10-22-10, Sue Sarkis Comments on Lawmakers’ Pension Reform Talk

“Lawmakers talk pension reform following the Bell scandal” doesn't even touch the surface of the changes that need to be made.  I'm against "collective bargaining".  I'm against the outrageous salaries these civil service workers are being offered.  It's all a big fraud perpetrated upon the stupid voters who are too dumb to realize they are being screwed.

Civil service employees were intended to be paid a considerable amount less than their private sector counterparts, not more.  The reward for their years of service and sacrifice was that the taxpayers would support them for the rest of their lives including pension, health, etc.  Now they are paid more, do less, and retire way too early compared to their private sector counterparts.

I'm dead set against the 50 year age allowed for retirement.  That is a truly unfair advantage to their private sector counterparts who get financially punished after running their own businesses successfully for 25, 30 and 35 years and being undercut by these allegedly retired people who charge a lot less per hour as they have no staff, have minimal overhead, and it is mere pocket change for them rather than being needed to pay their bills.