Raison d'être -- is French for "reason for existence" -- which is a heady concept. I'll define this blog's raison d'être for my five six readers, with this post. Many of my posts center on fiscal responsibility.
So when I see a column I agree with as I did today in WSJ by Steven Malanga ("State Politicians and the Public Pension Cookie Jar") -- I share it and talk about it. I hope in a small way, I'll add attention to the generational burden-shifting and recklessness taking place (and it feels good to get gripes out of my system and into a post).
Mr. Malanga focuses on at least one part of a multi-faceted national spending problem -- defined benefit programs for public employees -- better known as public pensions. I didn't understand how costly they are until some six years ago, when a retired pediatric dentist of all people, began to educate me.
I also have misgivings about pension plans in the private sector, but shareholders of those pension-granting organizations choose where to invest their money. Put differently, if a majority of company shareholders wish to tolerate expensive employee retirement and health care plans -- that's their business. Investors can and do vote with their feet. But taxpayers can't sell their shares, or wage a proxy fight. So, public pension reform is my topic du jour (OK, that's it for the French phrases -- I promise).
Fortunately, voters are beginning to wake up and support leaders like Governor Scott Walker and the fiscal reforms they sponsor to curb these budget busters in the public domain.
Someone asked me why I haven't been posting much lately. The answer is I've been busy working and like most working Americans -- trying to add to my defined contribution plan.
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Finally, I'll share another column also found in today's WSJ by Peggy Noonan about Governor Scott Walker's resounding win this week, called "What's Changed After Wisconsin".
Mr. Walker, whom I hope you'll remember -- not recall -- is the first recipient of the Maddente.com MVP Award for public adherence to fiscal responsibility.
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| Fotosearch Image |
So when I see a column I agree with as I did today in WSJ by Steven Malanga ("State Politicians and the Public Pension Cookie Jar") -- I share it and talk about it. I hope in a small way, I'll add attention to the generational burden-shifting and recklessness taking place (and it feels good to get gripes out of my system and into a post).
Mr. Malanga focuses on at least one part of a multi-faceted national spending problem -- defined benefit programs for public employees -- better known as public pensions. I didn't understand how costly they are until some six years ago, when a retired pediatric dentist of all people, began to educate me.
I also have misgivings about pension plans in the private sector, but shareholders of those pension-granting organizations choose where to invest their money. Put differently, if a majority of company shareholders wish to tolerate expensive employee retirement and health care plans -- that's their business. Investors can and do vote with their feet. But taxpayers can't sell their shares, or wage a proxy fight. So, public pension reform is my topic du jour (OK, that's it for the French phrases -- I promise).
Fortunately, voters are beginning to wake up and support leaders like Governor Scott Walker and the fiscal reforms they sponsor to curb these budget busters in the public domain.
Someone asked me why I haven't been posting much lately. The answer is I've been busy working and like most working Americans -- trying to add to my defined contribution plan.
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| Governor Scott Walker / Wikipedia Image |
Mr. Walker, whom I hope you'll remember -- not recall -- is the first recipient of the Maddente.com MVP Award for public adherence to fiscal responsibility.