Police Union Boss: ‘Sorry If The Average Citizen’s Taxes Go Up to Cover My Raise, but I Have To Look Out for Myself’

By Mac Slavo

Albany Police Officers Union President Chris Mesley says that, regardless of the faltering economy, a no-raise new contract is unacceptable.

And to hell with the public.

“I’m not running a popularity contest here,” Mesley said. “If I’m the bad guy to the average citizen . . . and their taxes have go up to cover my raise, I’m very sorry about that, but I have to look out for myself and my membership.“

Mesley added: “As the president of the local, I will not accept ‘zeroes.’ If that means . . . ticking off some taxpayers, then so be it.

It’s comments like these, coming from the head of a police union, that will drive most Americans to rebuff any proposed assistance for union pensions, benefits and salaries.

The debate between whether or not unions are partially responsible for the mess America is in will likely go on for decades to come. But it is becoming more and more clear that union members don’t understand the basic economics of the current fiscal crisis in America.

Case in point: Albany Police Officers Union President Chris Mesley recently chimed in regarding his position and the American taxpayer:

Non-union Americans have seen their retirement plans decimated, wages cut and jobs incinerated. Similar to Mr. Mesley’s view of the taxpayer, the taxpayer could care less if union members lose their jobs or pensions because they are unwilling to negotiate fair settlements with governments or private industry. The American taxpayer is fed up with strong arm tactics and overpaid government employees.

The fact is that Mr. Mesley is either in denial or ignorant of the economic situation in this country. Tax reciepts are down across the board, government spending has essentially hit a wall, and local and state governments around the country are about to begin declaring bankruptcy en masse.

Unions can continue to play these games as long as they want, but it’s a basic math equation, and the math clearly shows that governments will have to make cuts — and we suspect Mr. Mesley’s union will be hit as hard as anyone else.

Because a majority of liberal leaning politicians currently control Congress and the White House, unions in general may continue to see benefits and bailouts, but be assured that down the line, this will be yet another reason for voters to kick union inclined socialists out of office come election time. Americans are sick of seeing the Too-Big-To-Fails receive bailouts, and this includes unions, while they are scrounging to pay their electric bill and put food on the table.

Gross misspending happens on all levels of government, and it’s clear that unions are one of the most overblown public and private expenses in America.

Frankly, we have no sympathy for what organized labor has coming to it. The American people can only take so much before they snap.

Perhaps the best course of action would be to follow Ronald Reagan’s example. When 13,000 air traffic controllers went on strike in 1981, they attempted to disrupt America’s transportation systems, essentially holding the United States hostage. Rather than negotiating, President Reagan fired everyone. The police union may have the same idea, and unfortunately, there is probably no politician in America with the backbone of Reagan. Maybe the next round of elections will change that.

Police officers or other government employees want to force the hand of the American taxpayer? Private industry unions want to strike?

FIRE ALL OF THEM.

There are millions of Americans without jobs right now. Those positions would be filled in under four weeks - guaranteed. And the American taxpayer would save money, private industry could be a bit more competitive. Where’s the downside?