Open letter time...

[mousme]

Dear member of the public,

I am not a civil servant. I am a civilian member of a police service that happens to be funded by the federal government. You do NOT pay my salary, and you are not entitled to anything from me save the courteous service that is within my power to give to you.

You don't get to tell me how to do my job, you don't get to tell me that I'm incompetent, stupid, [insert many many more colourful insults here, the least offensive of which is "bitch"], and you certainly don't get to yell at me.

If you persist in telling me that you pay my salary, I will demand to see your medical records. After all, I pay for your medicare, and so I should have a right to see whether your medical treatment is being conducted the way I see fit.

In the meantime, I reserve the right to hang up on you if you are abusive. I warned you three times that if you didn't change your tone and be polite, that I would terminate the conversation. Three strikes, you're out, buddy.

No love,

Me

Comments

Ah, the unwashed heathens

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathy. The guy was obviously an a-hole of the first water, to hear you tell it.

As odious as the clod was, I don't understand how he wasn't right about the source of your wages. You work for the government if you work for the police service and they are subsequently funded by government. I fail to see how your check is not drawn out of taxation. (Not that this in any way entitles such obtuse boors to harangue and abuse you!)

Though you may not have intendended it, you did state an essential truth about public medicine though: it does politicize the medical profession and the provision of medical care. People do reserve the right to opine on treatments of others for which they are paying and do.

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I pay taxes too. Does that mean I pay my own salary? It just... strikes me as weird. How does he know that his taxes specifically went to pay my salary? He doesn't. He can't. For all we know, his taxes were used to revamp some bureaucrat's office. ;)

Paying taxes =/= paying someone's salary.

At the very least, if we calculate how much he pays in taxes per year vs. my salary vs. all the other taxpayers, his portion of my salary would be infinitesimally, laughably small. Not even a fraction of a percent. Heck, even if he makes $100K a year and ALL his taxes went to my salary, he still wouldn't be paying all of it.

But yes, he was boorish and abusive, is the long and short of it.

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

Money is fungible. Nevertheless, you're right, his particular portion of the contribution must be negligible even if he's the Canadian equivalent of Bill Gates. You should have told him thank you for his two cents (literally, being generous) and told him your time as purchased by his particular share of the tax burden had just expired. Heh.

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[mousme.livejournal.com]

LOL

I am totally going to use that line next time. If they fire me, it will totally be worth it. :D

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[zercool.livejournal.com]

"My taxes pay your salary!" is a horrible argument, and I've heard it too.

Yes, you pay your taxes, and my salary is funded from taxes.

However, if you die/move/stop paying taxes, I still get my salary.

Ergo, your taxes do not pay my salary. Your taxes - and every single other person who pays taxes - are placed into a nebulous cloud of money called "The Budget".

The Budget is where my salary comes from.

In a similar vein is the, "you're a civil servant, you work for me!" Again, no, I don't. I work for my employer, which happens to be funded from The Budget. If I screw up, my supervisor and/or manager comes down on me. Unless it's a truly epic screw up worthy of the news, you'll probably never hear about the mistakes I make. Obviously, I *don't* work for you. I provide a service you use. There is a large difference.

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

You probably don't want to promote that argument. It is correct, but it definitely contradicts the fairy tale most governments tell people when trying to justify expenditures.

Re: Ah, the unwashed heathens

[zercool.livejournal.com]

I'm not in the fairy-tale business. :-)

People expect or demand a certain service from their government, and a certain level or threshold for that service.

TANSTAAFL - you get what you pay for. *shrug*

(I think we're agreed on principle, I'm just not known for my ... umm ... shall we say ... tactfulness.)

[moskevyu.livejournal.com]

Gargh.

Some people I just don't understand. Good that you can stand up for yourself and hang up. You don't deserve all that nonsense.

Don't let it wreck your night, okay? *Sending good vibes to you*

[luvenditti.livejournal.com]

I had a parent tell me that his daughter shouldn't have to pay her $0.40 late book fee because HE pays his taxes.

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

!!!

[luvenditti.livejournal.com]

another of his arguements was that Blockbuster doesn't charge late fees anymore. (shakes head) I mean really.

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

Ha! Perhaps he hasn't read his terms of agreement -- they wait *seven days* then charge you the full price of the film. So no immediate late fees, but you end up buying the movie. Perhaps he'd like you to implement that policy instead?

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just... wow. No words.