Pensions are either a formal contract with employees in the case of Minneapolis unions or legislated social contracts with citizens in the case of Social Security. In the case of private businesses like Bethleham Steel, the government allows them to go bankrupt and violate their pension contracts because the federal government has an under funded insurance plan to provide tax payor dollars to cover part of the breach of contact. The government is the last resort.
Why is it OK for government to break contracts when the times are tough? What happens to a society where contracts are not enforceable? Since there is no apparent movement to adequately fund private or public pensions, how does Minneapolis pay its obligation? Growth of city government employment? That would be a popular idea! It is right up there with even more rapidly increasing property taxes. Additional revenue can come with additional housing units and more small businesses. Large businesses often displace existing tax base and get exemptions from taxes to locate in the city. Their employees will come from all over the Twin Cities and Wisconsin. They are seldom a net gain. They do increase transportation problems. Immigrants have traditionally been the answer to provide growth of tax revenues. They are more likely to start small family and culturally based businesses. However, Minneapolis lacks sufficient liveable housing to accommodate the existing population let alone a rapid influx of new people. Are there affordable rooming houses for singles. The words "affordable" and "housing" are only used together by politicians and satirists. What about transportation from home to work? Bicycling and walking is difficult in December-February and July-August. Buses go downtown or to St Paul. What about health care? There are neighborhood clinics for insured people but limited for working poor or those in even relatively successful small businesses. Can the Minneapolis Public Schools accommodate a needed influx of new English a secondary language students? Will federal funds go away if new Protestant performance standards temporarily sag? If we aren't going to improve our infrastructure, can we make people work longer? Maybe we can work them to death and avoid pensions altogether. Insurance premiums will probably rise astronomically. Life isn't fair. We don't need to make it worse. How do we make it better? With great effort and careful coordinated planning! We probably won't get it exactly right. We need to try. Thanks. John O'Neal Shenanigans Watch Northeast Minneapolis - Holland [EMAIL PROTECTED] REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
