LET ME GIVE TWO MORE EXAMPLES OF PENSION JUSTICE BY LOOKING AT CURRENT NEWS. AMERICAN AIRLINES GOING INTO BANKRUPTCY TO SHED ITS PENSION AND WAGE AGREEMENTS. LOOK AT DELTA TO SEE A CORPORATION THAT WENT THROUGH BANKRUPTCY AND IS NOW MAKING BILLIONS IN PROFIT. IS IT REQUIRED TO TAKE THOSE WORKER'S PENSIONS OUT OF THIS GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHERE THEY ARE LITTLE MORE THAN MEDICAID IN MANY CASES? NO. THE BANKRUPTCY LAW ALLOWS THOSE PENSIONER'S LOSSES TO BE PERMANENT. THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE AND A DEMOCRATIC SUPERMAJORITY WOULD HAVE CHANGED CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY LAW IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE.....IF THEY WEREN'T CORPORATE POLITICIANS. DID YOU HEAR YOUR INCUMBENT SHOUTING TO PROTECT RETIREES AFTER THE CRASH? THEY'LL TELL YOU THE LOSSES WILL BE MADE UP OVER THE LONG-TERM......NOT IN THIS BOOM AND BUST ECONOMIC STRUCTURE!
VOTE FOR A WRITE-IN FOR CARDIN, SARBANES, AND CUMMINGS THIS NOVERMBER!
VOTE YOUR INCUMBENT OUT OF OFFICE!!!
Public Union Pensions
Below you see a well-defined comment supporting unions. I always say it is the baseline for the re-building of the middle-class. I will add that the idea government employees and their education level makes a difference is making this issue so heated. The real point that we never hear is that these pension obligations were deepened by criminal activity and as such need to see penalties brought back to the trusts before cuts take place......these politicians are not even thinking this. IF WE LET THEM TAKE OUR RETIREMENTS WITHOUT DEMANDING JUSTICE, THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.....THE FRAUD BECOMES SYSTEMIC. AS WAS SAID AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND LAW SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM, IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO COMMIT FRAUD IN ORDER TO COMPETE.
First let me say that I am not a City employee nor anyone in my family. Now, I would like to address your points.
1.This suit is not "City employees" but Police Officers and Fire Fighters. These men and women do have college educations, many with advanced degrees in addition to the specialized training they receive throughout their careers. Some even teach at colleges and universities. These are very intelligent people. A dummy can't learn what they need to know.
2.They don't contribute to Social Security and will not be eligible to collect Social Security benefits. These pensions are the only thing that will keep them off the welfare rolls when they reach 65 because they can't afford to invest in 401K's.
3.Again, these well-educated, well-trained people do have other options. They could work for one of the County forces where their pay would be considerably higher and their pensions fully funded. They chose to put their lives and safety on the line to protect and serve the people of Baltimore because they care about the citizens and this City.
4.They need to retire after 20 years of service because at that point, they are no longer capable of doing their job. If your house is on fire, would you want a 64 year old fire fighter, who has terrible arthritis because of all the falls and abuse their body has taken, swinging the ax, wrestling with a 2 1/2" hose or carrying you from the burning building in an attempt to save your life and property? Or would you want the police officer who responds to your call for help to be too old and weak to be able to physically control the 20 year old attacking you?
They do work long hours and most have part-times jobs on the side because they can't support a family on their salaries. Just check their websites for pay scales.
Remember the blizzard? They weren't home drinking cocoa and watching movies. They were working, sometimes days at a time, to protect this City. Or, how would you like to work on a fire ground, wearing over 50 lbs. of equipment, for hours at a time in 95 degree heat? Or have drug dealers shooting at you?
Did you forget 9-11 and all the fire fighters and police officers who didn't hesitate to run into that inferno? They will run into a building when the rats and roaches are running out, or get between you and a bullet. And they never hesitate. They are the true heroes, not some glorified athelete or movie star making millions. Were is the rant about that?
No, they won't leave and not because they have it so good but because they are dedicated to their jobs.
Not only do they desire their pensions, they also deserve our gratitude
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WHAT WE SEE BELOW IS A STATEMENT FROM MARYLAND STATE PENSION FUNDS. JUST AS WITH THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY HANDLING CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY PENSIONS WE SEE LOSSES OF 40%.....THAT INCLUDES THE 20% IT SHOULD HAVE MADE AND THE 20% LOST BEYOND THAT. IT TOTALS BILLIONS LOST.
AGAIN, YOU SEE JUST AS THE COLLAPSE IS GOING TO OCCUR IN 2008, 2007'S INVESTMENTS ARE LEFT FULLY INVESTED IN WHAT WILL BE THE RISKIEST, HARDEST HIT....EQUITIES AND REAL ESTATE. WE WERE READING IN THE NEWSPAPERS IN 2006 THAT THE ECONOMY WAS A HOUSE OF CARDS READY TO CRASH AND WE KNEW HOUSING AND EQUITY WOULD BE HARDEST HIT. SO WHY DID THESE PROFESSIONALS LEAVE THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE MARKET? THEY WERE THE CRUTCH OF LAST RESORT AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE USED AS SUCH. SO THESE INVESTMENTS WILL ALWAYS LOSE MORE THAN THEY GAIN IN THE LONG-TERM DUE TO BOOM AND BUSTS. YOU MAY AS WELL HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK........IF IT PAID INTEREST! DEMAND BERNANKE STOP HIS POLICY TO PUSH US INTO THE MARKETS!
IS YOUR INCUMBENT OUTRAGED OVER FEDERAL RESERVE'S BERNANKE POLICY!!! IF NOT THEY ARE HANDING YOUR FAMILIES FUTURE TO THESE BANKSTERS!
MARYLAND STATE RETIREMENT AND PENSION SYSTEM
The market value of
System assets increased from $34.4
billion on June 30, 2006 to $39.4
billion on June 30, 2007. The System’s
equity investments returned
23.0%, with domestic equities
returning 19.8% and international
equities returning 29.6%. The
System’s fixed income investments
returned 6.1% and real estate
returned 20.1%.
Looking forward to fiscal year
2008, the Agency will continue to
implement the optimal asset allocation necessary to generate an attractive return expectation while maintaining acceptable levels of investment risk.
MEMBERSHIP
The System’s rolls included 196,262
active members as of June 30, 2007,
an increase of 4,989 members from
the previous year. The System also
served 108,355 retirees and beneficiaries
at the end of fiscal year 2007,
an increase of 4,524 over the previous
year. During fiscal year 2007, the
number of former members who are
eligible for a future benefit (i.e.,
vested members) increased by 2,717
to a total of 52,027.
Investment gains, continued from page 2
respectively.
AFTER THE CRASH:
Declining financial markets significantly affected most of the economic sectors in which the System held investments during fiscal year 2009 producing a
negative weighted average investment return of 20.0%. As a result, the System experienced a $7,355 million net investment loss.
(THIS VALUE IS BILLIONS)
O'MALLEY GAVE THE TREASURY SECRETARY KOPP A 'GREAT JOB' AS SHE DEPARTED THIS YEAR! BO QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS INVESTMENT HISTORY!