What do we do with public unions? If we lay off these people it will only add to the unemployment problem, and we still have the debt that their pensions bring.
Is it fair that we force them to lower the amount that they will get when they retire? I mean after all their wages and benefits are part of our deficit spending. While we are at it, what about the members of the Congress. Their wages and benefits are part of this as well. I mean after all the Congress wasn’t formed to be a carrier; it was formed to be an honor and a duty to serve. It was meant to be a short term position.
Consequently the wages and benefits that go to this is part of the deficit as well. If we keep the public unions, our local, state, and federal jobs, as is, they should be brought more in line with the private sector positions. This would include wages, benefits, etc. I feel strongly though that our Local, State, and Federal elected officials should have term limits with set wages, and benefits for the term. In other words; wages should be lowered to match the private sector, and benefits should not include retirement. Medical benefits should be provided only for the term in office. How much would this reduce the deficit if this was in place nationwide?
As far as the public unions go they should be abolished. Government workers should be paid in accordance with the prevailing wage of the private sector with the same type jobs. Medical benefits and retirement should be reined in to match private sector as well. As far as retirement age is concerned, I feel that if a person can afford to retire they should be able to, but I don’t think that by putting 20 years on the job should allow them to full retirement benefits. Most of the American people don’t have this option, and are required to put in 50 years or better before they can retire (based on 18 years old at start of work carrier).
Now I have always been for the individual being able to make whatever he can convince his employer he is worth. However when you enter the public sector for employment I feel this philosophy changes. I mean after all the government doesn’t earn or create wealth, they just spend it. So therefore how can you give someone a raise based on performance, when that performance doesn’t create income? The main thing here is Government doesn’t create jobs, or make money, so if an individual chooses to work for the government they shouldn’t be compensated any more than if they were in the private sector.
