Public Pension Term: “Airtime”
This time, let’s look at the popular benefit of “buying airtime”:
Government workers in 21 states are using an obscure perk to retire early or to boost their annual pensions by thousands of dollars, which can cost taxpayers millions more in payments to retirement funds, a USA TODAY analysis shows.
The practice, called buying “air time,” lets state, municipal and school employees pay to add up to five years to their work history so they are eligible to retire and collect a lifetime pension.
Workers already eligible for retirement can buy extra years to boost a pension by up to 25%.
It’s called “air time” because workers buy credit for non-existent work, in contrast to policies that let workers buy credit for military service or government jobs in a different state.
This perk is only obscure to the general taxpaying public.
You bet your bippy it is well-known to the public employees in the 21 states that have some form of it.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Why Public Pensions Are So Rich
Andrew Biggs and Jason Richwine: Why Public Pensions Are So Rich - WSJ.com
"....the average teacher who retires today after 30 to 34 years of service had final earnings of $84,466 and collects a pension of $60,756 a year, plus annual cost-of-living adjustments, providing an income higher than 95% of retirees in Illinois"
"....the average teacher who retires today after 30 to 34 years of service had final earnings of $84,466 and collects a pension of $60,756 a year, plus annual cost-of-living adjustments, providing an income higher than 95% of retirees in Illinois"
Chevy Volt misses first-year sales target
The company reported today that it sold 7,671 Chevy Volts in 2011
"D'olt!"
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The Coming Collapse of China
The Coming Collapse of China: 2012 Edition- By Gordon G. Chang Foreign Policy
Since late September, economic indicators -- electricity consumption, industrial orders, export growth, car sales, property prices, you name it -- are pointing toward either a flatlining or contracting economy.
Money started to leave the country in October, and Beijing's foreign reserves have been shrinking since September
Since late September, economic indicators -- electricity consumption, industrial orders, export growth, car sales, property prices, you name it -- are pointing toward either a flatlining or contracting economy.
Money started to leave the country in October, and Beijing's foreign reserves have been shrinking since September
MOMENT OF CLARITY: Downward Wisconsin
MOMENT OF CLARITY: Downward Wisconsin
We used to make things here in Wisconsin.
We used to make things here in Wisconsin.
Americans Elect: Obama's Third-Party Tar Pit
Articles: Americans Elect: Obama's Third-Party Tar Pit
After qualifying for the ballot in all 50 states, Americans Elect will seek a candidate who will be tasked with grabbing a large portion of the independent, unaffiliated American middle and soft center-right, thereby tossing an otherwise lost cause to Obama.
It is that simple.
"Americans Elect" remember the name and be forewarned!
After qualifying for the ballot in all 50 states, Americans Elect will seek a candidate who will be tasked with grabbing a large portion of the independent, unaffiliated American middle and soft center-right, thereby tossing an otherwise lost cause to Obama.
It is that simple.
"Americans Elect" remember the name and be forewarned!
Rasmussen: Dem party affiliation at all-time low
Rasmussen: Dem party affiliation at all-time low « Hot Air
The real story in this survey, though, is the growing gap between Republicans and Democrats.
The margin in December was 2.7%, the widest margin for all of 2011. Just three years ago, as Barack Obama took office, Democrats had an eight-point edge in affiliation, 41/33.
The new level for Republican affiliation breaks out of the long-held 31-34% range for Republicans.
Not running TO the GOPers.
Running away from Obamanation.
The real story in this survey, though, is the growing gap between Republicans and Democrats.
The margin in December was 2.7%, the widest margin for all of 2011. Just three years ago, as Barack Obama took office, Democrats had an eight-point edge in affiliation, 41/33.
The new level for Republican affiliation breaks out of the long-held 31-34% range for Republicans.
Not running TO the GOPers.
Running away from Obamanation.
Monday, January 02, 2012
New Class At Columbia Focuses On Occupy Wall Street
New Class At Columbia Focuses On Occupy Wall Street « CBS New York
Columbia University will offer a new course for upperclassmen and grad students next semester.
An Occupy Wall Street class will send students into the field and will be taught by Dr. Hannah Appel, a veteran of the Occupy movement.
