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Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions (Class warfare is on the way!)
NY Times ^ | 8/06/10 | RON LIEBER

Posted on 08/06/2010 6:07:17 PM PDT by Libloather

Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions
By RON LIEBER
Published: August 6, 2010

There’s a class war coming to the world of government pensions.

The haves are retirees who were once state or municipal workers. Their seemingly guaranteed and ever-escalating monthly pension benefits are breaking budgets nationwide.

The have-nots are taxpayers who don’t have generous pensions. Their 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts have taken a real beating in recent years and are not guaranteed. And soon, many of those people will be paying higher taxes or getting fewer state services as their states put more money aside to cover those pension checks.

At stake is at least $1 trillion. That’s trillion, with a “t,” as in titanic and terrifying.

The figure comes from a study by the Pew Center on the States that came out in February. Pew estimated a $1 trillion gap as of fiscal 2008 between what states had promised workers in the way of retiree pension, health care and other benefits and the money they currently had to pay for it all. And some economists say that Pew is too conservative and the problem is two or three times as large.

So a question of extraordinary financial, political, legal and moral complexity emerges, something that every one of us will be taking into town meetings and voting booths for years to come: Given how wrong past pension projections were, who should pay to fill the 13-figure financing gap?

Consider what’s going on in Colorado — and what is likely to unfold in other states and municipalities around the country.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: battle; definedbenefit; definedcontribution; pension; public; teachers; union
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To: SkyPilot

Note to self:

Never take advice from one who cannot properly use “you’re.”


21 posted on 08/07/2010 3:25:01 AM PDT by Jacquerie (We live in a judicial tyranny - Mark Levin)
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To: Randy Larsen
I’m one of those who decided early in life to work for the public sector. I started at 23 years old and have been paying into my retirement plan for 30 years.

Now, because of the crap that is happening I’m supposed to feel guilty because the whiners didn’t plan as well as I did 30 years ago?

Screw all you aholes!!!

What percent of your income did you pay in? What did the government pay in on your behalf? Why did you expect the government to invest (spend) your money wisely?

I'm sorry, but you bought into something that was too good to be true. Your decision ranks right up there with someone voluntarily deciding "That there Social Security sounds like a great thing - start taking a big ol chunk out of my paycheck today!"

"Now, because of the crap that is happening I’m supposed to pay even more taxes because the public employees decided their best lot in life was living off of someone else's dime 30 years ago? Screw them that want to put the thumb screws to the rest of us because they were foolish enough to think the government was a competent retirement fund manager passing Willie Wonka's golden tickets."

22 posted on 08/07/2010 3:50:34 AM PDT by Puddleglum ("due to the record harvest, rationing will continue as usual")
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To: Drew68
Except that there's 15 million unemployed Americans waiting for these older workers to retire. It's a demographic disaster no matter how you look at it.

True - but also, what jobs are there going to be for oldsters who find themselves out of work anyway? There can only be so many Wal-Mart greeters in the world, and there are only 9 Supreme Court justices.

23 posted on 08/07/2010 3:53:45 AM PDT by Puddleglum ("due to the record harvest, rationing will continue as usual")
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To: Jacquerie

I didn’t make the poster, it was off Google; but if it makes you feel better about yourself.....then fine.


24 posted on 08/07/2010 4:54:45 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: redpoll
Using the incorrect “your” on the poster detracts from the message. The poster maker should have used “you’re,” as in “you are.”

Oh, good gravy. What is it with the grammar police here? What is the matter? Did you not do as well on your Chemistry or Physics classes, and feel you have to compensate?

I am going to have to cite you for a dangling participle.

It isn't my poster, and if you really feel that strongly about it, I suggest you write your (proper use of your there) Congressman....or Congresswoman.

25 posted on 08/07/2010 5:00:53 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Mike Darancette
The money to save jobs for state teachers and first responders

I always find it fascinating that teachers like to lump themselves in with cops and firefighters.

In fact, here in NJ, they made a big deal about laying off firefighters first with the budget cuts. We told them at a town meeting to lay off teachers because they were more expendable - and they had a cow.

They do this on purpose. The know the public values first responders more than they do teachers, so they try and milk it for all it is worth.

