“Why not also add a question about pension reform?

Here is the entire offering that we read in today’s Chicago Tribune – we borrowed a few of the author’s words in the above title and offer a few of our own words at the end.


"Pension reform must be part of fix"

"Regarding your editorial from May 28, “’Let the people vote’ on pension reform too,” I think this is a very powerful statement. I agree that the issue of the $133.5 billion unfunded pension obligation affects everyone in the state either directly or indirectly. Lawmakers in Springfield have agreed to put the question of income tax on the ballot in November 2020 asking people directly if they support moving from a flat income tax to a graduated one.
Why not also add a question about pension reform? Keeping the status quo is obviously not working in Illinois. I applaud Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s efforts to overhaul the state income tax system, but I think we need to go beyond that and give residents the chance to vote on modifying the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause.

I think the idea of adding a modification to lower the annual cost of living adjustments from 3% to 2% or even 1% makes sense. At this point, everyone in Illinois needs to step up and start to compromise. Is it better to have a secure pension that increases 1% a year, or have an unstable pension that might go away? We can all play a part in helping Illinois manage its budget in a more effective way.

To many of my 17-year-old peers, the issue of pension reform and income tax rates may seem irrelevant, but we will be the next bloc of eligible voters next year and it is critical that we pay attention to all the changes happening in the state. Staying involved is a lifetime skill. The more people who know about an issue, the better the chance that people will act for this change.

— Elizabeth Messerschmidt, Barrington

For online-exclusive letters go to www.chicagotribune.com/letters."

This young woman gets it - we old farts don't.   We are doing to our kids and their kids what was never before done in America - sticking our kids and grandkids with unrepayable amounts of DEBT.