[Dr. Sivana]

Hmm ~ no defined benefit pensions for the retirees from the only federal government agency to actually set aside funds FOR those defined benefit pensions?

Yup. And the reason is simple, numerous businesses and state governments have been badly burned with defined benefits, only to get burned by later economic conditions, including investments that did not earn the optimistic rates of return assumed.

Note I said only for new hires. The folks who paid in would get what they were promised.

To take one of the closer approximations of the catastrophe defined benefits can cause to a shrinking business,Western Union went through very rocky financial times due to the decline in use of its primary products (telegrams), but a bunch of telegram operators to provide for in their retirement.

I know that USPS's pension is better funded, but long term, an undefined retirement benefit based on a fund consisting of employee's contributions is the the safer bet for successful operations. I do not see how an employee owned fund would be diverted to other gov ops, unless Obama or a similar successor decides to do it by fiat, which he could do with ANY benefit.

[muawiyah]

Except for employee owned thrift savings accounts (gub'mnt 401(k)type plans) Obama and his running dog lackeys may, by law, BORROW all the government employee retirement funds, and they have done so already.

That S... HAS GOTTA' STOP!