Public sector pensions have to be negotiated away, not protected. They are unsustainable in the long run which is why pensions are almost unheard of in the private sector. Why should I, as a taxpayer, pay for something I do not receive. That is absurd. It’s just as absurd to see people try to defend public pensions. In case nobody noticed, Calif. voters are going to have the chance to raise their own taxes in order to pay for, among other things, state pensions. Go ahead and vote yes if you want your taxes increased to provide pensions.