Public employees have earned every last penny of their pensions
Cleveland Plain Dealer
(From RH Jones, April 9, 2007)
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Once again, The Plain Dealer has positioned itself as the organ of proprietary interests and, as such, a divisive rather than unifying voice of the region. The April 1 article "Public workers' pensions growing" singles out public-sector pensions for unwarranted criticism. What can possibly be gained by tearing down one group with a stable retirement system when clearly the "higher calling" is to work to achieve increased retirement stability for a larger number of people?
Where is the broadside that, in all fairness, should be leveled at the corporations that receive massive taxpayer subsidies? Where is the rancor at huge corporate profits and underfunded pension plans of the rank-and-file workers, while top execs continue to collect their golden parachutes?
Finger-pointing won't solve the problem of retirement plan disparity. Working together to require accountability in both the public and private sectors is a crucial first step in addressing this issue.
David A. Lipstreu
Newbury Township
---
The Plain Dealer's one-sided article on public pensions is intended to pit blue-collar workers from LTV Steel against blue-collar workers from local and state government. What is not mentioned is that these public workers pick up the garbage of the city residents, and the sewer workers clean and maintain the waste of the city residents. Any volunteers?
When I started working for the affluent city of Rocky River in 1982, the average city worker started at less than $5 an hour. What was the average starting pay for an LTV worker? I would venture to say much more.
I sympathize with what happened to LTV workers, and others who were robbed by employers such as Enron. Why not write about the outcome of the lives of these employees and where the blame lies? How is it possible that their money just disappeared with no accountability?
Thomas P. Krych
Strongsville
---
The Plain Dealer has done a tremendous disservice to Ohio's pub lic employees. This newspaper frequently reports on the dire state of the area's economy. This problem is not caused by public employees. It is caused by companies that export jobs and default on employee pension plans. Denying public employees the pensions they have earned will not help. Making sure that every worker can look forward to a secure retirement will.
Anne W. Conway
Bay Village
---
As future retirees in the private sector cover shortfalls by paying higher Social Security taxes, investing more in IRAs and 401(k)s and postponing retirement, maybe it's time for employees of public systems to pony up for their own public retirement systems' shortfalls.
Cindy L. Pierce
Cleveland Heights
---
When I was in college and made the decision to become a teacher, many of my friends wondered why I had made that choice. They said I would never make anything.
What I have made over the last 29 years is a difference in thousands of young people's lives. I never begrudged the salary I made in comparison to what my peers made in other professions, because I loved what I did and was able to support myself on my salary. I have had good benefits and the opportunity to earn a pension. As I reflect on my career and begin to think about retiring, I couldn't be more proud of my chosen vocation.
Critics of public pensions had the opportunity to choose public service for their careers, but instead chose the private sector. I am not sure everyone is cut out to spend 30 years in a classroom by themselves with 25 young children or young teens, just as not everyone could be a firefighter or a police officer. These are careers that require specialized training, as well as a lot of heart.
Linda Day Simon
Strongsville
---
The public employees' pension story made me laugh. Just a few days prior, you had an article on Circuit City's CEO issuing an order to fire employees and hire said employees back at a much lower wage. The stated reason was so Circuit City could make a larger profit. Of course, he saw nothing ironic in the fact that his compensation was several million dollars.
I also find it ironic that this newspaper publishes executive compensation, yet editors obviously don't see anything obscene in said compensation.
The main reason people have lost benefits and pensions, as well as jobs, is that top managers feel it is their duty to make themselves millionaires at the expense of the working class. Hence, all of the jobs that have been exported out of the country.
As to the media, they investigate only the "little" people. Maybe if the media had started earlier investigating the real thievery going on, we might not have so many executives and politicians being indicted. But I don't expect this newspaper to change, since it is a big part of "Big Business."
Marcella J. Lowry
Fairview Park
---
Double-dipping is a nonissue
I am offended beyond words at the negatively written and disparaging front-page headline "Double-dippers retire, rehired - Some draw a pension along with a salary" (Monday). Have you no real news to report? These people earned their pensions and have the right to continue working if they elect to do so and someone wants to hire or rehire them.
The Plain Dealer completely ignores the so-called windfall elimination provision, which affects thousands of people who worked under both the Social Security and public employment or teaching systems. Taking their teaching or public pension may prevent them from getting any Social Security benefits whatsoever, although they paid into the Social Security program for years. Our legislators have seen fit to steal those benefits. Where is the justice in that?
Mark Haas
Solon
---
First, let me say that I am not a gov ernment employee, and other than my five years in the Army, I probably never will be. I am sick of this nonstory getting trotted out every few years. At first glance, it gets people upset, but a little thought shows just how weak the argument is.
If someone retires from a position, a person has to be hired to fill that position. It will be the same amount of money, whether it is the same person hired back or a different person.
Government pension benefits may be too generous and collected too early, but those issues are entirely unrelated to double-dipping.
