Jersey Mike

Clearly, everyone wants the budget to be passed.

And the only reason that Rendell is withholding pay from some 88,000 Commonwealth Employees is to put pressure on the legislators.

They’re being used as pawns in a political game which is benefiting no one but special interest groups, lobbyists and the upper one percent looking for more money in their pockets.

So here’s my suggestion to the state workers who aren’t getting paid or receiving reduced pay:

WALK OFF.

ALL OF YOU.

I’m fucking serious. Imagine this situation on a smaller scale. Say a restaurant which employs ten people says to it’s employees “Yes, we have the money to pay you. But we’re fighting internally here and decided that we’re not going to pay you until we come to an agreement. Yes, yes…I know you’re all doing your jobs…but I’m going to use you as a way to get what I want.”

You’ve got the ability to bring this Commonwealth to it’s KNEES. Imagine 88,000 state employees ALL walked off their jobs at precisely the same time? Watch how quick they pass the budget then!

But do we have that in us anymore? As a whole? As a society? Or are we too euthanized by our flat screen TV’s and Facebook accounts and fast food and alcohol and tobacco that we couldn’t possibly fathom giving up these things they call “luxuries”?

“Sacrifice of the few for the good of the many”.

If that were the scenario in a restaurant which employs ten people, they would ALL QUIT.

So multiply that by eighty-eight thousand…they can’t fire ALL of you.

But by you guys continuing to go to work and not organizing en masse you’re sending the message to Rendell that you’re a bunch of pansies who can be walked all over with no regard to your dedication to your trade.

This would not be tolerated in any other industry.

(Let me repeat that…this WOULD NOT be tolerated in ANY OTHER industry.)

Lemme bring this home for a second…a promoter (like myself) says to his production staff “Hey guys. Look. I’m battling with the venue owners to get more money for projects I want to do…and until we get it resolved, I need you to keep on working as hard as you do and I’m not going to pay you until I get this resolved.”

I’d be out a sound crew quicker than you could say “load out”.

So WHY are you all still working!?

Certainly, only a handful of you couldn’t accomplish this.

You need to ORGANIZE.

Union leaders: what the fuck are you guys waiting for!?

Isn’t that what a Union is in place for? Isn’t that why some of you higher ups get paid six-figure salaries? To PROTECT the best interest of the unions membership??

I’m SO sick of the political posturing that happens in this god forsaken Commonwealth.

And it’s not just the State. Harrisburg politics are JUST as fucked up. (Probably even MORE fucked up if you think about it.)

And the politicians who will shake your hand and kiss your baby for the months leading up to their elections are the SAME ONES who are doing this to you right now.

Stand up.

Be counted.

You’re better than this. And deserve more.

Flabbergasted.

Flummoxed.

Absolutely STUNNED, I am, to see the photo that adorned the front page of PennLive tonight.

Are State Workers SO broke and SO poor and SO disadvantaged that nearly five hundred of them needed to take advantage of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s offer to provide boxes of food after only one missed paycheck?

Those folks look pretty well dressed to be seeking that sort of assistance. I wonder if any of them cut back their cable package? Internet? Cell phone?

Lemme tell ya…as a self-employed individual who consistently hovers right around the poverty line AND has mouths to feed, I’ve NEVER been so broke and had my cubbards become SO bare that I’ve needed to get free groceries from a Food Bank.

Could State Workers, with their modest salaries, generous sick-days and vacation time and full health insurance be SO fragile and unprepared for the worst that with a single missed paycheck they find themselves in a G-D BREADLINE?

Is this 1930’s America?

State Workers: here’s a little tip sheet – from me to you- on how to survive on limited income for an extended period of time.

1. Shop at Weis instead of Giant. (And definitely DON’T go to Wegmans)
Weis is usually a bit cheaper than the cushy, bright and brand-new Giant stores.

2. Clip Coupons.
Seriously. Mom used to do it and would get a HUGE cart full of goodness for a family of six for less than a hundred bucks. (Sometimes, it’s the only reason I buy the Sunday paper)

3. Eat less, fattie.
Do you normally have three eggs for breakfast? Eat two. Get a gallon of Haagen Daas to keep in the freezer? Skip it. Absolutely HAVE to have Diet Pepsi? Switch to whatever is onsale for a buck a bottle.

4. Buy generic.
It’s the exact same shit. Really. There’s no difference between Weis brand Fruity O’s and Fruit Loops. ZERO difference between Weis brand OJ and Tropicana.

5. Two words: Ramen Noodles.
Act like you’re back in college. The kids won’t mind.

6. Shop midweek.
This isn’t scientific, by any means, but I’ve always found that the discounts are more prevalent on a Tuesday than they are on a Saturday (when EVERYONE else goes shopping).

7. Skip the sweets, tubby.
Frill-filled items are luxuries. I know you think you might not make it through the day without that Pepperidge Farms Seven Layer Cake, but in trying times, you should at least try.

8. If you smoke, smoke generic.
It might take some getting used to, but a USA Gold is essentially the same thing as a Camel Light.

9. Bring lunch to work.
Don’t go out to eat. Pack a PB&J, an apple and a bottle of water.

10. And finally, LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.