[quote=CA renter]
FWIW, it costs around $35,000 just to get a recruit through basic training in the military. Then, you add on all the specialized training. And the DoD has the benefit of efficiency of scale.
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Anyway, from what I’ve seen, it costs anywhere from $50,000-$70,000 to replace a police officer:
[/quote]

Your point? It would cost $20K to replace a firefighter? What’s the turnover rate ex-retirement amongst firefighter? Even during the ultra-prosperous 2003-2007.

[quote=CA renter]

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BTW, firefighters don’t just “put out fires” and police officers don’t just “write tickets” or “eat donuts.” Statements like that show tremendous ignorance about what police and firefighters do.
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Surely those that do put out the fires and write tickets are paid less since the job is less stressful and/or requires less specialized skills?

[quote=CA renter]
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Yes, police officers have shorter lifespans usually because of stress, unusual working hours, alcoholism/addiction as a result of the job, etc. It is one of the most stressful, depressing, and difficult jobs out there. You are dealing with the worst people in society every single day, and seeing some horrific things on a regular basis that most people will never see in their lives.

Again, if one of the complainers thinks they can do a better job for less, by all means, sign up and volunteer to show them your skilz![/quote]

That is the problem. The process is controlled by the unions. The compensation is preset, not market-based. Plenty of people coming back from the wars would be happy to risk their lives as firefighters. Put a job ad on the craigslist and see how many responses you will get.

I support labor’s right to organize, but with public employees there is no business with the opposite interest on the other side, there is no counterweight. The public unions are negotiating with people who were installed to their position because of the support of those unions. Like Jeffrey Immelt, member of the NY Fed board of directors representing the public negotiating bailout with GE’s CEO and Chairman Jeffrey Immelt.