26 posted on 08/07/2010 5:05:08 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Siena Dreaming
What's a retired person at 58 gonna do for the next 30 years of their life...mope around the house?

Gamble, smoke, and drink.

That's what I see many of them doing.

27 posted on 08/07/2010 5:07:17 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Randy Larsen
Screw all you aholes!!!

Be careful.

The people are pissed off. It is precisely your attitude that is going to screw your retirement check.

28 posted on 08/07/2010 5:09:03 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Ann Archy
Defined Benefit vs Defined Contribution

The former encumbers your children and theirs. The latter encumbers only you and your peers at the time.

The former is popular with politicians because it promises them your vote now for a future benefit that they will not have to deliver.

29 posted on 08/07/2010 5:22:17 AM PDT by DaveArk
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To: SkyPilot

“It is precisely your attitude that is going to screw your retirement check.”

Exactly.


30 posted on 08/07/2010 5:29:08 AM PDT by billhilly
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To: Randy Larsen
Screw all you aholes!!!

Thank you for your insightful comments.

Private sector pensions have been under attack for at least two decades as private companies calculated the long term costs. The costs were unsustainable so companies cut back their pension plans.

Public sectors pension costs are even more unsustainable and must be reduced to a viable level. Welcome back to reality...

31 posted on 08/07/2010 5:41:19 AM PDT by Senator_Blutarski
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To: Libloather

What the Hell did we have to say about it when the Freakin Unions got all this Crap put into place in the First Place .
Government Unions should be Banned ,If you work for the Government you are a Government SERVANT, If As we are told you are SACRIFICING then SACRIFICE ,you dont get to rip off the Owners,you want to work for the Government you are supposed to get paid LESS than the Private sector not double what the private sector gets ,STOP LYING to the American Public,you should all be Fired and your Pensions forfeited to the Social security fund and you will henceforth receive your checks from there


32 posted on 08/07/2010 6:34:23 AM PDT by ballplayer
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To: Randy Larsen

I’m one of those who decided early in life to work for the public sector.


May I ask why?


33 posted on 08/07/2010 6:56:10 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple ( Seeking the truth here folks.)
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To: Libloather

just curious - Should military pensions be at risk too?

I’ll have 25 years of service when I retire. I’ve deployed 3 times and will most likely go again. I’ve risked my life, been shot at, been separated from my family for countless months etc. Did I earn my 50% of base pay for life after I hang it up?


34 posted on 08/07/2010 7:33:21 AM PDT by strider44
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To: Randy Larsen

Am I supposed to congratulate you for taking the easy way out?


35 posted on 08/07/2010 7:45:47 AM PDT by Doohickey ("It Takes A Spillage." - Mark Steyn)
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To: SkyPilot
Gamble, smoke, and drink.

That's what I see many of them doing.

Seriously, more smoking and drinking would solve a lot of these problems. The mathematics behind sustainable pensions worked best when Americans would die shortly after leaving the workforce. Now grandpa takes his Centrum Silver, eats lean meat and jogs 5k a day so he can enjoy 25 years of retirement.

36 posted on 08/07/2010 9:32:11 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: Libloather

Don’t forget the double-dippers! Those who are collecting pension checks and being a paid consultant.


37 posted on 08/07/2010 12:29:29 PM PDT by 100%FEDUP (I'm seeing RED!)
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To: SkyPilot

You posted it as your own.

Don’t blame me for your poor editing.


38 posted on 08/07/2010 2:56:49 PM PDT by Jacquerie (We live in a judicial tyranny - Mark Levin)
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To: Jacquerie
I post a lot of pictures.

So do many people here.

It doesn't mean I take them with my own digital camera.

I just don't understand the pettiness of your post. The problem with posts like yours is you set yourself up as somehow perfect, when we all know we all make spelling or grammar errors (and that picture wasn't even mine.)

So, if you ever make a error with one of your posts, you are instantly a raging hypocrite. Is that what you want?

39 posted on 08/07/2010 5:08:49 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot

Keep digging.


40 posted on 08/07/2010 5:23:44 PM PDT by Jacquerie
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