TIRED............

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I’m 58…..but I feel like I’m 70.

I’ve been on the job for 32 years…..but it feels like 50.

I’m sooooo deep-down dog tired.

I used to love this job…..now I dread going to work.

I tire too quickly, drink too much and cry too easily…..

I used to expect the best from everyone…..but now I trust no one!

I used to care about everyone…..now I only care about my family, my fellow first responders and the victims

I used to write in an attempt to change hearts and minds…..now I write to keep sane

Getting very close to the time to pack it all in and retire.

Too much abuse to my body…..to my heart…..to my very soul.

Nothing seems to change; at least not in positive measures.

I’ve just about lost hope on the direction of society and I fear for my children’s and grandchildren’s futures, but feel powerless to protect them.

I desperately want to some how, magically, wake up to a brighter tomorrow but…..

I’ve seen too many suffer, too many perish, too many hate and too many simply demand that “we” provide for “them”…..entitlement!

I’ve seen too many people lie & cheat & worse with no consequence…..and too many good people punished in the name of “image” or “political correctness”…..

I’ve seen too many people abuse the power afforded them and too many good, decent, moral people who feel (correctly so) powerless to make a difference.

At some point a person has to walk away…………………………

West, Texas Fire & Boston Heroes (again)

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It’s hard to imagine that a Volunteer Fire Department that has been without a Line of Duty Death for it’s over 100 year existence, serves a community of about 2,800 residents and only had approximately 30 members could lose 9 members in a split second….but that’s exactly what happened in West, Texas this past week. This department reportedly responded to only around 120 calls per year.

Yet, these members responded without hesitation to an obviously large fire in, by far, the most hazardous property in the entire area. All they knew was that their community and its residents were facing a major emergency and they were the ones that had signed on to “protect life and property” in their town. It was not their job, but it was their duty. They knew that the only way to prevent a catastrophic disaster was to act bravely and act fast. So, they rushed to the scene and very quickly paid the ultimate price. The price that all First Responders know, in the back of their minds, that they might be called on to pay some day.

Heroes are not the ones who stand up in front of you and pound on their chests to let you know how tough and brave they are. Real heroes are born of circumstance. They are the ones who step up and answer the call without thinking of themselves when faced with choice of putting themselves in danger to assist and protect strangers or distancing themselves from the danger expecting “others” to step up. Real heroes are the “others”. These men from West, Texas are the real heroes.

So are the First Responders, doctors, nurses and good Samaritans who stepped up in Boston and its surrounding communities earlier this week. Be proud that America has so many potential heroes amongst us who are willing to place themselves in danger to assist the rest of us in our time of need. This week has certainly put the spotlight directly on the “great” qualities and character that makes this country so strong. Our willingness to stand tough and fight will always outweigh any hardships, natural or man-wrought, that we may face as a country!

God bless all those who have stood tall this past week!!

Boston Marathon Bombings

Yesterday, in Boston, evil once again reared its ugly head. It’s becoming all too commonplace in this world of ours. We’re becoming numb to it all. That is, until it hits close to home.

Remember that these cowardly acts perpetrated against innocent victims in other parts of the globe have the same personal consequences to real people that this act had in Boston. It’s easy to ignore the pain and the horror when it’s halfway around the world, but it is exactly the same. We can only search out and punish the perpetrators and pray for the victims and their loved ones and families.

Another common factor in all these terrible scenes is the incredible heroism and dedication of the First Responders. This was never as visible as it was on 9/11 where hundreds of firefighters, police officers and EMS personnel were witnessed by millions on TV running into the towers before the unthinkable happened. The same reaction could be witnessed yesterday by all First Responders and other Good Samaritan civilians and doctors. They rushed to help even after a second bomb echoed in their ear, making them aware that there could be more attacks to come. God bless them all.

I have been a firefighter for over 32 years and it never surprises me that these men and women act this way at the most terrifying moments we encounter as human beings. Sure, we train for Mass Casualty events quite often. Training, however, only teaches you what needs to be done in these situations, but it takes a special quality in an individual to actually react so unselfishly and selflessly at a moment’s notice. These men and women will not forget the horrific sights they saw yesterday – never. They will be awakened with these images for the rest of their lives. But….even knowing the dangers they were immediately facing and being aware of the long term effects that they would encounter they willingly, and eagerly, rushed to the scene to make a difference. That’s what they do. That’s what we do.

I pray for all those who were so horribly affected and I’m extremely proud of my brother and sister First Responders. God bless them all!

