Duane Tron: A wake-up call

From John Curry, September 30, 2006
Subject: Re: PA Education Association official says their pensions not in fiscal trouble -- despite warnings to the contrary!

Duane -

Well said. ...and, I'll add one more factor: Did you ever see a "poverty struck" insurance company/consultant/broker? (Case in point - the recent Columbus City Schools/Unitedhealth fiasco where a local consultant/broker received commissions from both the school system and the insurance company -the attachment with this email) They've also made out like "fat cats" during these last several decades and will continue to do so despite the bleak times ahead. The Robber Barons of yesteryear could have taken a lesson or two from these folks. They, along with Big Pharma's lobby dollars, have had a strangle hold on our politicians from Columbus all the way to Washington D.C.

As I write this, they are aiming their lobbyists in the direction of the Dems. so as to be in their "good graces" as we get nearer to November 7. It's a high stakes chess game and we are the pawns. Lobbyists have the dollars and all we have is faith in humanity - lately, campaign dollars have spoken much louder than faith in our elected officials' pursuit of humanity.

John

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From: Duane Tron, September 30, 2006

Subject: Re: PA Education Association official says their pensions not in fiscal trouble -- despite warnings to the contrary!

John,

I just read an article in the newspaper this morning and a non-partisan group has come out indicating how severe the crisis is in public pension funds across the nation. They said a lack of attention to negotiated agreements during the past 30 years coupled with a lack of adequate planning and funding of retirement plans, and associated HC, are becoming a major crisis nationwide. They indicated that their studies indicate that very few public pension funds planned well for the large numbers of people who are retiring and this is coupled with the fact that people are living much longer. They said almost every system they have examined is facing a crisis in the near future! They said a lack of planning by government leaders and public employee unions is creating one of the most daunting crises facing this country among retired police, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees! No kidding!!!

The report stated that instead of addressing these issues when they first realized they were coming the people in charge pushed them to the back burner for others to deal with later! Later has apparently become, NOW! A lack of prudent planning and ignoring the problems for future managers to deal with was the modus operandi. The people who have enjoyed the benefits for the past 30-40 years aren't the ones who paid for them. It is those of us who are retiring now who are paying! We paid for those before us and now we are being required to pay for those who will come after us. Inspiring isn't it??!!

There has been absolutely NO planning, or accountability, in the past! Now we face a major crisis because of lousy leadership and mismanagement by others! State after state are trying to figure out how they are going to maintain and fund their pension plans!

My wife contends that HMO's helped precipitate the crisis. If nothing else they exacerbated the problem because they opened the doors to widespread abuse. The fact that people are living longer and require much more medical attention are driving costs more than health care providers. She pointed out that people with HMO's go to the ER for headaches, hang nails, colds, and all kinds of minor health concerns. She said this has driven operating costs through the roof. Instead of people waiting and going to see their primary care physician, at a small portion of the cost of the ER visit, they go to the ER so they don't have to wait. She points out that this kind of abuse has driven many HC costs through the roof. Combine all of the elements and we have a recipe for a national disaster for which few predicted! She says politicians have been blind to all of it because it is such a dicey topic they don't want to touch it. Now they're going to have to address it! They won't have any choice!

She pointed out that major corporations, and businesses, didn't adequately fund retirement packages either and they are now cutting everyone they can. They are cutting pensions and benefits because they lack the revenue streams to fund them. Again more mismanagement and poor planning! All of these factors are fueling what will emerge as the greatest economic crisis in this nation since the Great depression! My wife is a pretty smart lady and I listen to what she has to say. In the age of "entitlement and privilege" the people overseeing our pension and HC plans engaged in the "we play now and pay later culture." Now we are being told WE have to pay for it! This all stems from the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and tell people just how much all of this was going to cost 30-40 years ago! this is the result of lousy leadership by both Democrats and republicans! neither group has a right to point any fingers at the other. They were both complicit in this failure just like they were both responsible for the failures of 9/11.

When I hear all of the politicians start the finger pointing I hold up two fingers and point at both parties. In recent times I hold up my two middle fingers, one on each hand and point it at THEM! Anybody who thinks this debacle is the fault of the democrats or republicans is living in Lah, Lah Land! They both screwed up and they are both responsible for multiple failures in about every area of government. No guts, no glory, and none of them have done their jobs. They have been too busy telling teachers what a lousy job we have done and blaming us for about every failure in society. They have leveraged hundreds of unfunded mandates on schools to try and fix all of the problems. THEY have neglected and ignored multiple problems, from the war against terrorists to pension plans, so they could promote their political fortunes. My take for what it's worth!

Now WE are being required to pay for all of THEIR failures! Comprende?

Duane Tron