I hate everything about this morning's story on the county retirees whose pension benefits were miscalculated by people who are paid very well to do better.To read it, click here. What do you think? If this happened to you, what would you do?
I hate that the oversight of the pensions was so pathetic by the Fresno County Employees' Retirement Association that the mistakes were allowed to go on for years. They went on even when the employees themselves pointed them out. Some people were underpaid; some were overpaid. This is financial malpractice.
I hate that now the retirees -- and even their families if they are dead -- have to pay back at least some of the money, even though they rightfully should. It's going to be a hardship for most of them and it wasn't their fault. They did nothing wrong.
I hate that there is inequity even in the restitution plans, that because some people did the right thing and already paid back everything, they may be hurt more. That's wrong, too.
I hate that dozens of people were also underpaid. How many didn't take that trip to see loved ones because they didn't have the money? How many didn't host that family celebration because they couldn't afford it? How many couldn't help that grandchild with his college tuition? How many didn't donate money to that worthy cause they believe in? How many have delayed home repairs?
I also hate that I don't see any accountability in this mess. What's being done so that this never happens again?
They are being iunfair to the retirees. Thry only knoe ehst they sre told their pension will be snd many retire deepending on that amount. If they screwed up they judt need to eat it and adjust the future payments.
This is in solidarity with Jackie Krage. We the Fresno County taxpayers must eat it because the overpaid pensionsers are not responsible for the Fresno County Employees Retirement Association snafu. I hope the lesson was learned that each citizen has the responsibility to be a quasi government watch dog. And where were we when the County's methodology to calculate pensions was applied.
I would assume that reducing those inflated pensions should be reduced from now on. But is it
legally possible?
I don't know legaleese, but bills of attainder are unconstitutional. Those retirees received pensions that were legal at the time. The repeatedly used exuse that mistaking is human, is malarkey when it goes on for years. And what about those retirees who were underpaid and suffered hardship?
A renowed British American Democracy watcher wrote that the weakest link in Anerican democracy is local government because they are usually the more likely to be corrupt. I would add, and maybe stupid.
And we would be able to save a lot of future retirement pensions if the elected, paid officials would do an 8 hour day without all the [God knows how many] staff assistants.
Most of those position should be eleiminated by attrition.
The president of the United States can't run a swimming pool business on the side while running the country...to name just one I know of from the media.
Gail, if you hate all these things so much, then maybe you should do something about it. Maybe your editorial board, that so wisely tells us who to vote in each election, can do a better job next time.
With the announced layoffs at the Bee and your continued outsourcing, alas, who will tell us who to vote in the next election. Will it be an accented voice twelve thousand miles away?
The problem at the county is endemic and it only takes place at an environment where incompetency is ignored and many a times rewarded.
The old country boy came to visit local government office and was taken by the size of the building. He asked his city friend: How many people work in this big building? And the city friend answered with one word: Half.
So please stop the hating. It is not good for the blood pressure.
Paul Dictos
Is someone just a little bitter about not getting the Bee's endorsement?
Paul Dictos, there is nothig wrong to reiterate for emphasis in the listing of the grievances that were just.
I would not presume to challenge your post, had you not given up certain rights to privacy by being a repeat candidate for elective office.
I am new to post in a BLOG.
Are the responses rationed.
I have good reason to ask the question
RE: Rationing of post.
When I attempted to post my question addressing Paul Dictos; a little thing jumped up letting me know that I have gone over the limit of allowed responses.
But now the post is listed.
Maybe I shall no longer play in Gail Marshall's sandbox.
I too, am a victim of the Fresno County Retirement Board's bungling. When I received a letter telling me I owed the county $10,000 I nearly had a heart attack. It's nice to see that retirement officials are finally acknowledging the overpayments were their fault...lol, but that doesn't change the fact that over half of my retirement check is now being taken out to repay the county. And what really sticks in my craw is that I'm being charged interest on that amount! That's a real poke in the eye!
Every American has the constitutional right of redress. Why not get together and hire an attorney to find a workable solution based on future payments. Unless the receivers of the pensions were knowlingly involved or aware of the calculation formula flim flam.
It is ludicris for them to take the money back monthly from the pensions. These people need that money to live on and paying it with interest is nuts. Who is making the cecisions in this dog and pony show. If it was calculated wrong the retirees wouldn't hsve known that yet they are being treated as though they embezzeled it. Stupid is as stupid does applies here.
This is a response to Isabel Lawson's June 20, 2008 post:
It's been said that "incumbents have it and challengers want it". So the latter run no less times than the former.