Whining isn't attractive in children or dogs, and it's more obnoxious in elected officials. Last week, the Blaine County commissioners joined the school district's board of trustees in whining about how unfair it is that jobs have been cut through attrition and that county employees are working harder and haven't had a raise in two years while the cost of living has risen 3.6 percent since last year.
They say the county must raise wages to retain employees and keep them from seeking greener pastures. It's fair to ask, what greener pastures?
June was one of the worst months on record for job creation in Idaho. The unemployment rate was headed up with the state losing 2,400 jobs just from downsizing government. Net jobs increased a tiny amount with 3,500 jobs added. The net job loss from December 2007 through June 2010 exceeded 62,000 jobs.
The state reports that total personal income in Blaine County, which includes wages, business profits, investment earnings and transfer payments like Social Security and pensions, still hasn't recovered from a 7.8 percent plunge through mid-2009. It rose just 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011.
The state's tourism industry lost 10 percent of its jobs between 2007 and 2010, and 50 tourism-related companies went out of business. More may follow if local businesses that are clinging by a thread pack it in.
People who have jobs today aren't whining; they're happy to have jobs. Public sector jobs pay well, are relatively secure and come with good health insurance and pensions—benefits in danger of disappearing in the private sector.
What's not to like? The commissioners should stop whining.
