If we want to get technical (or fair) and look at actuarial tables (life expectancy) as it relates to either public pensions or social security, there are more arguments to be made than the ones using averages. Public safety is an overwhelmingly male dominated sport, and men die younger, so it’s cheaper.
But as far as social security goes, black men die on average 5 years earlier than white men, black women live longer than white men and white women used to live the longest, yet hispanics came in at 2.5 years over whites at the 2010 census. Why isn’t social security based on life expectancy, why do black men have to pay into a system that statistically they will not take from, why aren’t women taxed at higher levels since they reap the majority of the benefits.
I’ll tell you why, cause it doesn’t matter during 80% of the time we spend on the planet, it only matters right now and that will change very soon once everyone goes back to worrying about how shiny their rims are.
I know everyone wants facts, but I only have the internet to go on, so forgive me if this data is from a biased source and uses california state data.
But it supports my argument that less than 1% of public pensions are over 100k and that only about 1% make it 30 years or more. There’s a reason and it’s not just danger and physical breakdown, it’s that over the course of 30 years there are a few boom cycles. In which public service loses it’s luster, in which missing christmas and birthdays and every other holiday becomes not worth it when a cell phone salesman or mortgage broker with two weeks of training out earns the public safety employee. They quit, they leave for greener pastures, they never get the brass ring. Much the same way that pretty much only white women get more than their money’s worth from social security.
But who cares, look around, life is good, even in the worst economic times of our lives. As soon as you stop worrying about what someone else gets or has and enjoy what you have, will the journey begin to take shape for you. It’s going to be over before you know it, no CEO or elected official has ever beat death, it’s a game I guarantee everyone will lose. Enjoy the Aztecs beating UNLV and moving to #16 in the country, share a bottle of wine with some friends, use real butter and tell those around you who put up with you that you love them. I guarantee you it’s more fun than worrying about how much money a nurse and a fireman in Carlsbad makes.
