Retirement problems falling on taxpayers
To the Editor,
The Sentinel had an editorial on the public sector retirement problems. It was short on what to do and did not mention that health benefits are less funded.
The legislature did not have good oversight over CALPERS and CALSTRS. For more than 10 years neither fund met their projected return rates. To cover up their oversight they passed a bill that holds the taxpayers responsible for making up any short falls. Public sector workers are a small part of the work force.
The legislature will not cut the benefits in order to rectify their problem. The voters should pass a proposition that rescinds taxpayers from making up the difference. Sacramento needs to fix their problem, not pass it on to us.
Bill Beecher
Aptos
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Oppose inclusion of postal reform in year-end legislation
To the Editor,
As a member of the federal community who served our country for years, I am concerned with an attempt to force current U.S. Postal Service retirees onto Medicare Part B, after they previously declined this coverage. While hailed as a way to improve USPS’ finances, this is nothing more than balancing the books on the backs of seniors.
Why should retirees, who spent their careers serving this nation, be forced to pay an additional $134 per month, or more, for health coverage they previously deemed unnecessary? Mandatory Medicare Part B coverage was never part of the agreement made upon employment, and it should not be forced on any postal retiree, especially retroactively.
Congress is currently attempting to fix the Postal Service’s problems by shifting costs to Medicare. I urge our legislators to reject the current postal reform bill, H.R. 756. Retired postal workers proudly served our community and promises to them should be kept.
Marvin Chow
Salinas
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Why our country is broke
To the Editor,
Mr. Trump takes a lot of flack over Mickey Mouse things that don’t amount to a hall of beans. My sister Nina said, “I can’t stand to look at that man, let alone vote for him.” I guess most women go by looks. If Pee Wee Herman was president and doing a good job, looks should not be an issue.
The same people that criticize Mr. Trump don’t give him credit for taking out Assad’s chemicals and tax reform. I believe he has Ding Dong Kim afraid to ever fire a missile. There’s something fishy about what happened in Hawaii. I believe it was a drill. No missile.
Well, the government is broke again and I’ll tell you why. The companies that make the hardware for the military have all the pesos. The F-14, 15, 16, 17, 18 were great planes but we have to have a plane that will take off vertical, the F-22 Raptor. Those cost about a billion apiece. The F-16 Falcon is the best of them all. Israel bought 100 of them, and are flown by the Blue Angels.
My brother Jim said all we have to do is borrow more yen from China. I said the interest and payments must be humongous. He said, “no big deal. Did you ever hear of a country repossessing another country like you would a car?”
Way back when I was able, on my way to Florida I stopped by Fort Knox where they store the gold. There were a number of guards there. I asked a guard if there was any gold in that building. He didn’t understand English and didn’t understand Chinese.
Anthony Ivelich
Freedom
