Politicians created teacher pension problems

I think the media has wrongly labeled "teachers" as receiving hefty, six-figure pensions. The recipients of these big pensions are superintendents and administrators, not teachers. Although some school districts have a higher pay level than others, most teachers are not receiving over $100,000 in pensions.

Sure, teachers work hard, but so do 90 percent of American workers and parents of the children who are in the school system. We all work extremely hard for our money and even have to work through summer, the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays, Spring break and snow days.

So let's not go there. However, the critical problem is not the teachers pay, pension, workload or schedule, it's that the politicians "legally" stole money from the teacher's pension for years - $1.4 billion. Yes that's billion! "Oh sure, we'll pay it back" they have all said. An analogy would be if a CEO of a company took $1.4 billion out of your 401(k). How far do you think that would go? The CEO would be in prison.

If these politicians had to run a company they would all be fired for disastrous and inept management. And, by the way, the taxpayer money-well has dried up. Don't ask us to pay back the $1.4 billion you promised to pay back. How about we pay back the $1.4 billion out of the politician's pensions?

Sadly the most hurt by all of this will be our children, cutting sports, extracurricular activities, and larger classroom sizes. More than health care, we owe it to our children to have the best education we can provide. So, Mr. Governor, let's bail out our children. And find a way to do it other than dipping into the taxpayer money-well. Create a solution; you had a good education didn't you?

Tim Lavin

Hoffman Estates