[Hugh R]

I have no problem with what police and fire get paid, especially police. I have a problem with lucrative pensions that allow police and fire to retire at 50 and pension rules that allow them to collect pensions that are way out of line with what corporate America pays in pensions. Granted pensions in corporate America are going away, but most certainly don't pay anywhere close to 100% of your last salary. When a government employee is allowed to retire at 50 you double up on the salary burden for about 15 years, 1) you pay the retiree, and 2) you pay his/her replacement. This is why cities are declaring BK. And who gets screwed by these stupid contracts, the public who has to pay, the city which goes BK, and the retiree, who is going to get his/her pension adjusted downwards. Nobody wins except the lawyers negotiating the BK.

Oh, and the politicians who have gotten the campaign contributions and maybe are still there, or moved on to another elected gig they have profited and left a troubled legacy.