re: #146 Dark_Falcon

No, I’m not for theft. Illinois already tried raising taxes, and is raising some taxes again. But the money just cannot be raised, and so Illinois is going to default on this obligation is some form or another. Increasing contributions is the least damaging form of default available.

Again, this is not something anyone wants to do, but there is no alternative. Illinois and Wisconsin took on pension obligations that they ended up unable to pay. Yes, there was a time when a tax increase in either state might have greatly mitigated the problems both states faced, but those increases were not enacted at that time, and now it is too late. The monies needed to pay cannot be raised without permanently crippling the state. Gov. Walker recognized this reality last year, as did Tom Barrett. Pat Quinn realized the situation early this year, but has been unable to change the states course due to an unwillingness to take action on the part of the state legislature. But he’s going to keep pushing the issue, because he has no other choice.

If you wonder why the next generation of state employees isn’t quite up to the job, it will be because only the very stupid will work for an entity that abrogates its contracts. So don’t bitch when your vision of public employees becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.