Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

rayofreason

(2,259 posts)
2. One problem is pensions...
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 12:29 AM
Jun 2012

...not the size, the structure. Pensions are a promise to pay a certain amount in the future, no matter what the circumstances. It is easy to defer contributions (rob Peter to pay Paul), or to have a moron screw up the investments, or to have unrealistic expectations for returns. So that means that government budgets get stressed to pay for the pensions.

With a 401K what you have is it what you have. No one is one the hook for your retirement. I have a 401K. Many other voters do too. Perhaps if public unions moved rapidly to embrace the kind of retirement planning that most people have would dissipate the unhappiness that many voters feel about being on the hook for someone else's retirement.

It may be time to examine why the general voter out there seem to be against kelly1mm Jun 2012 #1
One problem is pensions... rayofreason Jun 2012 #2
DUers from a certain generation will be happy to remind you Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #4
Earnings in Wisconsin: Public Vs. Private golfguru Jun 2012 #9
And in November, we'll see more areas voting the same. Ah, and then there is double dipping. IndyJones Jun 2012 #26
That would be my generation. hay rick Jun 2012 #10
And the fools don't realize that the reason 401k are so low is because of the scam artists nanabugg Jun 2012 #15
I could be wrong quakerboy Jun 2012 #25
With a 401K what you have is a growing number of people in poverty at 65. jtuck004 Jun 2012 #8
So is the best path (politically) to fight to keep those pensions for public employees or to realize kelly1mm Jun 2012 #11
The best path is what is affordable golfguru Jun 2012 #29
Wall St loves 401Ks, they're much easier to steal. Dont call me Shirley Jun 2012 #28
Because the RW has campaigned against it endlessly Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #3
+100. Peregrine Took Jun 2012 #13
Its called reverse schadenfreude (ie misplaced bitterness and envy) stockholmer Jun 2012 #6
I agree that historically that was the case that public employees traded income for pensions/ kelly1mm Jun 2012 #12
unions (both public and private) are some of the few mass organisations that can stockholmer Jun 2012 #14
Bingo Bigredhunk Jun 2012 #5
good post Skittles Jun 2012 #7
No, it's actually about money. Spending by the Yes on B campaign (San Diego) was about 5 times... slackmaster Jun 2012 #17
If fairness cuts both ways, I'm hard pressed to remember a recent time Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #19
Moneyed interests have had the breaks going their way since money was invented slackmaster Jun 2012 #20
But yet there is no blowback against CEO plunder Arugula Latte Jun 2012 #23
Our problem is that there is no voice out there educating the masses about how they are being played nanabugg Jun 2012 #16
The management-level public employees I know personally are doing better than I am slackmaster Jun 2012 #18
Hate to say it, and I'll probably be flamed, but unreadierLizard Jun 2012 #21
I don't get that... Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #22
Yeah, teachers, cops and firefighters are always driving around in BMWs, drinking Cristal ... SomeGuyInEagan Jun 2012 #27
Why don't private sector workers like your parents join unions instead of resenting them? KamaAina Jun 2012 #31
Exactly my point Bigredhunk Jun 2012 #24
Correction: San Jose has a (DINO) KamaAina Jun 2012 #30
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Live election blog: As in...»Reply #2