Comments on: Underpinnings for benefits reforms http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/underpinnings-for-benefits-reforms/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:31:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ron Modreski http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/underpinnings-for-benefits-reforms/comment-page-1/#comment-2461 Ron Modreski Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:41:14 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1508#comment-2461 The last comment is correct, we need to reduce the unaffordable "gold level" health care benefits and each member MUST pay more than the current mininal amount most pay. Welcome to the real world in which all of the parents of all of the students teach have to live. Do you understand what helped cause the eventual bankruptcy of GM, Chrysler, and many of their large suppliers? It was an agreement to provide health care services and pensions at levels that any sane high school graduate with a basic understanding of math could determine it was not sustainable. People are living 20-30 years longer in retirement. It is the arithmetic STUPID. Stop tying the relationship that more money produces better educated students. The data does not support your claims. In the last 40 years we have provided more and more money every year with disappointing results. Maybe the model for delivering education is no longer workable and needs to be redesigned with incentives, year around education, industry and education co-developing the contents of the education, internships, and many other ideas. Finally, maybe we need to consider a union free environment, why do highly educated people need someone to represent them? Can't they do it themselves based on performance? The last comment is correct, we need to reduce the unaffordable “gold level” health care benefits and each member MUST pay more than the current mininal amount most pay. Welcome to the real world in which all of the parents of all of the students teach have to live. Do you understand what helped cause the eventual bankruptcy of GM, Chrysler, and many of their large suppliers? It was an agreement to provide health care services and pensions at levels that any sane high school graduate with a basic understanding of math could determine it was not sustainable. People are living 20-30 years longer in retirement. It is the arithmetic STUPID. Stop tying the relationship that more money produces better educated students. The data does not support your claims. In the last 40 years we have provided more and more money every year with disappointing results. Maybe the model for delivering education is no longer workable and needs to be redesigned with incentives, year around education, industry and education co-developing the contents of the education, internships, and many other ideas. Finally, maybe we need to consider a union free environment, why do highly educated people need someone to represent them? Can’t they do it themselves based on performance?

]]> By: Scott Craig http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/underpinnings-for-benefits-reforms/comment-page-1/#comment-2462 Scott Craig Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:30:31 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1508#comment-2462 Speaker Dillon's health care proposal for teachers and school employees is disingenuous. The promised savings due to an economy of scale are largely already realized by MESSA, which insures 45% of educational personnel in the state. The real "savings" that Dillon seeks is to cut educator's health care benefits and to make them pay more of their premiums, while denying them the right to bargain. There is only one way to view this, Dillon is calling for pay cuts for all teachers and educational employees in the State of Michigan. How does this support our long-term need to improve Michigan's educational system? Speaker Dillon’s health care proposal for teachers and school employees is disingenuous. The promised savings due to an economy of scale are largely already realized by MESSA, which insures 45% of educational personnel in the state. The real “savings” that Dillon seeks is to cut educator’s health care benefits and to make them pay more of their premiums, while denying them the right to bargain. There is only one way to view this, Dillon is calling for pay cuts for all teachers and educational employees in the State of Michigan. How does this support our long-term need to improve Michigan’s educational system?

]]> By: Retiree http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/underpinnings-for-benefits-reforms/comment-page-1/#comment-2463 Retiree Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:56:31 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1508#comment-2463 OK, as a retiree I'll admit my pension and health benefits are part of the problem, and that in the larger scheme of things, it would be fair to reduce my income and/or benefits to help Michigan out of this economic crisis. What I would ask in return, since I and many others will have to go back to work, is to stiffen laws and penalities about age discrimination. Give us a fair chance to do work that we can do quite ably, and to earn a decent living. This seems only fair in light of the fact that the state would be breaking its contract to provide pension and health benefits if we would retire. OK, as a retiree I’ll admit my pension and health benefits are part of the problem, and that in the larger scheme of things, it would be fair to reduce my income and/or benefits to help Michigan out of this economic crisis.

What I would ask in return, since I and many others will have to go back to work, is to stiffen laws and penalities about age discrimination. Give us a fair chance to do work that we can do quite ably, and to earn a decent living. This seems only fair in light of the fact that the state would be breaking its contract to provide pension and health benefits if we would retire.

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