Police overtime budget cuts (Boston, Framingham: neighborhood, friendly, best)

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by massnative71

What in the world is a "cop apologist"? Sorry I don't spend much time in Cambridge these days, I need to be "enlightened".

Lol, people's republic of Cambridge....ok place to work but that's about it.

Um cops get even get served coffee these days there's so much hate towards them. Never mind getting free coffee or lunch. Wake up.

[id77]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Well perhaps cops are preventing the city from being burned down and their presence MAYBE makes people think twice before being destructive around here. Just a thought. They certainly don't get a free lunch.

Also many engineers working at these tech companies are simply more privileged than a police officer. As many point out a cop doesn't need a college degree. Engineers typically have the privileged of being highly intelligent which not everyone gets to be. They are paid well and rewarded for what they do, but I think we need to recognize that they and many higher ups in tech or any corporation are privileged. People are quick to point out privilege these days so it seems necessary to mention that being very smart and having the ability to become an engineer is a privilege. But I dont think that means anyone who doesn't have this type of brain should be on the street struggling.

Trash collectors keep the streets from overrunning with garbage, which is an essential service, and they're paid crap. Same with grocery clerks and many other jobs.

There's lots of critical and essential professions out there that don't get the pay and perks because it's not about how important the job is, it's about how valuable the employees are. As you point out, not everyone possesses the intelligence to be an engineer or doctor, so there's simply not enough supply to meet demand. We have to import these workers via immigration in many cases because there's so few to go around. We don't have to sponsor visas and pay for relocation for police because there's sufficient supply of able-bodied workers in any given area. If a department suddenly said all cops got $250k/year, you can bet that any open position would be applied for by thousands of people; even when tech companies throw that much around for engineers, they still have to hire headhunters to find enough talent to fill the desks and it can take months and sometimes even years.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by id77

it's about how valuable the employees are..

At least you "half" understand how the labor market works. What you don't understand is, a degree is a piece of paper that is essentially just that. It has its merit and is a requirement for some jobs, but there is lots more that determine how much "value" an employee has.

[msRB311]

ok so you're comparing law enforcement to trash collectors and cashiers now?

I do agree that not everyone has the intelligence for certain positions, but there's also plenty of people who wouldn't make it through the police academy either or be able to walk into a house to break up a domestic dispute.

And to be honest it seems like there's a ton of engineers out there, particularly in the millennial generation that it's a wonder that market isn't saturated. I also don't think they are paid THAT much. They certainly make a good living but I wouldn't call them rich.

The VP level people are another story and in the Boston area they dont seem to be that rare of a unicorn either.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by msRB311

. As many point out a cop doesn't need a college degree. Engineers typically have the privileged of being highly intelligent which not everyone gets to be.

Oh please. The privilege of getting a pension, getting to do highly rewarded extra hours and getting paid to sit in a car behind a crew filling a pothole has nothing to do with the privilege of being intelligent or having eyesight.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Lampert

Oh please. The privilege of getting a pension, getting to do highly rewarded extra hours and getting paid to sit in a car behind a crew filling a pothole has nothing to do with the privilege of being intelligent or having eyesight.

But do you think that's what they do all the time? Maybe you see them sitting in a car on a construction detail today but perhaps the night before they were wrestling with a crack addict.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Lampert

Oh please. The privilege of getting a pension, getting to do highly rewarded extra hours and getting paid to sit in a car behind a crew filling a pothole has nothing to do with the privilege of being intelligent or having eyesight.

Lampert did you get fired from a police department somewhere?


Or maybe one of those wannabe cops who never scored high enough on the police exam?

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by msRB311

but there's also plenty of people who wouldn't make it through the police academy either or be able to walk into a house to break up a domestic dispute.

I am sure plenty of people wouldn't be able, but I am also sure plenty would be.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Lampert

I am sure plenty of people wouldn't be able, but I am also sure plenty would be.

and clearly many people are able to be engineers as the cities of Boston and Cambridge (and beyond) are swarming with them.

Did you know that you don't have to have a college degree to be a Navy SEAL?

[id77]

Originally Posted by massnative71

At least you "half" understand how the labor market works. What you don't understand is, a degree is a piece of paper that is essentially just that. It has its merit and is a requirement for some jobs, but there is lots more that determine how much "value" an employee has.

I don't disagree. The point I'm making here and in the other thread is that this notion that physically demanding jobs (as opposed to mentally demanding ones) are a dying stock and thus the idea that the days where a non-college-educated person lands a well paying career with good benefits and retirement are coming to an end. They aren't going to be on parity in terms of value and compensation.