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Life in "Progress" Country - Ireland edition

May this be a lesson to those of you who don't believe that the feds won't come after our Roth IRA's or 401k's before we get our hands on them...........

The Irish government plans to institute a tax on private pensions to drive jobs growth, according to its jobs program strategy, delivered today.

Without the ability sell debt due to soaring interest rates, and with severe spending rules in place due to its EU-IMF bailout, Ireland has few ways of spending to stimulate the economy. Today's jobs program includes specific tax increases, including the tax on pensions, aimed at keeping government jobs spending from adding to the national debt.

The tax on private pensions will be 0.6%, and last for four years, according to the report.

Anyone want to lay money that this doesn't go away in four years?

Mr./Ms. "Progressive" ask yourself this question does this tax impact the Warren Buffett's of the world more than retired citizens who rely on these pensions for their support?


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Life in "Progress' State - California edition

Seriously, doe anyone responsible for budgeting ever step back and say. Man, these employees are making too much money........

High pay and benefits for lifeguards in Newport Beach is the latest example of frustrating levels of compensation for public employees. More than half the city’s full-time lifeguards are paid a salary of over $100,000 and all but one of them collect more than $100,000 in total compensation including benefits.

When thinking about career options with high salaries, lifeguarding is probably not one of the first jobs to come to mind. But it apparently should. In one of Orange County’s most desirable beach destinations, Newport Beach, lifeguards are compensated all too well; especially compared with the county annual median household income of $71,735.

It might be time for a career change.

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.

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Life in "Progress" City - Detroit edition

At my crazy, Walmart store they cater to the gun clinging rednecks by selling guns, ammunition and Bibles.

What customers do "Progress" City stores attempt to attract........?

Be careful of what’s being sold under the counter.

Crack pipes are being sold at neighborhood stores from Detroit to the suburbs.

That’s according to former Detroit police officer David Mahalab, who says the pipes are disguised as novelties.

“To avoid police detection and to try to avoid the law, they put a pen insert – (in) a glass tube, and try to evade the law, which talks about paraphernalia and stuff that has a second use,” says Mahalab.

Mahalab says they’re also disguised as a ballpoint pen or small glass vases with a rose sticking out of them.

Mahalab says people may be surprised where the pipes are being sold.

“Dollar stores, gas stations, liquor stores, virtually every store in the 6th Precinct that I did enforcement with, were given a ticket and found guilty. I’ve seen them in Allen Park, Dearborn Heights and Garden City,” says Mahalab.

Mahalab says the pipe sales are lucrative, but bring crack addicts and crime to neighborhoods.

Now I'm thinking that at my local "Redville" gas stations by the flashing red lights they don't sell crack pipes because there's no demand.

Maybe the store's are going to their customers and not vice versa.......

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Life in "Progress" City - Cleveland edition

I think I'll slap the crap out of the next person who tells me "it's for the children"...........

The Cleveland Municipal School District, scratching for every penny, could use the nearly $5 million paid to employees who have retired since last summer.

Records show that 269 employees cashed in that amount of accumulated vacation and sick leave since the fiscal year started July 1. Topping the list are two administrators who each collected about $83,000, one after working in the system for four years.

Nearly 70 percent of the employees picked up at least $10,000 in what the district calls severance; more than 40 percent received $20,000 or more.

All redeemed the time based on their final pay rates, no matter when during their careers the leave was accumulated. At least 24 employees who retired were rehired, a practice popularly known as "double dipping."

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Life in "Progress" State - Illinois edition

No one apparently knows where the hell John Galt is but you can probably be certain you won't find him in Illinois........

First, State Farm locating jobs out of Illinois........

State Farm plans to close two-dozen field offices in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan where 1,300 people work to save $8 million over the next five years.While about 530 workers in Chicago-area offices will be commuting to a different facility in suburban Downers Grove, about 250 workers elsewhere in Illinois would have to transfer to Indianapolis......

Second, Sears looking to relocate........

Sears Holdings Corp. is researching a possible move outside the state of Illinois.

Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said Monday that the retailer has had preliminary discussions with the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, where it is located. Sears also has comissioned an economic impact study. The Daily Herald newspaper reports state and local incentives that Sears receives will expire in 2012.

What's so "Progressive" about companies leaving your state?

Life in "Progress" State - California edition

Things are tough in the Golden State with all those billions in debt and all. But apparently, things aren't so dire that the state can't afford some love to one of the most pressing issues around.......

Chances are, the last time you flopped down on one of those lush hotel beds, replete with a pillow-top mattress, high thread-count sheets, down comforter and mounds of fluffy pillows, you weren’t wondering, flat — or fitted.

Yet, that’s at the core of a debate that will consume state legislators beginning next Monday when a committee will ponder a labor union-backed bill mandating the use of fitted bottom sheets in all hotel rooms.

The way union leaders see it, such sheets – common in households across America but far less so in hotels – will help ease the backbreaking work that defines a housekeeper’s job. Hoteliers, who say the mandate could cost the industry $20 million statewide, call it a ridiculous, unnecessary piece of legislation that is sidetracking politicians from far more pressing work like balancing the state budget.

Thanks reader Jeremy for the heads up.


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Bridge Cards for college students over

Life in "Progress" City - San Francisco edition

So what does rent control do for your supply of housing units?

Just look at what it's done to San Francisco...........

Increasingly, small-time landlords like Koniuk are just giving up. One of his Divisadero Street neighbors has left two large apartments on the second and third floors of her building vacant for more than a decade, after a series of tenant difficulties. It’s just not worth the bother, or the risk, of being legally tied to a tenant for decades.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/12lM2)

Increasingly, small-time landlords like Koniuk are just giving up. One of his Divisadero Street neighbors has left two large apartments on the second and third floors of her building vacant for more than a decade, after a series of tenant difficulties. It’s just not worth the bother, or the risk, of being legally tied to a tenant for decades.

From The Bay Citizen (share this quote)

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Increasingly, small-time landlords like Koniuk are just giving up. One of his Divisadero Street neighbors has left two large apartments on the second and third floors of her building vacant for more than a decade, after a series of tenant difficulties. It’s just not worth the bother, or the risk, of being legally tied to a tenant for decades.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/12lM2)