17 replies to this topic

[Aegis Kleais]

So, we've all watched an episode of COPS (or something like it right)? Invariably, one person, often being arrested, will shout the phrase "I pay your salary!".

Logically, splitting the usually low pay these servants make by the amount of people in any given county, an officer making $35,000 a year in a county of 100,000 taxpayers means that each person contributes $0.35 per year. Assuming a 40hr work week 52 weeks a year means that for an hour of their time, you paid them $0.000168.

That's about a ten thousandth of a penny.

My belief is that people with authority issues feel they can get self-justification and self-appointed authority by making this statement in a false belief that they have some form of control over the servant's livelihood. Its basically just an attempt to gain some form of authority over disciplinary actions or power that these servants have over a part of their life.

[Gendou]

[Chillybill]

So my answer would be: "so your dumb a** just paid me to throw your dumb a** in jail"
Just sayin

[Otto Cannon]

Totally depends on the situation really. If a murdering gangster said it, then it's ridiculous.

If an innocent member of the public is being bullied when they should be able to expect a public servant to behave better, then it's a reminder that the police are supposed to work for the people 'to protect and serve'.

Most times are probably somewhere between the two, with the person saying it wanting to be seen as the innocent citizen in the second example.

[Monolith]

Maybe they figure that without people out there like them... Y'know crooks and wife-beaters and pimps and such... well... Cop would be out of a job. He'd just be a guy out there directing traffic. So in a way the fines and whatnot that they have to pay does pay the cops salary. I know that traffic fines, while they do keep us safe, is largely just a way for municipalities to milk everything they can out of the general populace.

EDIT: I realize that's a loaded statement, my last... Not trying to offend anyone. I genuinely do appreciate it when I see cops actually fighting crime or puling over drunks.

Edited by Monolith, 22 July 2012 - 11:41 AM.

[General Mal Function]

Kleais, you're assumptions are little off:

Very few police ever work 40 hours a week - some members almost double their salary with the over time they put in. Here in Canada, a senior constable getting in around $100 G with all their overtime in, isn't unheard of.

Otherwise I think it has a lot to do with being able to put a face onto the machine of the state that has taken over so much our our lives. When you can touch it and see it, I think people are able to 'own' it some, by realizing that this is just a civil servant, even if he/she is armed and hopefully dangerous.
maybe too, the whole ' just a civil servant' as opposed to the behemoth of the 'law' makes people a little more bold than necessary.

[Wydell]

It's intended as an insult. People think just because their taxes happen to go to that specific payout, that they are somehow in charge of them.

While it is true that they are there to protect and serve, It goes both ways.

[bloodline]

I've had this phrase slung at me many times during my 8-years-and-counting career in social work/mental health (especially my first job, dept of fam & children services). My response is usually, "Yes you do, and I'm working FOR you, to help YOU. You want quality service for what you're paying for? Then help me help you. Insulting me won't get anyone anywhere. So, boss, how can I help you?" Psychologically, it's a dagger to the heart of their argument, and usually stops the phrase and idea in its tracks, building therapeutic rapport. I always want my clients to feel like they're in charge of most of their treatment. It's their life, not mine.

[Aegis Kleais]

General Mal Function, on 22 July 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

Kleais, you're assumptions are little off:

Very few police ever work 40 hours a week - some members almost double their salary with the over time they put in. Here in Canada, a senior constable getting in around $100 G with all their overtime in, isn't unheard of.

Otherwise I think it has a lot to do with being able to put a face onto the machine of the state that has taken over so much our our lives. When you can touch it and see it, I think people are able to 'own' it some, by realizing that this is just a civil servant, even if he/she is armed and hopefully dangerous.
maybe too, the whole ' just a civil servant' as opposed to the behemoth of the 'law' makes people a little more bold than necessary.

What assumptions? I personally know that for a particular agency, these number are spot on. Sure, the guys will try to work extra details to supplement their income, but it doesn't change the role they play, the poor pay they make, etc.

