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71% Believe Government Workers Get Better Pensions Than Those In Private Sector
Rasmussen Reports ^ | March 4,2011 | Scott Rasmussen

Posted on 03/04/2011 9:09:38 AM PST by Hojczyk

Most voters believe those who work for the government get better retirement benefits than those who work for private companies and also think it’s unlikely their state can afford the benefits given to state workers.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U. S. Voters feel that, generally speaking, government workers get better pensions than private sector workers. Only 14% disagree, while slightly more (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

However, just 32% of all voters say it’s at least somewhat likely that their state will be able to afford all the pension benefits it has promised to state workers while 56% say it’s not likely. Those figures include 8% who say it is Very Likely and 16% who say it is Not At All Likely.

Voters strongly believe that government workers should wait until around age 65 to begin collecting full pension benefits. If someone joins the police force at age 20 and stays for 25 years, only 28% believe that person should receive a full pension for life at age 45. Sixty-one percent (61%) think they should find another job and wait until they retire at around age 65 to receive the full pension from their police work.

Similarly, if someone becomes a teacher right out of college and stays for 30 years until they retire, just 36% say they should receive their full pension for life at that time. Fifty-six percent (56%), however, say they should find another job and wait until they retire around age 65 to get their full teaching pension.

Most Americans continue to believe government workers also have more job security than those in the private sector and that they don’t work as hard as private sector workers.

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: broke; government; pension; pensions; public; retirement; unions; wisconsinshowdown
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To: Hojczyk

Maybe because it’s true.Smart people.


21 posted on 03/04/2011 9:37:32 AM PST by puppypusher (The World is going to the dogs.)
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To: Texas resident

“71% of us resent that we pay taxes to fund their pensions while trying to fund our own pensions with whatever is left over.”

I’ve been on both sides and I can’t tell a hill of beans difference in the workers. The upper management in both cases in large businesses and government are politicians and make out like bandits even when they make bad decisions. If you remove the marketing departments from government and industry (the lobbyist) you will have a more efficient and logical business. Marketing types can’t build-it and they sure can’t sell it.

One thing for sure is that I’ve never seen a business turn down a government contract because it was costing the taxpayer too much money.


22 posted on 03/04/2011 9:37:51 AM PST by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...never vote for the Ivy League candidate.)
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To: Texas resident

71% of us resent that we pay taxes to fund their pensions while trying to fund our own pensions with whatever is left over.

Amazing how when you finished high school or college, you had the opportunity to give to your country through military or government service and you decided that making riches on the outside was better for you. Are you suddenly upset by the choices YOU made??????


23 posted on 03/04/2011 9:38:44 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: org.whodat

Why didn’t you decide to sacrifice for the country?


24 posted on 03/04/2011 9:39:55 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: Hojczyk
The fact that public Unions are corrupt by laundering tax money into
Democrat coffers is enough to eliminate those public Unions.

I could care less who makes what in the private sector.

25 posted on 03/04/2011 9:41:57 AM PST by MaxMax
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To: Hojczyk

Lets see...

In the private world, one is extremely blessed if an employer adds in a match to your retirement account/pension

Many public employees get AT LEAST $ for $ match - and in Wisconsin - the public employees contribute less than 1/4 of 1% of the payments into the pension system...


26 posted on 03/04/2011 9:41:57 AM PST by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: Hojczyk

I took this poll - it’s the first time I’ve been contacted by Rasmussen. The only questions I found unclear (and annoying) were whether Congressional Dems and Pubs are acting “in a bipartisan manner” or “as partisan (Dems/Pubs).” The implication seemed to be that bipartisan is good and partisan is bad. Like most conservatives, I’d like the Rats to get sucked into the “bipartisan” trap while the GOP goes for the throat.


27 posted on 03/04/2011 9:45:21 AM PST by Interesting Times (WinterSoldier.com. SwiftVets.com. ToSetTheRecordStraight.com.)
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To: napscoordinator

I spent four years in the air force fool. And the military is the only ones that sacrifice for the country. The other ones are freaking free loaders that wants a better retirement than the ones they work for. Sacrifice my ass.


28 posted on 03/04/2011 9:47:53 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: Hojczyk

since that statement is 100% true it must mean 29% of the population has taken a walk on reality


29 posted on 03/04/2011 9:50:37 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: org.whodat

Fool? You got out. Now who is the fool? Now you can type away on the internet feeling sorry for yourself since you aren’t getting a pension. Thought you could get rich on the outside did ya? And I am the fool? ROTFLMAO.


30 posted on 03/04/2011 9:51:14 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator

No little one I walked across that stage and picked up those degrees.


31 posted on 03/04/2011 9:53:41 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: org.whodat

Congrats. Then why are you complaining about your poor poor life? Only children do that.


32 posted on 03/04/2011 9:56:30 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator

Are you on drugs, I never complained about my life, I complained about the sorry ass cops and the other free loaders thinking they are entitled to more than anyone else.


33 posted on 03/04/2011 10:00:32 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: org.whodat

I am not on drugs, but the cop signed up to do his job and that was what was offered. When you went for your job, you were given a list of bennies and a paycheck and you signed up. You could have easily been a cop. Why are you upset with someone in 1970 who signed up to be a cop, worked 40 years or how ever long it was required and he got a pension and you didn’t. That was what the guy signed up for.


34 posted on 03/04/2011 10:04:01 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: Sopater

Only 14% disagree.
Only 12% of the workforce is unionized.
damn close.


35 posted on 03/04/2011 10:05:39 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: straps

Numbers like that are meaningless without an idea what it costs to live in that particular area. It wouldn’t go far in many large metro areas.
There are also longer term questions. If it started in 1980 it was a good sum.


36 posted on 03/04/2011 10:11:41 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: Hojczyk

Government civil service is the new class warfare.

If you are fortunate enough to have a government position, you are in an upper class. You are an oligarch. People fight for them. It’s an elitist place. This is what the leftists in the media don’t understand.

It’s not the rich that are elevated today. It’s the government workers. People resent it.


37 posted on 03/04/2011 10:15:15 AM PST by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: Hojczyk
71% Believe Government Workers Get Better Pensions Than Those In Private Sector

That either means that 29% are brain dead, ot
That 29% are union thugs that are "entitled" to more than their employers.

And they all vote...

38 posted on 03/04/2011 10:50:25 AM PST by Publius6961 (There has Never been a "Tax On The Rich" that has not reached the middle class)
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To: I still care

Amerika’s nomenklatura

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=528809

it’s becoming increasingly clear that America is now run by a new, privileged class of bureaucrats.

For those who remember the old Soviet Union, it was a grim place — at least for average citizens. But not so for those in government. Contrary to the official ideals of equality and a classless society that the ruling communist regime espoused, the USSR created a privileged class of party members inside government — the nomenklatura.

This semipermanent bureaucracy earned higher incomes, got better health care, ate better food and had greater job security than average Russians, the much-despised proletarians. Today, our bloated federal government seems, in significant ways, to be creating this same dynamic.


39 posted on 03/04/2011 11:02:10 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: Sopater

When times are good very few people desire to work for the government. And furthermore if I was not compensated as I am, I would not put up with the horse_hit that I do in the name of diversity and equality.


40 posted on 03/04/2011 11:44:50 AM PST by Wu (Excuse me while I kiss the sky......)
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