Remember who makes up 'the state'

Educators say the pension crisis is because the "state" has not funded their pension obligations. My question to educators/teachers union is who is the "the state". They talk like the "state" is an entity seperate from the state taxes, personal property taxes, sales taxes .

Educators, the revenue is all generated by taxpayers, individuals and businesses. When you want your pension fund fully funded, you are simply asking the taxpayers to pay higher state, property taxes, sales taxes and any other tax or fee the government can dream up.

Let's examine how we got in this situation in the first place. Illinois politicians, especially in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, and Will counties pander to the teachers union and government workers for their votes. The pension promises made to educators were not made with sound financial, actuarial info as to what the costs would be in the future.

The private sector is dealing with job losses, benefits reductions, houses that have lost 25 to 40 percent of their market value, higher property taxes. Educators selfishly think that the private sector should bear all responsibility for the downtown in the economy I could go on and on and on the hits that the private sector sector has taken to their finances, lifestyles, futures.

Let me use a phrase educators always use - "This is for the children." I wrote this opinion because I don't want my child to pay outrageous sums of money to educators who are retired, while my child lives in a world of debt, made possible by pols, state workers and educator selfish interests. Let's remember who makes up "the state."

Robert Melbye

Lisle