Lifeguarding in OC: $200,000 (Newport Beach: buy, contractors, median income)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by ZhugeLiang

I don't think you truly believe that.

Why? Most of the psople I know in the private sector who've been there awhile make comparable, except that we also get bonuses, which I don't believe most public sector employees do. I think a lot of less educated private sector workers now are getting hammered though.

[Dub D]

If you drown at Newport Beach, you deserve to die. That beach is WEAK.

[Luke9686]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Give me break^^^ no lifegaurd is worth over 100k, ridiculous.

Until your child is drowning...

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by technocrat

That's right....but it seems you do have a problem when they are compensated for the risks they take, in their profession. Fortunately for them, NB doesn't think so! Do you take exceptions to Paris Hilton making millions just by smiling at the camera, or the Kardashians(spelling?) raking in, showing off their 'assets' on the TV

I don't have to pay for the Hiltons or the Kardashians. I skip buying their stuff or read the tabloids that traffic in gossip about them. If they can find enough morons out there to buy into their garbage thats their business, not mine.

I DO have to pay the taxes that cover public employee pensions & paychecks & that makes it my business. I do take exception to public employees being overpaid.

We can argue about the degree of the issue, but your attempt to deflect the debate by bringing up private sector situations where someone is paid more then they are worth implies you agree these public sector employees are being paid more then they are worth.

[ZhugeLiang]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Why? Most of the psople I know in the private sector who've been there awhile make comparable, except that we also get bonuses, which I don't believe most public sector employees do. I think a lot of less educated private sector workers now are getting hammered though.

Their benefits and salary do not match the job skills of the average public employee, no way. They get below market-cost health benefits and more lavish pensions that 90% of the workforce, people who's job requirements are little more than a GED.

[EscapeCalifornia]

If these people's swimming and life-saving skills are SO unique that they can command $200k salaries, why is the bulk of the actual work being done by part-timers making $18-22/hr?

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Derek nailed it. These aren't the tower-sitters getting this pay. These are the Lts, Capts and Chiefs. Most, if not all, of the employees at this level are also PC 832 certified peace officers.

If they are not the tower-sitters then they are not the ones saving -supposedly- 150 idiots a year, right? So the ones doing the real work are the kids making crap while older guys in jeep with fresh sun block on their noses driving around in jeeps looking cool are making the good money?

Then again, in a country where the President and the government goes out of their way to spend billions to save corrupt or non-productive corporations, what is couple of hundred thousand on a group of people who really save lives?

[Hwy phantom]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Yeah and I'd love to see them do the standard performance test consisting of a 1,000 yard ocean swim, then a 500 yard ocean swim and a 1,500 yard run-swim-run, all in 50 degree water (they're held in early March) and good sized waves. Most of those in that big of a hoard of applicants would have probably died in the process.

I bet every 22 year old who swims for USC and UCLA's team could do that no problem, in fact with the pay and benefits, this would be a great back up plan if they cant find a job after graduating.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Until your child is drowning...

This is the most ridiculous, lazy, and weak argument that keeps getting regurgetated. Of course most parents would pay everything they have to save their drowning child. Thats not the point. The point is ts not limitless what these guys can be paid and $200k plus ridiculous pensions is way out of whack with reality.

[Hwy phantom]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

The problem isn't that public employeees are making too much, it's that under our current economic system, average private sector employees have seen almost no real wage growth over the past 25 years while those at the top have done considerably better. Income inequality is becoming a huge problem in the country. The public employees are just the scapegoats.

The private sectors wages could increase via less taxes but who's gonna pay the big salaries and pensions of government workers, IE $200k lifeguards.