A Closer Look at San Jose and San Diego, California

San Jose – 2010 population – 946,000; of whom 33% are Latino; 32% are Asian; 29% white, not Latino (only a “progressive” federal government would so classify citizens – why not based on IQ scores or BMI or hair color?) and 3% black.  Median household income - $79,000, well above California median of $61,000.   60% owned their home.  37% have a bachelor’s degree or higher which is high education achievement by American standards.  31% of the businesses in San Jose are Asian owned.

Source:  http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0668000.html

San Diego – 2010 population --   3,095,000 of whom 32% are Latino; 11% are Asian; 48% white, not Latino and 5% black.  Median household income - $63,000 and 56% owned their home.   34% have a bachelor’s degree or higher and 15% of the businesses are Hispanic owned; 30% are female owned.  Thirty percent of San Diego businesses are owned by women!

Source:  http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06073.html

The voters in San Jose were offered a ballot proposal recently to change the pension programs and funding arrangements for public employees in their city.   Here is the wording for that proposal:  MEASURE B: PENSION MODIFICATION: “Shall the Charter be amended to modify retirement benefits of City employees and retirees by: increasing employees’ contributions, establishing a voluntary reduced pension plan for current employees, establish pension cost and benefit limitations for new employees, modify disability retirement procedures, temporarily suspend retiree COLAs during emergencies, require voter approval for increases in future pension benefits?”

This proposal, Measure B, passed by a margin of 70 – 30.  Yes, that is correct, 70% of voters said it was time to modify public pensions drastically.

The voters in San Diego were offered a ballot also to change the pension programs and funding arrangements for public employees in their city.  Here is the wording of that proposal:  PROPOSITION B: "Should the Charter be amended to: direct City negotiators to seek limits on a City employee's compensation used to calculate pension benefits; eliminate defined benefit pensions for all new City Officials and employees, except police officers, substituting a defined contribution 401 (k)-type plan; require substantially equal pension contributions from the City and employees; and eliminate, if permissible, a vote of employees or retirees to change their benefits?"

This proposal, Proposition B, passed by a margin of 66 – 34.  Yes, that is correct.  2/3rds of the voters said it is time to drastically modify public pensions.

How did the proponents of these two ballot measures communicate a message to voters that resulted in such overwhelming support in both municipalities to secure the wide margins of success they attained?  They told the truth.  The public pensions are not affordable; they are significantly more than anything available in the private work force and the financial drain of the current pensions on public revenues reduces monies available for needed public services. 

That is it.  Those opposed made the usual emotional and threatening appeals to the electorate.  The electorate in these two towns – San Diego by the way is America’s 8^th largest city and San Jose is America’s 10^th largest city, told the threatening, emotional harangues coming from public unions officials and other weak sisters to fall in line; wake up and be a good citizen, not a greedy citizen.  They did it at the polling place.

These are not difficult issues.  Look again at the makeup of the two towns that voted overwhelmingly for fairness and common sense solutions for greedy public employees and their demanding union organizers.  There is hope for America – it does help to have people who are educated; who work for a living; who own businesses; who own their own homes and who believe that good parenting involves setting examples – not taking whatever you can grasp from weak politicians and their even weaker bureaucratic managers.

By the way, these towns will not tolerate the low performance education expectations that you will find in union encrusted towns such as Detroit, New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Chicago.  There is no more common thread that runs through towns with good schools and where the public monies are properly directed to providing needed public services, not high salaries, high benefit programs and rich pension plans than the simple common sense work ethic of most of the citizens.

There is hope for America.  It just is not going to come from those who presently hold political power.  There is hope – but it does not come from those who talk hope and sell hope – it comes from those who work; get educated; raise their kids with good values (fundamentals) and obey the law.  They don’t whine; they don’t complain; they get about their business and expect others to do the same.  Look again at the makeup of these two towns – pretty good size towns, and you will see the type of people you may wish to make your neighbors.