Pensions like it's 1999: Good Start

Jamo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 01:41 PM

Assright! And just remember SpaceBill, it's the poor that keep government employees working.

BTW, Dan...for the second defn., it's spelled "assinine." You are welcome.

427sharpe · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:05 PM

Some of this conversation has been intriguing, but a simple piece has been puzzling me. In all the give-and-take, it seems to be assumed by some that the American ideal assures equal outcomes. Why is this so? Where did this assumption come from? IF all will recall, the seminal American document assures "Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness." At no time did ANY allusion to assured wealth, life, or happiness get a mention. Why? Because the founding fathers knew that to be successful, it required hard work, dedication, and yes, a lot of luck. Why should we assume that income should be redistributed to 'balance' the scales? Certainly those scales were much further out of balance than today! I have NO problem with Gates, Ford, or anyone else getting huge sums of $...because I want to work to become one of them! Before anyone starts handwringing and gnashing teeth over the plight of the poor, show me what they do to help themselves first! Do they pursue education? Do they keep family units intact to foster better environments? If they do, help them as financially possible! If they don't; screw them because feeding, clothing, and sheltering the shiftless is draining funds from the truly needy and worthy while dragging our society into the toilet.

elmariachi · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

it seems to be assumed by some that the American ideal assures equal outcomes. Why is this so?

Correct. The idea was equal OPPORTUNITY, not financial EQUALITY. The MTV-watching, crack-smoking, iPod buying crowd are too damn lazy to work, so they want it for free. I am the son of a poor Oklahoma farmer, and I am self-made. I resent any notion by any person or entity that all Americans are entitled to free healthcare or a free ride or equal prosperity in the absence of equal effort.

And CalPERS isn't the only one overfunded, there are a few others. This is a good move in my opinion, that is if Cali intends to solve its many financial problems.

The liberals are all about reform, as long as the reform is funded by us capitalist Republican pigs.