Page 4 July 18, 2013 TORRANCE TRIBUNE One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion By Gerry Chong the Administration’s decision to push back By Cristian Vasquez In many instances these bullies are not By now, even the casual observer knows the mandate that employers provide employee There has been much national attention evil or bad kids. Even the most mild- that the Obama economy and Obamacare are health insurance by one year to 2015. But given to the issue of bullying in our public mannered child will test the limits of their as inextricably tied together as the front and such a decision carries several costs. First, schools. Sadly it takes stories like that of power and they can caught up flexing their rear wheels on a car--and right now, all the the Administration had projected receiving Phoebe Prince to draw attention to an issue leverage over someone else. With the way wheels are falling off. The June 24 Gallup $10 billion in penalties from businesses for that has been in our schools for years. cyber bullying laws are written there aren’t Poll showed 60 percent of small businesses failure to provide insurance in 2014. That Bullying is nothing new to our society, let any consequences associated with such were either reducing staff or freezing hiring money is now gone, so the cost of Obamacare alone our schools. However, the methods of behavior hence, there is no incentive for the because of Obamacare. In the first quarter just rose by another $10 billion. harassment have changed to such a degree aggressor to change their behavior. Fortunately of the year, investment in office space and Second, since individuals will still be that old solutions to the problem are no there are programs available to schools and factories fell by 8.3 percent while projected required to buy insurance in 2014, they longer efficient. Recently Assemblywoman children that help change the culture that economic growth for the year is expected will be required to buy insurance without Cristina Garcia authored a bill that would leads to and allows bullying to thrive, such to fall to 1.7 percent--a pace lower than the knowing whether or not their employers will allow schools to discipline students for as Challenge Day; however, in the interest rate of inflation. cover them later. cyber bullying even if it occurs from of teaching accountability for one’s actions According to the Bureau of Labor Third, as the cost of healthcare rises, the outside campus or on a smart phone. I’ll be we do need laws like that proposed by Statistics, since June 2009, payrolls have government will have to raise the subsidies the first to admit that punishing a child is Assemblywoman Garcia. increased by four percent while food stamps it must provide to the 20 million eligible the best and only way to change a behavior. If a child bullying a classmate in school grew by 130 percent. Predictably, of the buyers. These increased subsidies in turn However, it is a big part of the solution and uses his smart phone to record and then post 175,000 jobs created in May, 96,300 were raise the cost of Obamacare in a vicious, as long as kids have a legal loophole to the video on social media, there needs to be in retail, temporary, leisure and hospitality-- escalating cycle. bully others, these mean-spirited acts will consequences. Also, if the bully records his the lowest-paying segments of the economy. And what should healthcare providers never go away. actions off campus and proceeds to make For rational businesses, it is unlikely they do? In Indiana, St. Vincent Health, the Growing up for me, 32, was different. If them public on social media, there needs will pay high insurance premiums for operator of 22 hospitals, will eliminate 865 I was bullied, I had a few options: I could to be a consequence. The reason: while the low wage earners. Low wage earners jobs because the government has pledged get in a fight and hope that my willingness actions are occurring off campus or being must therefore face the prospect of buying to cut Medicare hospital reimbursements to throw a punch would convince my bully documented on a child’s private property, insurance at the highest individual rates or by $155 billion over 10 years. The Fiscal to leave me alone. Or, I could have lunch the act of putting it out on social media is pay government penalties. Cliff agreement and sequester cut another at a different table or spend recess in a for the sole purpose of torturing the victim Other results of the Gallup Poll showed $25 billion, so hospitals must cut employee part of the playground and avoid trouble. in school. It is a form of public shaming that 48 percent of businesses felt Obamacare costs by five percent to stay alive. The Unfortunately, smart phones and social media allows the bully to ridicule the victim in front would be bad for their businesses; 55 percent nexus between the economy and Obamacare don’t give victims of bullying that option of the entire school and anyone associated believed it would lead to higher healthcare damns us all. today. A victim of bullying can be filmed, with students in that school. costs; 52 percent believed it would reduce So around and around the track the smoking with a smart phone, eating alone and have Bullying has always been a problem. the quality of healthcare; and 24 percent jalopy goes--nuts and bolts flying off at that video put out on Facebook and Twitter However, in today’s high-tech society there believed they would drop employee healthcare weird angles, tires wobbling, brakes gone... to ridicule the victim. Social media gives are too many tools to be a bully. As a coverage entirely. This is devastating news With each turn, costs rise, personal income the victim no privacy and the aggressor an result there should be rules and laws that for an economy in which only 47 percent falls, tax rates rise, the economy lags and infinite amount of tools for torture. Having a will hold bullies accountable for their of adults have a full-time job (Labor the quality of care diminishes. Such is the bill introduced that would hold these bullies behaviors. Maybe then we will no longer Department). legacy of expanded government providing accountable is a great step toward curbing have to report on tragic incidents like that Undoubtedly, these statistics impacted for each and every man’s needs. • such cruel and aggressive behavior. of Phoebe Prince. • Burkley & Brandlin LLP City Council their own pension,” said Sutherland. Thefrom front pagethe SPAB certificate.” A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W means to obtain the TSI certificate could prove Human Resources Department with all presentposition was approved as suggested by theTurner elaborated that finding a public Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury difficult and the Transit Department typically Council members agreeing. Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation provides this kind of safety training to anyone Councilmember Pat Furey again warned 310-540-6000 “Were looking to give them the training, by mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.residents about the potential danger posedit would promote internally to the position. *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization which is what the Transit Department does The virus, while typically asymptomatic, to any supervisor we promote,” said Turner. can be debilitating or fatal in certain cases-- To address Sutherland’s last concern, Turner particularly with the elderly. Furey mentioned mentioned that the job would be subject to that West Nile virus has been found in birds a probationary period so the City won’t be in all of Torrance’s ZIP codes, although that Unanswered Financial “We will be monitoring them throughout their necessarily infected. Still, he encourageddoesn’t mean the mosquitoes in the city arestuck with an unqualified hire for a full year. Questions? “Everybody keeps talking about pensions-- chemical-free repellants such as large dosesanyone planning on being outdoors betweendusk and dawn to take precautions such aswearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants andusing an insect repellent with DEET. Whilesome residents might look for natural orOne positive Sutherland made clear wasprobationary period,” said Turner.that this position would fall under the City’spolicy of having new hires be responsible forcontributing to their own pension expenses. this person will be paying seven percent of See City Council, page 9 Can I really afford to retire? • Do I take a lump or annuity? How do I pay for college? • Where is my paycheck going? Are these the right investments? • How can I reduce taxes? THIS IS YOUR We provide sound objective advice for TIME a planned and secure financial future. TO MAKE A HOUSE A HOME. Call us for a free no obligation get acquainted meeting. Buying your first home is exciting. 310.706.4213 Trust Boston Private Bank to guideBut financing it can be complicated. you through the mortgage process, and offer low down payment options Eileen S. Freiburger, CFP • El Segundo Resident and flexible terms. 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Torrance 07_18_13
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