This is a long standing problem. But try to get elected while telling voters, that you have to cut the pension they will eventually receive, increase the contributions just now, and have to retire at an older age.It’s a problem NOBODY wants to face, voters or politicians.
“I suppose that outsourcing nearly all of Detroit’s industry to foreign countries had nothing to do with it?”What? No! Why would you ever criticize the “job creators?” They’re too busy creating jobs…. in China at the expense of American jobs.
That is true of every poor, old,sick, person. If we get rid of Social security, make sure that equality of health coverage fails, and the GOP keeps trying to make sure the government doesn’t succeed. Keep the people stupid, lazy and watching Programs. Make it impossible to make a living wage, and make “News” out of celebrities, sex scandals and NON-Newws. Meanwhile the real powers that be, the 700 or so of the worlds riches plots and plans and laughs about, like the recent summit in the southwestern USA, imagines creative extermination of the masses.There is someone somewhere that will accidentally cause the end of the world by radiation.
The key problem of unfunded pensions is that it is only sustainable based on continuing growth (detroit saw continuing shrinkage).It also becomes a problem when politicians without negotiating skills get elected on a no tax, no new spending platform. Namely because all negotiation will be differed towards pension increases and pension payment decreases. Namely because it requires no short term tax increase. While this may be a good idea when trying to temporarily reign in budget to pay down debt(here in Canada Jean Chretien used existing pension funds to pay down debt from about 70% of GDP to 40%, in effect reducing interest costs from 17% of government expenditures to about 9%, this was paid back within the next 6 years and the country saved large amounts of money in interest)It is not however a good idea for successive governments to do it without paying anything back as it buries you in the end
What doesn’t get discussed much is how many pension funds became unfunded when Goldman Sachs, and all those wonderful folks in banking and on Wall Street RIPPED THEM OFF, AND TOOK THE PROFITS AND RAN!! Throw in that “crash” of 2008 (that Republican policies built), that continued into unemployment into 2009, and well, of course, it’s all “Obama’s fault”.
jonesb almost 11 years ago
This is a first, a Rob Rogers toon that makes sense.
robinjhislop almost 11 years ago
This is a long standing problem. But try to get elected while telling voters, that you have to cut the pension they will eventually receive, increase the contributions just now, and have to retire at an older age.It’s a problem NOBODY wants to face, voters or politicians.
Jason Allen almost 11 years ago
“I suppose that outsourcing nearly all of Detroit’s industry to foreign countries had nothing to do with it?”What? No! Why would you ever criticize the “job creators?” They’re too busy creating jobs…. in China at the expense of American jobs.
joe vignone almost 11 years ago
UNFUNDED!? Who set them up in the first place? Get them funded. Raise some taxes on those who have it.
Spyderred almost 11 years ago
Don’t forget political corruption.
pam Miner almost 11 years ago
That is true of every poor, old,sick, person. If we get rid of Social security, make sure that equality of health coverage fails, and the GOP keeps trying to make sure the government doesn’t succeed. Keep the people stupid, lazy and watching Programs. Make it impossible to make a living wage, and make “News” out of celebrities, sex scandals and NON-Newws. Meanwhile the real powers that be, the 700 or so of the worlds riches plots and plans and laughs about, like the recent summit in the southwestern USA, imagines creative extermination of the masses.There is someone somewhere that will accidentally cause the end of the world by radiation.
Quipss almost 11 years ago
The key problem of unfunded pensions is that it is only sustainable based on continuing growth (detroit saw continuing shrinkage).It also becomes a problem when politicians without negotiating skills get elected on a no tax, no new spending platform. Namely because all negotiation will be differed towards pension increases and pension payment decreases. Namely because it requires no short term tax increase. While this may be a good idea when trying to temporarily reign in budget to pay down debt(here in Canada Jean Chretien used existing pension funds to pay down debt from about 70% of GDP to 40%, in effect reducing interest costs from 17% of government expenditures to about 9%, this was paid back within the next 6 years and the country saved large amounts of money in interest)It is not however a good idea for successive governments to do it without paying anything back as it buries you in the end
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
What doesn’t get discussed much is how many pension funds became unfunded when Goldman Sachs, and all those wonderful folks in banking and on Wall Street RIPPED THEM OFF, AND TOOK THE PROFITS AND RAN!! Throw in that “crash” of 2008 (that Republican policies built), that continued into unemployment into 2009, and well, of course, it’s all “Obama’s fault”.