If you want a maddening read, Google for "Transparent California salaries" + your city name (I won't link it because they have some of anti-adblock thing going on now) [1]. Many public sector employees have wages that are more than competitive with the 1% of the private sector; after you factor in the incredible benefit of a pension and early retirement, it's not even on the same order.
One problem with government that is usually true is that it can grow, but it can't shrink. This applies to cost, workforce size, and benefits.
We're at a strange turning point right now. Pensions in the private sector have all but disappeared. Pensions in the public sector are alive and well because it doesn't need to be self sustaining, and by running huge deficits it can steal the money it needs today from future generations.
It's pretty obvious that cities and states should start eliminating pensions, but the beneficiaries of those same pensions are the people that need to do that. I'm not holding my breath for the right thing to happen here.
[1] Sorry if you're not in California. Your state/country may have similar open information.
One problem with government that is usually true is that it can grow, but it can't shrink. This applies to cost, workforce size, and benefits.
We're at a strange turning point right now. Pensions in the private sector have all but disappeared. Pensions in the public sector are alive and well because it doesn't need to be self sustaining, and by running huge deficits it can steal the money it needs today from future generations.
It's pretty obvious that cities and states should start eliminating pensions, but the beneficiaries of those same pensions are the people that need to do that. I'm not holding my breath for the right thing to happen here.
[1] Sorry if you're not in California. Your state/country may have similar open information.