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A War on Terror
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The holes in our hearts
can never be filled
by any amount of words
And though it’s important
to remember them all
their voices remain unheard

I don’t think they call
for any act of vengeance
but rather determination
That we band together
in the name of peace
not grieve in isolation

For no act of retribution
can bring them back
to stand with us once more
But America had to respond
because this cowardly act
was an act of war

For in this age of terrorism
there’s no resolution
through diplomatic means
We must root out the evil
and destroy it entirely
to avoid similar scenes

Though we may wish to temper
our immediate response
it’s kill or be killed
This weapon of terror they employ
requires that we react
as forceful and strong-willed

We must wage a war on terror
and turn it back on them
bring it to their shore
For we Americans wish for peace
and deserve the right
to live safely evermore
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From Hero to Thug

The day the towers fell people took notice
Of ones they never gave a thought
The police and especially the firefighters
Stepped up for those overwrought

As everyone else ran away from the buildings
They responded in droves to assist
And even as the situation became more dire
Their fears they managed to resist

As they perished by the hundreds that fateful day
The world learned a lesson in dedication
These men, like soldiers, who had sworn to protect
Headed to their fates without hesitation

Firefighters everywhere were struck by that blow
Everyday citizens did rally around us
They praised our courage and dedication to duty
Though we were embarrassed by the fuss

But we need not have worried about that
Public opinion changes on a whim
And within a few months of singing our praises
Their memories of heroes were dim

So when our contracts were up for renegotiation
Politicians put the blame on our backs
These leaders claimed to have no more money
They said they’d have to raise their tax

They told the public our pay was too generous
Our pensions and benefits too
When faced with having to pay more to the city
Taxpayers’ anger began to stew

Politicians and conservative types had a plan
Blame us for the recession
A campaign to label us as greedy union thugs
To force us into concessions

The debate goes on even now, ten years later
As they paint firefighters as useless slugs
Their outright lies and their editorial powers
Have turned us from heroes to thugs
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The Heroes That Time Forgot

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The Heroes That Time Forgot

I work in the midst of an army of brave men
Some be heroes and some be not
But in the realm of modern scientific progress
We’re the heroes that time forgot

The tubes of air we carry into battle
Are rated for thirty minutes
Though mask itself lasts for only about twelve
When we strap our face into it

Over thirty years of improvements have yielded
A bottle rated for forty-five
Yet it still gives us only enough for twenty
To allow us to survive

Wooden ladders have made way for aluminum
To make them easier to deploy
We still have to raise them and vent at the roof
Before the rafters are destroyed

Progress has given us C-G-M’s* and TIC’s*
To aid us in our work
But in order to employ these tools we need
To go where danger lurks

Modern science has made G-P-S commonplace
But our locaters rely on sound
We need to search through all the smoky debris
If our lost member is to be found

Sledge hammers, axes, pry-bars and more
Continue to serve us well
These tools of brute force, though seemingly ancient
Never fail after the bell

Engineers have made for much cheaper buildings
Via lightweight-construction
But when these structures are subject to fire
They’re prone to quicker destruction

Although they’re perfectly safe in normal conditions
They’re not designed for fire
So when a single thin member succumbs to flame
A catastrophic collapse transpires

While these engineering advances are taking place
Our job is still the same
We need to “put the wet stuff on the red stuff”
In order to squelch the flames

Just because the conditions have changed
Doesn’t mean we change our plan
We still must venture inside to put it out
As quickly as we can

So as we all enjoy the fruits of science which have
Given us what we’ve got
Let us not forget the firefighters who are
The heroes that time forgot

9-Aug-2012 -- Tom Kenney

*TIC’s (Thermal Imaging Cameras)
*C-G-I’s (Combustible Gas Meters)

Non-Liberal Democrats vs. Conservative Republicans

For those of you who are totally fed up with those in society that do nothing but stand around with their hands out might be surprised to know that many people who vote Democrat are as sick and tired of these moochers as you. Maybe not the ultra-liberal, bleeding-heart, politically correct Democrats – but many working class, old values type of people.

Life long and multi-generational Welfare recipients have to be stopped. There is no reason other than total disability that a person should be able to get paid for doing absolutely nothing. Also, alcohol or drug addictions are not total, life long disabilities.

Illegal aliens should not be recipients of any type of governmental assistance. If churches or cultural non-profit organizations want to help them out by providing them assistance, that’s fine but do not use tax dollars to provide for those who are here illegally.

Changes such as these need to be fought for via legislation – federal and state. These changes can be just as easily fought for, maybe even more effectively, from within the Democratic party. Unfortunately, at the present time most Democratic politicians in office are spending too much time and effort protecting these freeloaders and not enough protecting the working class people who make up the majority of the ever dwindling middle class.

