I just finished my Federal taxes for 2012 .....

[hfojvt]

55. I work for the government

not the state. There are many levels of government - school districts, cities, townships, counties, etc.

And as you describe it, "embracing solidarity" would mean for me to pay dues and get no benefits, because paying union dues would not get me union wages. But what the heck, why shouldn't I chip in to help people making more money than myself, that's what solidarity is all about, isn't it - the poor helping the rich?

And isn't that the classic conservative complaint "liberals are just jealous of the rich".

I did not say my pension was good. I said my pay was fairly good. Not good enough to make me rich, like a GS-12, but pretty good for a janitor. I figure my pension will be $5,000 a year if I retire at age 55, which is my plan, come hell or high water. It would be a whopping $13,475 if I retired at age 62. With social security of perhaps $900 a month and IRA distributions of $4,000 a year, I would be making $29,000. Decent money for somebody who is not working, but a long, long way from six figures.