” I’m retired on a pension from N.J. that I earned according to the laws of the state.
Someone is going to pay that retirement, or I will have to make it up some other way.”
While your perspective is understandable, there is another angle to consider - There are legions of taxpayers who expect services from the governments to whom they pay taxes. What do you think will happen when 100% of their tax burden (which is likely to increase greatly) is used to pay retirees, and they get no services in return?
The likely answer is that state/federal government retirees are likely to get far less than they expected. The funding of taxpayer services is going to be a priority over retiree pensions - and that’s probably the best case.
The ONLY way to get less than in NJ if you are already retired is to change the State Constitution . That ain’t gonna happen .
Like I said ... I WILL make it up some other way, and it won't be as a greeter at Wally World either.
The way things are going there just may be a bounty on all elected officials ... soon.