The course begins next semester and will be divided between class work at Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus and fieldwork that will require students to become involved with the Occupy movement outside of the classroom.
The course will be called “Occupy the Field: Global Finance, Inequality, Social Movement” it will be run by the anthropology department.
Columbia University will offer a new course for upperclassmen and grad students next semester.
An Occupy Wall Street class will send students into the field and will be taught by Dr. Hannah Appel, a veteran of the Occupy movement.
The course begins next semester and will be divided between class work at Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus and fieldwork that will require students to become involved with the Occupy movement outside of the classroom.
The course will be called “Occupy the Field: Global Finance, Inequality, Social Movement” it will be run by the anthropology department.
Gullible Americans
"You say, “Come on, Williams, you’re paranoid.
There are already laws against distracted driving, and it would never come to that!”
Let’s look at some other camels' noses into tents."
Lots of noses under lots of our tents.
Stand and be heard or they will take away every right we have.
It's what they do.
There are already laws against distracted driving, and it would never come to that!”
Let’s look at some other camels' noses into tents."
Lots of noses under lots of our tents.
Stand and be heard or they will take away every right we have.
It's what they do.
Obama Enters The Twilight Zone
Instapundit » Blog Archive » PETER WEHNER: Obama Enters The Twilight Zone.
“We are now reaching the point in which the president is running a truly post-modern campaign, in which there is no objective truth but simply narrative.
Obama’s campaign isn’t simply distorting the facts; it is inverting them.
This kind of thing isn’t unusual to find in the academy.
But to see a president and his campaign so thoroughly deconstruct truth in order to maintain power is quite rare.
The sheer audacity of Obama’s cynicism is a wonder of the modern world.”
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 6:24 pm
“We are now reaching the point in which the president is running a truly post-modern campaign, in which there is no objective truth but simply narrative.
Obama’s campaign isn’t simply distorting the facts; it is inverting them.
This kind of thing isn’t unusual to find in the academy.
But to see a president and his campaign so thoroughly deconstruct truth in order to maintain power is quite rare.
The sheer audacity of Obama’s cynicism is a wonder of the modern world.”
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 6:24 pm
PETA wants highway memorials to cows killed in wrecks
PETA wants highway memorials to cows killed in wrecks - Chicago Sun-Times
An animal rights group wants Illinois to install highway signs in memory of cattle that died when trucks hauling them flipped in two separate wrecks.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to buy the markers, one in suburban Hazel Crest and one northwest of Peoria.
PETA’s Dec. 15 request to the Illinois Department of Transportation contends the signs would pay tribute to the more than 20 head of cattle killed as a result of negligent driving in Illinois in 2011.
An animal rights group wants Illinois to install highway signs in memory of cattle that died when trucks hauling them flipped in two separate wrecks.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to buy the markers, one in suburban Hazel Crest and one northwest of Peoria.
PETA’s Dec. 15 request to the Illinois Department of Transportation contends the signs would pay tribute to the more than 20 head of cattle killed as a result of negligent driving in Illinois in 2011.
Europe cannot save the euro, nor save itself from the euro
Europe cannot save the euro, nor save itself from the euro - Telegraph
The deflated apparatchiks of the EU watch powerlessly as a tragedy unfolds.
The deflated apparatchiks of the EU watch powerlessly as a tragedy unfolds.
2011's Best Sports Photos
In a Snap: The Year's Best Photos
Photographer Mark J. Terrill took his shot of the North Carolina-Michigan State basketball game on board USS Carl Vinson
Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas
Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas - Telegraph
According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in December.
Nearly 500,000 of those were in the six days before Christmas.
It was the highest number ever in a single month, surpassing the previous record set in November.
On Dec 23 alone there were 102,222 background checks, making it the second busiest single day for buying guns in history.
When we lose faith in our government........
According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in December.
Nearly 500,000 of those were in the six days before Christmas.
It was the highest number ever in a single month, surpassing the previous record set in November.
On Dec 23 alone there were 102,222 background checks, making it the second busiest single day for buying guns in history.
When we lose faith in our government........
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