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I need to learn how to swim...

  • BR1986FB
    Now I know the cost of living is high in California but good lord, $200k/yr to be a lifeguard? Some of you recent college grads having a tough time finding work need to head West and get your "Baywatch" on...

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lucrative_lifeguarding
  • The Boss
    Overpaid people in California?! SHOCKER!
  • georgemc80
    I'm not gonna begrudge anyone that serves the public any money they can get. It even said these are the top level managers. "Swim at your own risk" is not a viable option for an area that relies heavily on the beach economy.

    I don't understand why people don't mind their own business. If you want that money, grab a rescue tube and stand a tower.
  • Heelz
    I was a lifeguard right out of highschool where the fuck is my 200k at?
  • The Boss
    Heelz;775009 wrote:I was a lifeguard right out of highschool where the fuck is my 200k at?

    You don't look like the Hoff.
  • queencitybuckeye
    georgemc80;774989 wrote:I'm not gonna begrudge anyone that serves the public any money they can get. It even said these are the top level managers. "Swim at your own risk" is not a viable option for an area that relies heavily on the beach economy.

    I don't understand why people don't mind their own business. If you want that money, grab a rescue tube and stand a tower.

    If my tax dollars are paying the salaries, it IS my business. That's a big difference between public and private sector jobs.
  • georgemc80
    Whatever...go back to the politics thread. This is not the forum. Awful protective of your tax dollars? Maybe you need to be a politician so you can actually have a say in how they are spent. BTW, there are bigger differences in private vs. public jobs. Much bigger.
  • georgemc80
    There are bigger differences than that, but that is for the politics forum. The area relies on tourism. Tourism centers around the beach. Beach needs to be safe. Lifeguards are both police and emergency rescue all rolled into one position. Its a career, someone from the midwest might not understand this. In a place like this, the top management positions, more than likely should make more than fire and police chiefs. I personally will not take my family to a beach that says "swim at your own risk".
  • The Boss
    georgemc80;775051 wrote: I personally will not take my family to a beach that says "swim at your own risk".

    Because you're stupid?
  • queencitybuckeye
    georgemc80;775051 wrote:There are bigger differences than that, but that is for the politics forum. The area relies on tourism. Tourism centers around the beach. Beach needs to be safe. Lifeguards are both police and emergency rescue all rolled into one position. Its a career, someone from the midwest might not understand this. In a place like this, the top management positions, more than likely should make more than fire and police chiefs. I personally will not take my family to a beach that says "swim at your own risk".

    There is nothing more important related to any job, public or private, than who is paying the freight. Nothing. Sign the front of a paycheck sometime, then we'll have that debate.
  • The Boss
    queencitybuckeye;775056 wrote:Sign the front of a paycheck sometime, then we'll have that debate.

    It's hard to argue on this topic with anyone who hasn't done this, isn't it? People generally don't have clue.
  • georgemc80
    Ok, lets have that debate, because I sign 13 paychecks every week.
  • justincredible
    My paycheck is just direct deposited.
  • queencitybuckeye
    From the public teat? Doesn't count.
  • The Boss
    georgemc80;775063 wrote:Ok, lets have that debate, because I sign 13 paychecks every week.

    Well then you're just an idiot because this is yet another great example of overpaid public sector employees.
  • georgemc80
    Ive changed my mind. I am not going to have this conversation about me and my business. So I deleted my last post. These lifeguards may make a ton of money, but they are also vital to the local economy.


    I will however try to figure out, how I am an overpaid public sector employee....I will get back to you when I figure it out.
  • queencitybuckeye
    georgemc80;775074 wrote:See, you are not as smart as you think. Only working 187 days a year, left me time to either be bored or work. Instead of working for someone else, I decided to open a small restaurant and I have employees.

    I stand corrected. Congratulations and good luck with it.

    Would you agree that as the person who funds the paychecks, you have a valid interest in the size of said paychecks? How is that different than a public-sector job, other than an intermediary who takes the money from the employer, and writes the checks?
  • georgemc80
    Like I said earlier, this is for another forum. But I will say, if good people help build my bottom line, then I will keep my good people happy. That doesn't happen in my day job.
  • The Boss
    georgemc80;775074 wrote:Ive changed my mind. I am not going to have this conversation about me and my business. So I deleted my last post. These lifeguards may make a ton of money, but they are also vital to the local economy.

    I sort of agree. BUT, I think the beach is what is vital to the economy--not the people babysitting it. No one is paying to go to the beach, so where does this money come from? And I generally don't like paying to help save stupid people from their own stupidity. Don't go to the beach if you don't know the dangers, if you do know them, you can avoid them. I wonder how often these people actually save someone. I never died at a beach when I was young, lifeguard or not. You know why? Because my parents weren't stupid enough to let that happen, they didn't need a lifeguard--they just weren't incompetent people.

    I'd say it's pretty clear that this is ridiculous when you look at the state of the economy and the government in California. These are the kinds of reasons they're in the mess they're in.
  • Websurfinbird
    The Boss;775071 wrote:Well then you're just an idiot because this is yet another great example of overpaid public sector employees.

    Though I admit I just skimmed the article. I think its important to keep in mind where these beaches are. They are in very affluent areas of California where the cost of living is already high (property, school taxes, etc.) They get paid these salaries because the community allowed it (or wasn't paying attention). Now that they are feeling the pinch they are probably just starting to notice.
  • queencitybuckeye
    georgemc80;775088 wrote:Like I said earlier, this is for another forum. But I will say, if good people help build my bottom line, then I will keep my good people happy. That doesn't happen in my day job.

    As the owner, that's your choice. When it comes to a government entity, I AM a stakeholder, and my opinion does matter (or at least should).
  • georgemc80
    Its so much more than the lifesaving. It's the preventative measures taken, it's the patrolling to make the beach safer (out of the water is just as important) These people are highly trained. As I said, instead of complaining, pass the swimming test, grab a rescue tube and watch the beach.
  • queencitybuckeye
    georgemc80;775095 wrote:Its so much more than the lifesaving. It's the preventative measures taken, it's the patrolling to make the beach safer (out of the water is just as important) These people are highly trained. As I said, instead of complaining, pass the swimming test, grab a rescue tube and watch the beach.

    The idea that people's complaints are mostly borne of envy is incorrect, and frankly a bit childish.
  • The Boss
    georgemc80;775095 wrote:Its so much more than the lifesaving. It's the preventative measures taken, it's the patrolling to make the beach safer (out of the water is just as important) These people are highly trained. As I said, instead of complaining, pass the swimming test, grab a rescue tube and watch the beach.
    No thanks, because I can make a hell of a lot more money in the private sector.
    Websurfinbird;775093 wrote:Though I admit I just skimmed the article. I think its important to keep in mind where these beaches are. They are in very affluent areas of California where the cost of living is already high (property, school taxes, etc.) They get paid these salaries because the community allowed it (or wasn't paying attention). Now that they are feeling the pinch they are probably just starting to notice.

    Understood. But not paying attention isn't something that should be met with understanding and compassion.
  • georgemc80
    queencitybuckeye;775094 wrote:As the SMART owner, that's your choice. When it comes to a government entity, I AM a stakeholder, and my opinion does matter (or at least should).
    Fixed it for you


    Envy is not my argument. Ignorance of the actual rigors of the job. This is not a NE Ohio lifeguard of swimming pool. My point wasn't jealousy, it was try the job, before you complain about the job's benefits. I was a lifeguard for a private resort in Virginia Beach. It was the most physically demanding and mentally exhausting job I ever had. The Pacific is much more difficult. Ive had more physically demanding jobs and more mentally exhausting jobs, but never both at the same time.