ALL retirement funds should be paid into like a 401k. The amount a recipient pays in during his career should be and indeed MUST be treated like any other account with a balance and specific amount owed to the retiree rather than monthly payments for ever… If an employer feels generous and chooses to pay matching funds on payday into the individuals account that is fine by me as long as each individual retires with a specific account balance and it is up to the retiree to decide how to make it last like the rest of us.
It is a simple matter of economics. We cannot afford this kind of government and given tax revenues will continue to fall rapidly over the next five years or so it is clear promises were made that cannot be kept.
It is not a matter of if Firefighters, Police, Teachers or any of our Hero’s deserve more, it is a matter of there is no more to give, and frankly I am not sure why these titles mean they deserve better than a non servant employee who also works hard at his or her job, often at considerable risk to life and limb also. Most Firefighters I know love their work, and many volunteer!
