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When you have CHP officers getting paid $110,000 a year, it's no wonder.

http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=highway+...

It's actually a quarter million a year in total benefits.

Can they elect to receive a quarter million cash dollars in lieu of benefits? If not, such benefits are not really part of their compensation any more than their uniforms or cars.

I guess it depends on what constitutes "other pay." There's an officer with $70,000 worth of Other Pay. But overtime pay is definitely paid in cash.

But if you want to quibble about $70,000 in pension and healthcare payments, that still leaves $160-180k a year in direct compensation.

If I can make $150k writing JS in Los Angeles then CHP deserves at least $110k a year.

You're equating risk and skill. I don't disagree with it, but the problem is the societal forces that compensate the CHP don't compensate the soldiers in Afghanistan who take similar, if not greater, risks. Why is that?

Why is it the opposite on Wall Street? Higher risk equates to a bigger return.

Because we value money more than lives.

My ability to build an app that generates revenue is more valuable than CHPatrolman ability to save a life.

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