Newt and Jeb's guest column in my local paper today. Let's just take away the pensions.

[Lochloosa]

Guest column: States should have option of bankruptcy protection


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2011-02-14/story/guest-column-states-should-have-option-bankruptcy#ixzz1DxKMTXrF

Snip:


A state could propose to terminate some, all or none of its government employee union contracts and establish new compensation rates, work rules, etc. The new law could also allow states an opportunity to reform their bloated, broken and underfunded pension systems for current and future workers.

The lucrative pay and benefits packages that government employee unions have received from obliging politicians are perhaps the most significant hurdles for many states trying to restore fiscal health.

[KamaAina]

1. Why not? Corps have been using bankruptcy for years

to weasel out of their pension obligations, union contracts, etc. Why should states miss out?

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

2. Time for unionized workers to stop accepting benefits like pensions in place of higher pay.

The damn state and local governments can't be trusted to keep their ends of such bargains.

[WinkyDink]

3. Will employees get back what they paid in, hmmm? How about employers?

[gratuitous]

4. Why should the peons get their contractual payments?

Waitresses at the Greasy Spoon don't get pensions! So why should any of the rest of you wage slaves get more than bare subsistence, minimum wages? Oh sure, a contract! Big deal. Contracts don't have to be honored by the powerful; that's why wealthy people have lawyers, and if you didn't choose to be wealthy, how is that Jeb or Newt's fault?

But deferred compensation obligations for the likes of Dick Cheney are practically holy writ. We'll even launch unnecessary wars and commit other crimes against humanity so that poor Halliburton doesn't have to choose between paying Dick Cheney every nickel he was promised and then some. But you greedy state workers, trying to fool everyone by taking lower salaries in exchange for more secure retirements? Not gonna work! We'll just let the states renege on their contract with you, without recourse and without warning. Because the prospect of wealthy people having to pay a few extra pennies tax on the dollar is just too horrible to contemplate.