[GH]

One thing is for sure – warranted or not, old style pensions are not sustainable in todays economy. ALL retirement accounts should be safe, FUNDED and most importantly carry an actual “account balance”.

As tax payers we are on the hook for promises made in good times by individuals with little or no accountability. Now our municipalities and states all face bankruptcy.

The fact regardless of how one views the matter, is that unless things turn around in a huge way economically for ALL of us, there is not currently enough money in the universe to make these obligations in the long term, leaving our infrastructure in ruins and our government unable to govern.

[GH]

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!

[GH]

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!

[GH]

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!

[GH]

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!

[GH]

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!

[GH]

[quote=JohnAlt91941][quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy]I guess the high paying jobs started arriving around 1997. Uh huh.[/quote]

The arrival of the now defunct dot com boom (bubble?) may have played a factor. My salary almost doubled in 2 years after a little job hopping. Of course that is all reversed now.

[GH]

[quote=JohnAlt91941][quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy]I guess the high paying jobs started arriving around 1997. Uh huh.[/quote]

The arrival of the now defunct dot com boom (bubble?) may have played a factor. My salary almost doubled in 2 years after a little job hopping. Of course that is all reversed now.

[GH]

[quote=JohnAlt91941][quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy]I guess the high paying jobs started arriving around 1997. Uh huh.[/quote]

The arrival of the now defunct dot com boom (bubble?) may have played a factor. My salary almost doubled in 2 years after a little job hopping. Of course that is all reversed now.

[GH]

[quote=JohnAlt91941][quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy]I guess the high paying jobs started arriving around 1997. Uh huh.[/quote]

The arrival of the now defunct dot com boom (bubble?) may have played a factor. My salary almost doubled in 2 years after a little job hopping. Of course that is all reversed now.

[GH]

[quote=JohnAlt91941][quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy]I guess the high paying jobs started arriving around 1997. Uh huh.[/quote]

The arrival of the now defunct dot com boom (bubble?) may have played a factor. My salary almost doubled in 2 years after a little job hopping. Of course that is all reversed now.

[GH]

As a self employed person I have to go out every three years or so and get a W2 job with a big company so I can get on COBRA, which is expensive, but affords far better coverage than I can get independently. What we need are large groups and choices creating REAL competition. The groups must and should be completely independent of the employer. An instance of an illness or injury should be covered for the duration of the illness or injury, provided the insured was covered at the onset regardless of if the insured is able to continue coverage. Far too many get injured, lose their jobs and then their insurance etc. The other problem we run into a lot is gouging, where a simple aspirin is charged at a rate of $5 each or prescription drugs cost $500+ a month where the same company sells to clients in Canada for a fraction of the cost. The other big issue, Cash clients are often charged many times more than insured clients, where Insurance should be reserved for ONLY catastrophic illness and regular care should be provided to ALL clients at the same rate. This would also go a long way to allowing smaller providers on the field.

Fines for not participating and reductions in existing coverage, higher taxes etc are not necessary IMO.

[GH]

As a self employed person I have to go out every three years or so and get a W2 job with a big company so I can get on COBRA, which is expensive, but affords far better coverage than I can get independently. What we need are large groups and choices creating REAL competition. The groups must and should be completely independent of the employer. An instance of an illness or injury should be covered for the duration of the illness or injury, provided the insured was covered at the onset regardless of if the insured is able to continue coverage. Far too many get injured, lose their jobs and then their insurance etc. The other problem we run into a lot is gouging, where a simple aspirin is charged at a rate of $5 each or prescription drugs cost $500+ a month where the same company sells to clients in Canada for a fraction of the cost. The other big issue, Cash clients are often charged many times more than insured clients, where Insurance should be reserved for ONLY catastrophic illness and regular care should be provided to ALL clients at the same rate. This would also go a long way to allowing smaller providers on the field.

Fines for not participating and reductions in existing coverage, higher taxes etc are not necessary IMO.

[GH]

As a self employed person I have to go out every three years or so and get a W2 job with a big company so I can get on COBRA, which is expensive, but affords far better coverage than I can get independently. What we need are large groups and choices creating REAL competition. The groups must and should be completely independent of the employer. An instance of an illness or injury should be covered for the duration of the illness or injury, provided the insured was covered at the onset regardless of if the insured is able to continue coverage. Far too many get injured, lose their jobs and then their insurance etc. The other problem we run into a lot is gouging, where a simple aspirin is charged at a rate of $5 each or prescription drugs cost $500+ a month where the same company sells to clients in Canada for a fraction of the cost. The other big issue, Cash clients are often charged many times more than insured clients, where Insurance should be reserved for ONLY catastrophic illness and regular care should be provided to ALL clients at the same rate. This would also go a long way to allowing smaller providers on the field.

Fines for not participating and reductions in existing coverage, higher taxes etc are not necessary IMO.

[GH]

As a self employed person I have to go out every three years or so and get a W2 job with a big company so I can get on COBRA, which is expensive, but affords far better coverage than I can get independently. What we need are large groups and choices creating REAL competition. The groups must and should be completely independent of the employer. An instance of an illness or injury should be covered for the duration of the illness or injury, provided the insured was covered at the onset regardless of if the insured is able to continue coverage. Far too many get injured, lose their jobs and then their insurance etc. The other problem we run into a lot is gouging, where a simple aspirin is charged at a rate of $5 each or prescription drugs cost $500+ a month where the same company sells to clients in Canada for a fraction of the cost. The other big issue, Cash clients are often charged many times more than insured clients, where Insurance should be reserved for ONLY catastrophic illness and regular care should be provided to ALL clients at the same rate. This would also go a long way to allowing smaller providers on the field.

Fines for not participating and reductions in existing coverage, higher taxes etc are not necessary IMO.

[Author]

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