[Vision2020] Wenders' Diatribe

Dale Courtney dale@courtneys.us
Thu, 31 Jul 2003 20:08:16 -0700


Ted writes: 
> Jack Wenders makes an obvious error that shows a surprising 
> lack of accuracy when he writes:  "Not bad for a 180 day work 
> year, while those who pay for it work 240 days."
> 
> In fact the number of days in a year worked by people who pay 
> taxes to support the salaries of public school teachers 
> varies considerably, from the self sufficient wealthy 
> individual (wealthy by whatever means, inheritance, success 
> in business etc.) who pays property taxes but works only when 
> they choose, to the self employed hard working individual who 
> might claim to really "work" nearly every day of the year, 
> not being tied to an hourly or salaried pay check.  In fact 
> many public school teachers themselves pay part of their 
> salary when they pay their property taxes.

Ted, Ted, Ted. 

Wenders was using the *average* number of days that the working men and
women in this country spend on their job.

This number is *indisputable* because it comes from the Department of Labor.

 
> Such a glaring misstatement of fact, written as though to 
> imply public school teachers loaf through an easy work year 
> with lots of days off, while the harder working pay their 
> salary, weakens the credibility of the rest of Jack Wenders diatribe.

Hmmm. And what conclusion would you reach about someone who earns three
times the average wage of a taxpayer in Moscow but only works 75% as many
days? Freeloading? Nah. Overpaid? Certainly. 

Best,
Dale Courtney
Moscow, Idaho