• 56
• 05/16/2010
• Dane Stitts

Mr. Johnson,
You may be of the same ilk who thought Swift's "A Modest Proposal" was serious. You chose to comment on the only thoughts in the tome I wrote that was not serious. I suggest you read a little deeper to catch a tone shift when one occurs. Didn't you comprehend the facts before the satire? I suggest you stop being so reactionary to glib comments like the knee-jerk liberal or conservative that you portend to be, and become one who researches subjects more deeply than those skipping along the surface level of thoughts. Or, perhaps 'twas my fault for being too subtle for you. Let me use an historical example instead. You sir, are in a band of Nero's fiddling around with fiddlesticks, when you should be watching Chinese Vandals and Visogoths who have already broached the "Roman-Bill Gates" even as we speak. There are many programs in California public schools paid for by the Chinese government to teach our children Chinese. This is how Spain conquered Mexico. Research it!

• 55
• 04/14/2010
• Dave Johnson

Dane Stitts, If what you are saying is the case about the government taking money from your retirements, then separate them out as is the case in the private sector. That way the Government can't touch them for their own use. This will eliminate the taxpayers of their burden of guaranteeing this investments. Also how will legalizing Pot help? Do you think that somehow the government is going to be able to effectively tax it or something to gain revenue? This would be next to impossible since everyone could grow it and the gov. would be able to tell what was taxed or what was self grown. Why would any one buy taxed pot if they could easily get untaxed pot cheaper. Besides legalizing drugs has not work out so well for Holland. The cost and increased crime not to mention treatment for those who escalated to hard drugs has has cost them tons. And made Holland research ways of undoing, legalizing Pot. I know that pot is not much worse them alcohol, but it is much easier to produce pot.

• 54
• 04/14/2010
• Dave Johnson

Richard J, You are still not understanding the point that these retirements are guaranteed, by the government, hence the taxpayers. If the investments they are put into don't pan out, the taxpayers make up the difference. Also you have to stop reiterating your union leaders talking points. Of course they are going to pretty up the figures, so as not to stress the members. Beside the Stanford study their are many economist that believe the unfunded liability in California is in the hundred of billions. I'm not sure what advantage it is to Sanford to have the results of this study come out the way they did? Why would they care? And 4.41% return on very low risk investments is a great return, better then in the private sector investing. These are guaranteed retirements, so thus very low or no risk. A fair value to use especially in this economic environment. I say if their investments are doing so well remove them from Taxpayers guarantee and have full responsibility for them good or bad.

• 53
• 04/13/2010
• Bob Johnston

To Steve Forbes,

I feel the need to address your points as they are either disingenuous or untrue.

1. You don't make as much money as an oil rig firefighter - So what? That job actually seems dangerous, why should you make as much

2. Public safety employees don't live as long after retirement - This is a myth, per Calpers you live just as long as everyone else http:// tinyurl.com/yd4p2ep

3. The average salary/benefit package for a firefighter here in my area of Orange County is $175k per year. IS that really not enough for you? Couple that with "3 at 30" and it sounds like a good gig to me.

The fact is that you guys are overpaid and the general public is getting tired of the whining about how you deserve everything you get. There comes a time when the parasite sucks the host dry and we are there. There isn't any more for you to take.

• 52
• 04/13/2010
• Dane Stitts

The above arguments make it easy to see why many believe the U.S. has one of the worst educational systems in the world. Here are individuals, probably products of the U.S. educational system, who use large words to explain complex subjects in ways that de-contextualize the interpenetrating influences and variables relevant to any prediction about California's "unfunded" pension liability. California workers have more money taken by the federal government than we get back. This money has been used in the past to give the first $350 billion dollars in TARP funds to the Deutsche Bank in GERMANY. Over a billion dollars a week to intervene in foreign civil wars. The list goes on ad nauseum. Some believe California's current trouble has been exacerbated by the federal government using California workers as drones to line the hive of the Queen Bees in Washington D.C... Solution: legalize pot; nobody will care about our future, except the Chinese gov't, who is now in CA schools. THINK!!!!!