Make no mistake – the working class people of America are not guilty of expecting handouts from the government without contributing to the system. The working class people are not guilty of taking governmental bailouts, and certainly not guilty of paying our leaders (ie: CEO’s) multi-million dollar bonuses. The working class people are not guilty of paying little or no taxes due to massive tax breaks and also not guilty of shipping millions of our jobs overseas to maximize profits.

Republicans and Tea-Baggers also want changes to the way government hands out assistance via tax money. The problem is that they are also looking to do away with most all governmental jobs. They forget that government employees are “workers”. These workers need to remain employed and receive a decent wage in order to not become a burden on the government and to spend money to contribute to our economy. This is not to say that wasteful spending in the form of paying for nonproductive jobs should not be eliminated via cutting these unnecessary positions. However, Republicans are steadily attempting to cut positions below a reasonable standard, and in the case of public safety to unsafe levels.

They, Republicans and Tea-Baggers are also attempting to eliminate collective bargaining rights for governmental union jobs. This would leave all decisions regarding staffing, as well as salary and benefits to those who have proven time and time again to have no understanding of the average American worker or family – politicians.

Republicans point to the financial distress many American cities and towns are facing and want you to believe that the greedy municipal union members are the reason for all this financial hardship. They fail to tell you that the problems regarding unfunded pension liabilities are directly due to the fact that politicians have neglected to pay the so-called required annual contribution into the systems over the span of a great many years. They fail to tell you that when the Bush tax breaks went into effect it cut down the federal tax collected by a substantial amount. This shortfall was passed on to the states via less federal aid to the states. The states, in turn, cut the amount of state aid provided to each municipal government – city or town. Is it any wonder the municipal governments around the country are on the verge of bankruptcy?

The Recession and the financial crisis looming over many American cities and towns has not been created by any working class people. During this period of time our standard of living has declined by an average of approximately 39% while the richest Americans have seen an average of a 3% increase in their net worth.

The New Way of Negotiating Contracts

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The new way of negotiating contracts, from the governmental employers’ point of view, harkens back to the dark ages when employers simply threatened to fire workers if they demanded higher wages or better working conditions. These days the threat used is that of bankruptcy.

As everyone seems to fall over themselves hurling kudos at Mayor Taveras for negotiating a deal with the unions to reach an agreement regarding union concessions in pension reform, they don’t seem to be bothered by the method the mayor took along the way. I guess this shouldn’t come as such a surprise to me, but it does.

We (labor unions in Providence) have just finished an eight year span of dealing with a mayor who had no moral compass. He lied to us (and to everyone else) every time we were forced to deal with him. The election of a new, seemingly reasonable and trustworthy mayor brought us new hope and began to restore our morale. It is because of this renewed faith in leadership that his actions have destroyed, once again, our trust in dealing with politicians.

I guess we shouldn’t be all that surprised. After all, it seems that the new “normal” is for employers (whether government entities or private sector) to simply throw out contracts that don’t seem to work for them anymore. It used to be that only professional athletes could demand a renegotiation in the middle of a contract. Most of us working people felt that this was unfair in theory. After all, no athlete ever attempted to renegotiate a lower paying contract when he didn’t play up to expectations. Similarly, no employer has ever voluntarily opened up a standing contract to give the employees more money or benefits – it’s always because they want concessions from their employees.

Mayor Taveras is being hailed as a hero for being part of the, as yet to be ratified, pending pension deal. I commend him on that accomplishment also. However, I know that he has done irreparable harm to his relationships with the police and fire department’s personnel – and the retirees. While this might not be important to most people, it could come back to haunt him in future negotiations and relations.

Paul Doughty, president of the firefighter’s union, was raked over the coals both locally and nationally when he asked the rhetorical question, “What was the rush?”. He went on to state that he felt the unions and retirees and the administration had enough time and desire on all sides to “negotiate” a compromise. I guess he was right after all. The mayor and the council could have drawn up their ordinances (their way of circumventing the contracts) and kept them on hold until time was almost up for the fiscal year and sat down to negotiate in good faith with all involved. Instead they passed the ordinances in an attempt to extort the concessions they felt they needed.

I give a big pat on the back to the union leaders who put their animosity, and that of their members, aside to attempt to reach a compromise that both sides could live with. I also want to warn the mayor and all those who think this is a done deal to temper their expectations. I hope it passes. I expect it to pass, but that’s not a sure thing. There are many current members of both departments who feel that they can’t trust this mayor. There are many who believe that once he gets these concessions he’ll be back for more dramatic concessions next fiscal year. After all, he renegotiated our old contract just about 9 months ago, getting all the concessions he said he needed to get through these tough times. That’s the problem when contracts are so easily broken – it’s no longer enough to get the signatures on the agreement, you also need to trust the person who has signed.