General Discussion

dkf

(37,305 posts)

4. The question is should you decide to fund someone else's pension instead of your own 401k.

Wed Jun 6, 2012, 07:36 AM

Jun 2012

In this case it just may be a zero sum game where voting to keep public worker pensions and benefits above your own means higher taxes to you and less ability to fund your own 401k.

I can see where those who are tied to unions may think it is to their benefit to keep unions strong, but for those who have no ties, it is purely altruistic and self sacrificing. That may be too much to expect.

Unions have got to expand their ranks to give more people incentive to support them. They have shrank too much to influence worker benefits.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

72 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

If I can't have a pension and decent benefits why should they? [View all] cali Jun 2012 OP

I think that is basically true... kentuck Jun 2012 #1

because if you work for 30 or 40 years, you should have a pension. cali Jun 2012 #2

Then we need to fight for decent pensions for everyone, drm604 Jun 2012 #3

The question is should you decide to fund someone else's pension instead of your own 401k. dkf Jun 2012 #4

Unions are the backbone of the Democratic Party. drm604 Jun 2012 #5

Don't public worker benefits come out of your taxes? dkf Jun 2012 #7

baloney. how about raising the cap on SS? Now the numbers sure as hell work. cali Jun 2012 #16

Public worker benefits do come from taxes but the burden on an individual taxpayer is miniscule. Cestode Jun 2012 #17

Good point. Also, there are the private Wall Streeters like AIG who have loss underwritten by suffragette Jun 2012 #34

Thank you libtodeath Jun 2012 #11

It still comes down to higher taxes to pay union benefits means less money for my family badtoworse Jun 2012 #18

See Reply #17 above. drm604 Jun 2012 #35

What do you consider miniscule? badtoworse Jun 2012 #37

What is Wisconsin's defense budget? joeglow3 Jun 2012 #41

I think CA is a much bigger issue that WI WinniSkipper Jun 2012 #54

Pension issues in San Diego were not the fault of the union... haele Jun 2012 #63

I didn't say it was the fault of the union WinniSkipper Jun 2012 #64

I know you weren't, but all the push for that proposition was blaming the unions. haele Jun 2012 #70

lots of good info here.. frylock Jun 2012 #65

Public workers earned their benefits, including pensions, in lieu of higher salaries. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2012 #56

Higher prices on food, fuel, health care, etc., mean less money for my family KansDem Jun 2012 #58

I've had union benefits. I've had "employer provided benefits" haele Jun 2012 #62

i don't have kids. why should i pay for the tax breaks you receive for breeding? frylock Jun 2012 #66

It's not like they shrunk themselvees dkf - TBF Jun 2012 #9

No but they spend their money on politics instead of organizing. dkf Jun 2012 #20

politics=organizing TBF Jun 2012 #24

Not if they are fighting for self-preservation against Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #27

Yes they spend alot of money on politics standingtall Jun 2012 #43

Just great libtodeath Jun 2012 #12

Just trying to be reality based. dkf Jun 2012 #22

How about addressing the facts then libtodeath Jun 2012 #29

Ironically, that's the exact justification the GOP is using to blow up SS/MediCare Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #15

Well our job is to figure out how to make it work. dkf Jun 2012 #25

So by that logic, why not drop all pensions for government employees? Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #26

Do you expect to get public services such as roads, high quality education, police, etc. for free? spooky3 Jun 2012 #33

+1 We the people are the government Harmony Blue Jun 2012 #38

this person will be sure to correct if i'm wrong, but i think you're arguing with a trust funder frylock Jun 2012 #69

So he/she buys private police, fire, emergency and other services, and never uses public roads? spooky3 Jun 2012 #71

It may be abstract, but it's not altruism or self sacrifice. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2012 #36

Said it better than I could Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #44

perfectly stated, Jeff dana_b Jun 2012 #51

Funny thing is Dokkie Jun 2012 #55

Or, "If they have pensions, why can't I?" SharonAnn Jun 2012 #61

Because you can have a pension standingtall Jun 2012 #30

So you don't have to step over us marinating on the sidewalk on your way to work? Starry Messenger Jun 2012 #39

I was being facetious, Starry Messenger... kentuck Jun 2012 #67

Sorry, I was in a bad mood last night. Starry Messenger Jun 2012 #72

That's what I thought too loyalsister Jun 2012 #6

We were offered a Pension or 403B HockeyMom Jun 2012 #8

the man giving the presentation got mad? dana_b Jun 2012 #52

Excellent post, nailed it. nt TBF Jun 2012 #10

Union Envy limpyhobbler Jun 2012 #13

wow - it's all right there in one cartoon dana_b Jun 2012 #53

I wrote the following a couple years ago and was lambasted. Maybe now you are ready to hear... magical thyme Jun 2012 #14

This battle in Wisconsin was not all about unions! AllyCat Jun 2012 #31

my misunderstanding, then. I thought Walker's public union busting triggered the recall effort magical thyme Jun 2012 #42

Its really about pitting private workers against public workers. JoePhilly Jun 2012 #49

"An eye for an eye makes the world blind." --Gandhi. nt raccoon Jun 2012 #19

Nail on the head..... a kennedy Jun 2012 #21

Texas has already been there for a good while. ananda Jun 2012 #23

That's what it always comes down to Prophet 451 Jun 2012 #28

Could be. lonestarnot Jun 2012 #32

You raise a good point suffragette Jun 2012 #40

IMO, thats it in a nutshell. HooptieWagon Jun 2012 #45

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, Viking12 Jun 2012 #46

The right-to-workers in Indiana who made your Subaru don't get a pension... Romulox Jun 2012 #47

The problem is that union members only make up sufrommich Jun 2012 #48

I can only tell you this Cali. Puglover Jun 2012 #50

Yes, it's all about the Republicans using ENVY to divide us flamingdem Jun 2012 #57

I think that's it. Also, ecstatic Jun 2012 #59

"They" get them because they negotiated for them and traded off higher salaries. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2012 #60

The corollary to that is... Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2012 #68