[quote=CA renter]
And that teacher going into another profession where s/he can make the same or better compensation? Lots of them do exactly that. Again, look at the attrition rate for teachers. Many teachers also come from the private sector where they were making more money, but they change for lifestyle or other factors (often to get hours that match their children’s hours). But since you’ve asked the question, how many professional athletes can leave the profession and make more money in another field? How many CEOs can leave that position and make anywhere near the same amount in another position? How about investment bankers? And how about the techies? Think they can leave tech and make more money elsewhere? Obviously, people tend to gravitate toward positions that give them the best of what they’re looking for with respect to job satisfaction, freedom, lifestyle, compensation, etc. That goes for everybody, not just teachers and other public servants.[/quote]

But your argument was that we need defined benefit pension plans to keep people yet you say people stay and leave for other reasons. Just like how they do in the private sector. If that’s you argument than don’t you have to give up the argument that you NEED to offer guaranteed benefit contribution plans in order to make people stay.