Rita. You have more than you deserve.
Hat Tip: Hot Air
