Posted by poor ol elroy on April 23, 2020, 6:15 am, in reply to "Pensions lol"
Dave As a small business owner who is also struggling in this ecomony, i have to ask respectfully what would your idea be to address the obviously burdening pension issue here in our state? I have to thank my dad who is now deceased, for suggesting that i pursue the buisness that im in. He said that we will always have to have our homes heated, and the future generations will not ever go without air conditioned homes anymore. After resenting his advice i worked for General Motors in St. Louis, but when they furloughed me for three years, i saw the light. I returned to GM for a few years but started a small company to provide a necessary service to homeowners. My point is even tho i recieve a small pension from GM the bulk of my income, at some times meager due to the massive taxes, i recieve no public pension. Many, many of my friends are involved in public pensions, im told there are a total of five of them, and those folks have spent their entire earning lives depending on those pensions that come from our tax dollars. Some of my friends say they have contributed heavily into the funds and money was wasted and now there is a shortfall. We all agree something should be done about it, but cutting all the people off the pensions is not the answer as it would cripple us even more. Most common folk like me really dont understand the pending and existing storm regarding this crisis. General Motors pensions dont involve public money, except for their bailout which they paid back. In hindsight, i think i should have went to work for the city, if they would have had me. At least i would probably wouldnt still be working at the age of 68 and climbing. what say you sir?
Re: Pensions lol
Posted by Dave Williams on April 23, 2020, 9:25 am, in reply to "Re: Pensions lol"
Ask yourself one question. Can Illinois afford it anymore? Also, what have states like Indiana and Missouri done differently? The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. -Thomas Jefferson
Re: Pensions lol
Posted by Riverbender on April 23, 2020, 10:43 am, in reply to "Re: Pensions lol"
Could Illinois ever have afforded it under the design used? Starting with Jim Edgar, of pension ramp fame, pension under funding became commonplace. At the same time State unionized employees had a lot to do with electing politicians that chose vote buying programs over funding the pensions. One might say the State employees voted for this to occur. Even today the under funding continues yet the usual continue getting elected and to make matters worse new employees are granted nice pensions as well. Many Illinoisans who have recognized that one way or another the pensions will be paid by virtue of real estate taxes simply leave the state. Illinois is shrinking as we sit here but that matters little to the politicians and union workers who keep demanding more. Bankruptcy is a possibility if it became allowed however my thoughts are even if it were allowed the Illinois politicians would not enact it because they too are getting the pensions.
Re: Pensions lol
Posted by Wally Bunker on April 23, 2020, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Pensions lol"
I hope the feds do not reward this kind of irresponsible behavior.
Re: Pensions lol
Posted by Tired on April 23, 2020, 4:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Pensions lol"
I asked a retired GC cop what his pension was. 68k was the answer. Pretty Damn good I would say.