Are gov't pensions fair to taxpayers? (Representatives, employment, attorney, death)

[beach43ofus]

I vote in EVERY election, and study the sample ballots and research the candidates & issues.

I don't EVER recall voting for, or against, any government pensions. So, how to they exist? They must be created and awarded by government workers for government workers.

If so, where are the checks and balances?

I keep reading where government pension funds are all underfunded, and heading for a train wreck, but I keep scratching my head wondering how they got there in the first place, & how can that be fair to taxpayers.

Please enlighten me.

[turkeydance]

to be more specific:
is this about Federal pensions?
or State or Local?
it makes a difference
since the Feds actually
can print money.

[beach43ofus]

I'd like to hear thoughts on all of the above.

[johnp292]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I vote in EVERY election, and study the sample ballots and research the candidates & issues.

I don't EVER recall voting for, or against, any government pensions. So, how to they exist? They must be created and awarded by government workers for government workers.

If so, where are the checks and balances?

I keep reading where government pension funds are all underfunded, and heading for a train wreck, but I keep scratching my head wondering how they got there in the first place, & how can that be fair to taxpayers.

Please enlighten me.

What makes you think you personally get to vote on every facet of how the government runs?

That’s what we have elected representatives for. You get to vote for them. They vote or make decisions on your behalf.

Consider yourself enlightened.

[No_Recess]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I vote in EVERY election, and study the sample ballots and research the candidates & issues.

There is where you failed.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by johnp292

What makes you think you personally get to vote on every facet of how the government runs?

That’s what we have elected representatives for. You get to vote for them. They vote or make decisions on your behalf.

Consider yourself enlightened.

Well, could the elected officlals do anything they want? Is there any spending limit? Can they bankrupt their jurisdictions with their decisions?

Unfunded pensions are the #1 problem for most governments if you include local/city/county/state/federal combined.

Should elected officials be allowed to make these kinds of decisions if they can bankupt the entity they are elected to represent?

I'm asking to be enlightened here, not claiming to be enlightened. Sorry you misunderstood.

[K12144]

I mean, are any pensions fair to the customers of the company, when that money could be used to lower prices or something instead?

[Farmer Larry]

I agree it is a problem that cannot be solved without huge tax increases so it is up to us chump taxpayers to force our corrupt government to place a nationwide cap on all gov pensions and make the problem go away. No pension should be paid prior to age 62 just like SS, and whatever the top SS benefit is should be the highest pension any gov retiree (state & fed) should get.

There are about 22,000 gov retirees in CA with pensions over 100K. That is insane, it cost 2.8 billion a year for just that group of retirees. Michael Johnson draws a 390K pension from his Solano County employment. This is as corrupt as corrupt can be, NO ONE is worth a pension like that NO ONE.
We are going to get taxed to death if we don't push back on these crooks real soon.

[legalsea]

I worked for 30 years with the Federal Government. I made, at the end, as a Senor Attorney, $115,000.00 per year.



My pension is $2,2100 per month.



Let me know your thoughts. Am I evil?

[neko_mimi]

Originally Posted by K12144

I mean, are any pensions fair to the customers of the company, when that money could be used to lower prices or something instead?

If it causes a company to become uncompetitive, consumers can just buy from someone else. If government office expenses become too high, too bad, because you’ll pay anyway. That’s the difference.