Eliminate government worker pensions

There is a lot of talk about cutting expenses to balance budgets in Illinois and Chicago but very little real results.

Taxes and tolls have been increased and there is much in the news about legalized gambling as the silver bullet that will resolve all budget issues. However, little has been done to reduce spending where it would have the most dramatic impact and that would be the Illinois pension programs.

These plans for teachers, policemen, firemen and municipal and state workers are luxurious plans that benefit a select few at a high cost to the majority of Illinois taxpayers.

My recommendation would be to eliminate all pension programs and put all individuals on the federal Social Security program along with 401(k) or 403(b) savings programs.

Everyone would be on equal footing and the amount each individual accumulates for their retirement would be based on their Social Security earnings and how much they contribute to their 401(k)s and 403(b)s. The negative result with this change would be the loss of jobs for those working for the more than 800 pension agencies and boards in the state of Illinois.

Ronald Fuchs

St. Charles