And common sense.

Sean, I doubt if any people living in poverty have the ability or the interest to understand the complexities of this pension issue. Besides, all of their sustenance is likely provided by the state of the feds, so why would they care as long as the handouts continue? I know it sounds mean and cold-hearted, but I wouldn’t count on those managing life as dependents of the state to care much about CalPERS even if they do vote. Their primary concern – and I’m talking only about those able to work and take care of their lives that don’t – is the continuation of their free ride!

The truth.

Abolish future pensions forever. Create matching 401K and insure it to match a “virtual pension”. But get these cling ons off my back for 30 years of non-productive life because they “worked” hahaha for the state.

I’m done with this folly.

The international business world is intelligent enough to know that DEFINED BENEFITS, neither capped nor precisely quantifiable in advance, financial disasters to any business, thus all businesses focus on the known, i.e., defined CONTRIBUTIONS alone.

Stealing from the young who have no votes, but silently shoulder the costs and bear the burden of unfunded promises of these programs to enrich the old seems to describe the Governments expansion of entitlement benefits and other government services, along with the taxes young people will have to pay to support them, mostly to subsidize older Americans.

The inmates know that debt for our future generations buys votes. Over the decades, the proven “concept’ practiced by voters is to defer as much financial responsibilities as possible from our current financial responsibilities to future generations, that have no votes on the subject. Simply stated, if we cannot afford it today, pass it off to the future generations to minimize any impact on our current lifestyles.

Another insult to the taxpayers and future generations paying their pensions is that many of those early retirements collect their guaranteed pensions, and then take a second job.

Virtually all elected officials are heavily financed by unions which are focused on entitlements for their current members. The unions, government, and other bureaucrats have been very successful in manipulating the system to enrich themselves. Thus, no changes can be expected in the foreseeable future for elected officials to ever abandon their source of votes.

Even before those young folks can vote our Golden State schools are on track to force substantial budgetary cutbacks on core education spending, as public schools around California are bracing for a crisis driven by skyrocketing worker pension costs that are expected to force districts to divert billions of dollars.

There is only one way when dealing with Plutocrats and Publicans:

Taxes UP

Buy a case or two of Charles Adams’ “For Good and Evil: The Impact of Taxes on the Course if History”. It is suitable for just about everybody, including literate twelve-year olds with a good dictionary and an inquiring mind. Keynesians will probably pass out while reading the Introduction, but not to worry. They will probably donate the book to a Friends of the Library booksale.

Buy a case or two of Robert Murphy’s “Politically Incorrect Guide to the Great Depression and New Deal”. It is a lot of fun to read, suitable for high school students and up.

Do not give up. Your representatives need to hear from you. Plan a family vacation around visiting the State Capitol. The old capitol building is very beautiful and worth several tours. If either house is in session, get a copy of the agenda and stick around. This is a good experience for you and your kids.

Stop by to pay your respects to the Governor and your representatives in the Senate and Assembly. Be sure to leave your name and a courteous greeting. You may have a chance to talk about the issues with an aide, and get their business card.

If your representative is in, you may be invited into his office for a chat even if you don’t have an appointment. Drop by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the Office of the State Controller, also.

Then, visit the Railroad Museum and Old Town, and take a carriage ride around the historic Capitol area before dinner. Go someplace nice where you can sit down at a table and relax over some really fine food.

If you can afford it, stay in a really good hotel. It is well worth the price to be treated like royalty though thou art a tax slave. Also, you have a better chance of seeing our betters during their time off.

Talk to your kids about public policy and find out what they are being told in school. If you don’t, by the time you get around to it, it will be too late.

He’ll tax the shiite outta ya to make sure all these pensions and single prayer…single payer gets paid for.

But now their orgy of tax increases have begun. Be prepared to have the shiite taxed out of you.