There are captains making 6 figures, but I'm talking about 'bottom-of-the-rung' deputies. And even if you're talking about the higher-ups that make 3x what the deputies make, you're still only paying 6/1000th of a penny for an hour of their time; so the initial point still holds true IMO.

[Aegis Kleais]

Wydell, on 22 July 2012 - 11:45 AM, said:

It's intended as an insult. People think just because their taxes happen to go to that specific payout, that they are somehow in charge of them.

While it is true that they are there to protect and serve, It goes both ways.

True enough.

I pay taxes for schools, but I don't have a child.

I usually tell these people, "If you paid for a cheeseburger at McDonalds, it doesn't make you CEO for a day." Taxes are what you owe, it's not something you invest to obtain authority like a shareholder in a company. They're basically trying to say that one of their debts acts like a credit.

At the worst, one could say "Well you know what? I pay taxes too. So my tax cancels out your tax." Not helpful in the slightest, and would only irk them off, but the truth of it can't be denied.

[MuffinTop]

Chillybill, on 22 July 2012 - 11:29 AM, said:

So my answer would be: "so your dumb a** just paid me to throw your dumb a** in jail"
Just sayin

When I worked in medical at the local jail, and one of these @ssh@ts said they pay our salary it would p1ss us off. The deputies, nurses and medical techs would say " We haven't had a raise in 5 years, and don't ask again for a blanket. Verbally abuse the people that work in the jail, and your sucky @ss life will just get more difficult. Funny thing is they would mouth off to the other inmates, and sure enough they come to medical to get the holes in their face sewn up.

Edited by MuffinTop, 23 July 2012 - 12:17 AM.

[Lightdragon]

eh... most cops are lazy pigs and your average ******* sayin **** like that is just pissed because getting pulled over and having your time wasted for stupid things like a seatbelt ****** you off it only affects your life so they should mind their own damn business

[Guyus]

It is a stupid thing to say yes, and also a statement of fact. usually it is spouted by idiots who have no defence but do have a massive sense of entitlement.

I live in the UK, here the police have low standards to join, usually nothing to do with aptitude. They are completely corrupt and totally useless when you need them. They also get paid more, get more holiday and more benefits than soldiers but work a lot less and do a much easier job but feel the need to complain about their 'hard' life travelling around smashing in innocent people in groups, like the thugs they claim to protect us from, while taking backhanders off anyone to look the other way or sell stories. Oh and covering their own *** to protect themselves or 'losing' evidence while hammering someone who isn't in the police for doing much less.

We had a guy here recently, attacked an innocent bystander in a protest and as a result fo his attack the guy (who was admittedly very ill) died. He got away with it. If I went out into the street and pushed over say a granny, and she died, I would be imprisoned. Also they guy has a history of violence but he keeps his job.

I have only met one cop who was civil and wasn't the traditional bullied at school type and even he agreed that the police are usually a waste of space.

Don't agree with the statement but in the case of most public sector workers they don't realise how good they have it and usually don't deserve it.

[CeeKay Boques]

Perhaps its just a friendly reminder to the fella with helmet, gun, nightstick, taser and tactical gear, that hey, I'm the one you're either protecting or serving, and A. We're part of the same system, and B. Please be careful to not kill me by accident. You know, those things can get forgetted when you're on the Blue Team, and the other guys aren't really allowed to have a team.

[Lightdragon]

cops... never there when youy need them, always around when they feel like being pricks

[Astaroth]

Lightdragon, on 24 July 2012 - 12:55 PM, said:

cops... never there when youy need them, always around when they feel like being pricks

Mommy, is this what they call trolling?

[Lightdragon]

trolling no... i just find them about as useful to public safety as allowing homeowners to take justice into their own hands

[MuffinTop]

A gun in your hand is better than a cop on the phone and the other cops may not arrive until 10 minutes later.