02/12/2009 A Tale of Two Porkers

So, unless totally clueless, you are aware that the America as we have known it is about to become a third world hellhole. We elected a herd of far left lunatics led by the community organizer himself to take us down the road to socialism that would cause Nikita Khrushchev himself to shed a tear of joy. Yes, we will all soon be sharing the burden of Pelosi pork that will 'redistribute the wealth' as the great Messiah puts it and make us all equals (payers = takers, workers = layabouts).

But this isn't about the larger view. This is about two instances of how the system can be manipulated and rigged by those with connections. This is about how we the people get screwed and have to look on in anger as our tax dollars are used to provide enrichment for 'public servants' who are shameless in their greed.

Take the case of Mark Sylvia, the Town Manager of Plymouth, MA. Mark has decided to move on and accepted a position with Deval Patrick's newly formed Department of Energy Resources green communities division and will receive a six figure salary. Life is grand for Mark these days.

As they say in the cable TV ads, "But wait, there's more". It seems that in 2007 Mark negotiated a new contract with the Town of Plymouth Selectmen. And in the contract, there is a severance provision that gives Mark $101,000 as a kiss goodbye. Yes, even if he leaves voluntarily and has a cushy state job all lined up. Seems fair, doesn't it? The Selectmen thought so. Selectman Chairman Dick Quintal was on the board that negotiated the contract. What does he have to say? He says he wasn't aware of the details of the contract and that there has been no discussion about it at Town Hall. How about Selectman David Malaguti, who was also on the board during the contract negotiation. Well, he thinks there are things in the contract that won't be in future contracts. Timing is everything.

So here we have a greedy 'public servant' and clueless local politicians combining to screw the taxpayer. If there was ever any question that we need to change town government and elect a mayor who is accountable, this case is a fine example.

Now let's have a look at the case of John A. Brennan Jr. John is an ex state senator who left the Massachusetts senate in 1990. Based on his 16 years in the legislature, John was entitled to a $19,097 a year retirement pension.

John went into business as a lobbyist whose firm peddles influence with the legislature. John has also been on the Malden Public Library Board of Trustees for many years. In 1998, John and his cronies on Beacon Hill got an obscure amendment passed that allows library board trustees to fold their time on the board into their pension calculation. The law is limited to trustees with public sector service prior to or subsequent to their term on the library board. Coincidentally, the only person who qualifies so far is John Brennan.

Now, are you ready? Are you taking your blood pressure meds? John now qualifies for a $41,088 a year pension. That's more than double what he would get without the library trustee amendment. In the last 4 years, John missed 30 out of 36 library board meetings. He resigned from the library board in 2008. Why? By that November, Brennan had 34 years and 10 months of public service on the books. That qualified him for the maximum possible pension under state law. He has no shame.

The system is corrupt. Between the malfeasance of fools and the subterfuge of hacks, the taxpayer has absolutely no chance of being treated fairly. And this behavior is taking place at all levels of government and committed by members of all political parties. The obvious remedy is to throw the bums out. But, the reality is that we have about as much chance of that as the Russians had of getting out from under Stalin.