"Numerous Brown appointees double-dipping with salary, public pension"

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_19013199?nclick_check=1

I read the above article in the San Jose Mercury News, and I must tell you, I get so upset when ordinary citizens complain about the lavish salaries, pensions, and benefits political appointees receive. We must remember that these Board members make up the brain trust that helps our state government run so very efficiently. And commoners are going to begrudge them their pitiful six-figure pittance?

According to the CA Department of Corrections website, "The Commissioners (12 Parole Board members) convene once a month to conduct a public business meeting." Yes, they have to meet every single month! And what are they paid for that? Barely more than the salary an Army General with only 30-40 years of duty under his belt.

Yes, I do realize that the Board member salary is in addition to the $100,000 to $200,000 state pensions most of these "semi-retired" intellectually gifted leaders already receive. But they deserve that, too! Hello! Have you peasants noticed how beautifully and efficiently our California State Government is run? That ain't no accident.

No, I'm not going to pretend to understand state budget deficits, deteriorating infrastructure, tuition hikes, declining school test scores, and all that other government minutia. Most of us don't need to understand that stuff. That's the smart peoples' job up there in Sacramento. Normal folks ought to just pay their damn taxes and shut up, that's what I think! What do you think would happen if these special Board appointees on all these special Boards suddenly stop showing up to their monthly meetings? I don't know, but the very thought of it keeps me awake at night. Maybe we all just better think about that before we complain about our ever increasing taxes.