Posted on 12/21/2010 2:42:02 AM PST by Scanian
AS politicians at all levels of government look to cut spending, taxpayers need to make sure that public employees don't get a free pass -- particularly when it comes to pensions.
Most of the nation's 107 million private-sector workers are forced to accept 401(k) plans and other
defined-contribution pensions -- in which the employer makes a fixed contribution to the employee's retirement account, rather than guaranteeing a fixed payout.
By contrast, nearly all of the more than 22 million federal, state and local public employees enjoy defined-benefit pensions -- with payouts fixed at some percentage of the individual's pay for the last year or two they worked (often including overtime and payments for unused sick or vacation days).
But funding of public pensions has been woefully short of what's needed to make good on those promises. The shortfalls are "off balance sheet" liabilities that run into the trillions of dollars.
Here's the bad news as reported by Professors Robert Novy-Marx (University of Rochester) and Joshua Rauh (Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management):
* Unfunded liabilities for public pensions run by the 50 states total $3.23 trillion -- $21,500 per household.
* Underfunded pensions for municipal and local government employees add another $574 billion of hidden debt -- $14,000 per household.
The data from federal sources is also grim:
* Unfunded US military-retirement obligations now amount to $30,000 per household.
* Unfunded federal civilian-employee pension obligations represent another $16,000 per household.
That means every US household (including the half that normally pay no taxes) would have to kick in $81,500 today to enable federal, state and local governments to meet just their cur rent pension commitments.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
When you retire can you take it all at once or must you accept monthly payments?
When the host dies, the parasite does too.
Correct! And the parasites finished off the host November 4, 2008. They had been nibbling and harassing the host for years, but, November 4, 2008 was when the fatal bite delivered. It will take a while for the actual death to occur as the host was strong and had a high resistance, but, the nibbles finally took their toll. At this point in time, the parasites are rejoicing and gleeful for the freebies that their saviors gave them for killing their opposition, but, that will be short lived and the sounds of weeping and wailing will replace the grins and smiles.
“When the host dies, the parasite does too.”
Not neccessarily... the parasite just networks to a new host. Parasites are survivors... we should emulate them.
actually, when I was a young lad, I was a member of the International Laborors Union. I did not like the idea of someone telling me I was unhappy......
Not doubting you for a second, but I'd love to know where you read that.
The city of chicago budget website. You have to dig for it but it’s there.
I understand he sends quail and manna in deserts and water from rocks.
Bumper sticker and T-shirt material right there!
TRUE.
THX THX.
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