John Black
North Olmsted
(From RH Jones, April 9, 2007)
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Once again, The Plain Dealer has positioned itself as the organ of proprietary interests and, as such, a divisive rather than unifying voice of the region. The April 1 article "Public workers' pensions growing" singles out public-sector pensions for unwarranted criticism. What can possibly be gained by tearing down one group with a stable retirement system when clearly the "higher calling" is to work to achieve increased retirement stability for a larger number of people?
Where is the broadside that, in all fairness, should be leveled at the corporations that receive massive taxpayer subsidies? Where is the rancor at huge corporate profits and underfunded pension plans of the rank-and-file workers, while top execs continue to collect their golden parachutes?
Finger-pointing won't solve the problem of retirement plan disparity. Working together to require accountability in both the public and private sectors is a crucial first step in addressing this issue.
David A. Lipstreu
Newbury Township
---
The Plain Dealer's one-sided article on public pensions is intended to pit blue-collar workers from LTV Steel against blue-collar workers from local and state government. What is not mentioned is that these public workers pick up the garbage of the city residents, and the sewer workers clean and maintain the waste of the city residents. Any volunteers?
When I started working for the affluent city of Rocky River in 1982, the average city worker started at less than $5 an hour. What was the average starting pay for an LTV worker? I would venture to say much more.
I sympathize with what happened to LTV workers, and others who were robbed by employers such as Enron. Why not write about the outcome of the lives of these employees and where the blame lies? How is it possible that their money just disappeared with no accountability?
Thomas P. Krych
Strongsville
---
The Plain Dealer has done a tremendous disservice to Ohio's pub lic employees. This newspaper frequently reports on the dire state of the area's economy. This problem is not caused by public employees. It is caused by companies that export jobs and default on employee pension plans. Denying public employees the pensions they have earned will not help. Making sure that every worker can look forward to a secure retirement will.
Anne W. Conway
Bay Village
---
As future retirees in the private sector cover shortfalls by paying higher Social Security taxes, investing more in IRAs and 401(k)s and postponing retirement, maybe it's time for employees of public systems to pony up for their own public retirement systems' shortfalls.
Cindy L. Pierce
Cleveland Heights
---
When I was in college and made the decision to become a teacher, many of my friends wondered why I had made that choice. They said I would never make anything.
What I have made over the last 29 years is a difference in thousands of young people's lives. I never begrudged the salary I made in comparison to what my peers made in other professions, because I loved what I did and was able to support myself on my salary. I have had good benefits and the opportunity to earn a pension. As I reflect on my career and begin to think about retiring, I couldn't be more proud of my chosen vocation.
Critics of public pensions had the opportunity to choose public service for their careers, but instead chose the private sector. I am not sure everyone is cut out to spend 30 years in a classroom by themselves with 25 young children or young teens, just as not everyone could be a firefighter or a police officer. These are careers that require specialized training, as well as a lot of heart.
Linda Day Simon
Strongsville
---
The public employees' pension story made me laugh. Just a few days prior, you had an article on Circuit City's CEO issuing an order to fire employees and hire said employees back at a much lower wage. The stated reason was so Circuit City could make a larger profit. Of course, he saw nothing ironic in the fact that his compensation was several million dollars.
I also find it ironic that this newspaper publishes executive compensation, yet editors obviously don't see anything obscene in said compensation.
The main reason people have lost benefits and pensions, as well as jobs, is that top managers feel it is their duty to make themselves millionaires at the expense of the working class. Hence, all of the jobs that have been exported out of the country.
As to the media, they investigate only the "little" people. Maybe if the media had started earlier investigating the real thievery going on, we might not have so many executives and politicians being indicted. But I don't expect this newspaper to change, since it is a big part of "Big Business."
Marcella J. Lowry
Fairview Park
---
Double-dipping is a nonissue
I am offended beyond words at the negatively written and disparaging front-page headline "Double-dippers retire, rehired - Some draw a pension along with a salary" (Monday). Have you no real news to report? These people earned their pensions and have the right to continue working if they elect to do so and someone wants to hire or rehire them.
The Plain Dealer completely ignores the so-called windfall elimination provision, which affects thousands of people who worked under both the Social Security and public employment or teaching systems. Taking their teaching or public pension may prevent them from getting any Social Security benefits whatsoever, although they paid into the Social Security program for years. Our legislators have seen fit to steal those benefits. Where is the justice in that?
Mark Haas
Solon
---
First, let me say that I am not a gov ernment employee, and other than my five years in the Army, I probably never will be. I am sick of this nonstory getting trotted out every few years. At first glance, it gets people upset, but a little thought shows just how weak the argument is.
If someone retires from a position, a person has to be hired to fill that position. It will be the same amount of money, whether it is the same person hired back or a different person.
Government pension benefits may be too generous and collected too early, but those issues are entirely unrelated to double-dipping.
John Black
North Olmsted
posted by Kathie Bracy at 12:39 AM
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