Pam Hartkopf (pamhart5@optonline.net)
  
 

In these weeks and months of dismal reports about political, social and economic issues on the national and world fronts, I would prefer to focus on some of the events that encourage me.

 

    * While Governor Chris Christie has made numerous cuts to NJ’s state programs, he has yet to touch state retiree pensions and health benefits.  I had heard rumors in the spring that Christie would announce in August that retirees in the public system would be required to contribute toward their health benefits.  So far this month, that has not happened, but we must be vigilant.

 

    * On July 30, 2010, a professor at Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, Jeffrey H. Keefe, stated that “public sector workers’ compensation is neither the cause, nor can it be the solution to the state’s financial problems.”  The information was released by a non-partisan think tank.  I have heard and read other statements in support of not blaming the teachers and other public employees for all the state’s financial problems.  We have been an “easy” target for too long.

 

    * Recently Rep. Rush Holt announced that federal monies  are designated for education in NJ and might save as many as 3,900 New Jersey teaching positions.  President Barack Obama signed legislation for the $268 million in emergency funds on August 11.

 

    * Social Security is not in the dire situation that is often reported.  By 2023, Social Security will have a 4.6 trillion surplus and can pay out all its scheduled benefits for the next quarter century.  SS began planning for Baby Boomer retirements years ago.  MoveOn.org reported this and has appeared in print sources over the summer.

 

    * On August 14, President Obama came out against privatizing Social Security because sudden downturns in the stock market could place one’s retirement accounts at risk.  At the same time Republican congressional candidate Ben Quayle suggested raising the retirement age and shifting Social Security payments into private accounts.  As of August 13th, retirement accounts performing on a par with the Dow would have a negative return over the last five years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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