Buckeye Institute: Pension reform could save billions

Press Release:

Pension Reform Could Save Billions

The Buckeye Institute released an analysis of Ohio's state pension using the transition trend data from Michigan after it switched from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans for new state workers in 1997. The analysis shows that Ohio could see budget savings up to $6 billion over the next 30 years by shifting new employees to defined contribution plans, while still providing workers with decent pensions.

To view the report click here.

Don't worry - be happy! Government is here to help

"A socialist is somebody who doesn't have anything, and is ready to divide it up equally among everybody." ~ George Bernard Shaw

If the ever-constant move toward a socialistic government is enough to make you cry, don't worry! Government has a solution to that as well.

From the Drudge Report:

NANNY STATE: GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO WARN OF SADNESS/CRYING OVER ECONOMY
Mon Mar 30 2009 18:43:56 ET

The U.S. government is set to offer an online emotional rescue kit!

"Getting Through Tough Economic Times" will launch Tuesday with a media push across all platforms.

The site is meant to help people identify health concerns related to financial worries.

The feds will warn of depression, suicidal thinking and other serious mental illnesses. It will raise warning flags for: Persistent sadness/crying; Excessive anxiety; Lack of sleep/constant fatigue; Excessive irritability/anger.

The guide will be available starting at midnight at http://www.samhsa.gov/economy.

The site is live now and it offers such advice as: "Trying to keep things in perspective - recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future."

See? Government actions drive you to the brink and waiting there is ... government! Because without a government website to help you identify health concerns, you wouldn't know you had them. And, true to form, government will offer solutions, because without government, you wouldn't be able to seek solutions on your own.

And if you are not one of the ones suffering distress over your financial conditions, you can help, too!

Encourage community-based organizations and groups to provide increased levels of mental health treatment and support to those who are severely affected by the economy.

Yep, because as government continues to spend us into oblivion, increasing debt beyond understanding, it will create more distress among the citizens, resulting in more need for government spending to help us recover from the travails inflicted upon us by government.

It's a never-ending circular trap. It's a good thing government has the issued covered.

Three ideas about the government's bailout

First, Leslie Carbone reports on the House Republican Study Committee's "Ten Conservative Concerns" with the bailout plan.

I think one of the biggest questions raised is what if?

4) What if it fails? The plan does not give any consideration to what would occur if this authority failed to solve the current crisis. Those reasons could potentially include risk from other private sector failures outside of mortgage-backed assets, international financial services failures, lack of willing sellers, lack of willing buyers, an understatement of the depth of the problem or the financial commitment needed to abate it, or even the fact that the program might work according to planned but produce no beneficial impact.

Leslie has the complete list.

Second, The Heritage Foundation says that any bailout must (1) restore the markets and (2) protect the taxpayers. They also call for any legislation to be free of other programs, projects and pork. They give a good analysis of the good and the bad in the current proposal, along with proposals that should NOT be included as Congress goes forward.

Third, we have this post, The Bargain for the Bailout, on The Next Right. Author Ironman speculates that, despite issues with the bailout, both Republicans and Democrats may find it impossible to vote against it. So he recommends some 'conditions' upon which to base a vote.

Some prominent Democrats must demonstrate a level of responsibility for this disaster before Republicans allow themselves to be roped into looking like die hard Dubya loyalists.

The quid: The chairman of the Senate and House Banking Committees---Chris Dodd and Barney Frank--must relinquish their chairmanships as a condition for Republican yes votes on the bailouts.