A Pensioner's Perspective

.
The government has said so much lately about about government pensions that I must speak out against the government from a pensioner's perspective. And you must know that I am one that has been accused of bankrupting our government because I have earned a pension.

Many of you were not around, don't or care not to remember the state of our economy during the late 60's and early 70's, so let's refresh. Like today, soldiers (but many more than today) were returning from Vietnam to a place where there were few jobs (10% unemployment), high interest rates, foreclosed homes, and only a glimmer of hope for the future. Many rioted and protested in the streets. A few were set on colleges shooting rampages, and some went into into recluse at hippie communes, and others continued their education.

But 1980, the era was over, and times were good for most everyone. Stocks and real estate were booming. Cars and houses were selling like hot cakes, most everyone that wanted to work, could. And the demand in private industry for engineers, computing, lawyers, and doctors skyrocketed. Anyone with a higher education could name their price, and many did.

Private industry pay rose out of proportion to others. Sick pay, paid vacations, employer matching saving plans, take home cars, retirement plans, moving expenses, severance pay guarantees, and much more were common.

But government needed qualified workers too. So, as time passed, government began to offer perks to compete with the private sector to hire and retain workers because government jobs did not pay that of private businesses. Doctors, needed by the States to run their medical plans or treat prisoners made a fraction of what could be made on the outside. A person with a 6-year upper education named their price and would never consider being a teacher, or cop in civil service. And even a semi-skilled worker (as it was called then) like a heavy equipment operator would never give up his construction job to run a trash truck for the City. And who would ever be a soldier for that pay? The fact was: The government could neither hire, nor retain skilled employees after the 1980's. And some laughed at anyone who worked for the government and believed they were second class for doing so.

But, the government created their own perks in their battle to hire competent workers. Perks and pensions that the people actually voted on and approved. They contracted with the public unions and promised to good provide pensions and such in order to hire people, like me. So, I left my high paying job building military weapons and private jets, took a 40% pay cut, and began a cop job, believing in the end that I would be OK.

And I am OK. No regrets. But not as OK as some of the ones that remained in the private sector. I could have done better had I remained making airplanes, or been a realtor, home builder, crafty car salesman, or smart home builder. I could have been an assembler at GM, or a diesel mechanic, a photographer or a truck driver. But now, those people are chanting that somehow I have earned something that I did not deserve.

Yes, states and the cities claim public pensions hare forcing their bankruptcy. Perhaps so, But the reason they claim they can not pay their obligation was no fault of the pensioner or the taxpayer. You see, like Social Security, public pensions were created by the government. And see, like Social Security, it was the government that failed to fund the plans as they promised. Always diverting their obligated contributions to other areas.

You see, our soldiers, our cops and school teachers, our firefighters, our prison doctors, and our retired elected officials all deserve what they have earned for their lifetime of previous sacrifices.
.