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bmore t1_ixzatep wrote

Reply to comment by 2468975 in Pension for Baltimore City council members by 2468975

Perhaps you should lobby to have better working conditions in your job as well. The US really fucks over its workforce, and it's a uniquely American thing to respond to that by trying to erode employment benefits for others that have it better than you instead of advocating for better benefits for more people.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzykpz wrote

And is this situation uniquely American? If so, why does the monarchy exist? Why does the caste system still exist (even if legally it doesn’t)? What you have said sounds good, but given your lack of response to how to put anything in action, the responses seem to simply parrot popular views, but lack substance.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzc1ut wrote

Aren’t our elected officials supposed to do this for us too? But as demonstrated here, they vote that police should work 5 years longer to qualify for pension and they should work 4 years less. I agree, corporate America has issues. That is why we need elected officials who give a crap about us and not just themselves.

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bmore t1_ixzd4cv wrote

>Aren’t our elected officials supposed to do this for us too?

Well it really depends on what voters are asking of them. I'd certainly like them to expand worker rights and benefits. But that doesn't seem to be popular enough in this country. As I said, people are more interested in tearing down benefits for others than organizing for better conditions for all.

IMO the Fire/EMS pension vote should have been a loser that threw people out of office, but obviously our populace doesn't care that much about first responders getting good benefits given it was a politically inconsequential vote. That sucks and I disagree with it, but I'm clearly in the minority.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzircv wrote

How do I, a voter, ask something of my elected officials and actually be heard?

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MontisQ t1_iy22pcv wrote

Call them, email them asking to meet, or tell them when they knock on your door during election season.

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2468975 OP t1_ixzgk0r wrote

You have a lot of good responses. You have suggested that city residents can create legislation to try and overturn the pension ruling or lobby for workers rights, but haven’t said how. How, do I, a single person, go about lobbying? How do I start legislation? I’m not being sarcastic. I’m honestly asking to be educated. What is my starting point to act rather than just talk? For example, the person who responded to email the mayor and provided a link. That is actionable. That is an example of what I’m hoping to learn.

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