A Pension Recommendation for the California Teachers Association

By Edward Ring
08/13/2020
This week a fascinating article on the website of the Education Intelligence Agency revealed that the California Teachers Association, one of the most powerful labor unions in the world, is itself having labor problems. Moreover, the labor problems they’re encountering are because they’re trying to be fiscally responsible. Setting aside for a moment all the grievances that education reformers...

TAGS: California Teachers Association, CalSTRS, government pensions, pension reform

The Density Delusion

By Edward Ring
08/20/2019
For decades, American workers have watched as their ability to enjoy middle class lifestyles erodes away. Conventional explanations abound. American industry in the immediate aftermath of World War II was uniquely unscathed, and with a near monopoly on global manufacturing, it was able to pass much of the ample profits on to workers. It wasn’t...

TAGS: California, California Environmental Quality Act, Edward Ring, financialization, government pensions, Housing, UC Berkeley, United Nations

The Credibility of Public Service

By Edward Ring
11/01/2016
California’s government unions are nothing like private sector unions. Their bosses are selected via elections where these unions are the dominant campaign contributors. They get their money through compulsory taxes and therefore don’t have to run efficient operations. They run the machinery of government which lets them intimidate their opponents and act as gatekeeper to...

TAGS: government pensions, unionized government, unsustainable pensions

Average "Full Career" CalPERS Retirement Package Worth $70,000 Per Year

By Edward Ring
08/16/2016
“‘What makes the ‘$100,000 Club’ some magic number denoting abuse other than the claims of anti-pension zealots?’ said Dave Low, chairman of Californians for Retirement Security, a coalition of 1.6 million public workers and retirees.” This quote from a government union spokesperson, and others, were dutifully collected as part of Orange County Register reporter Teri...

TAGS: $100K pension club, defined benefit pensions, government pensions, pensions, Transparent California