In the 12th episode of “Travels With Charlie – Vermont Politics in Real Life,” host Charlie Papillo discusses Vermont’s growing pension crisis with economist Art Woolf and David Coates, retired managing partner at KPMG.
As Charlie and his guests beat the drums at Soli Music in Essex Junction, they talk about what needs to be done to address the state’s $4.5 billion pension and retiree benefits debt.
Image courtesy of TNR
One of the problems is that our schools no longer teach home economics. And not the traditional kitchen management, pie baking that typically comes to mind. Perhaps Art and Dave can lobby K-12 educators to teach kids how to balance a checkbook, open a savings account and manage a personal budget. After all, as long as we’re spending $20K per student annually anyway to teach these kids, perhaps we could give each student just $100 a year to invest. Even if they lose it all, oh – what a lesson that would be. I’m sure it wouldn’t be long, though, before they all figure it out and start managing wisely. Then we’ll have better candidates for the Vermont legislature too.
The current VT state pension (and health) system is unsustainable. It’s just that our politicians do not have the guts to stand up and: 1. Say so. 2. Fix it.
Everyone else out there has to save for retirement through a 401(k) plan which certainly can work with a little help such as an employer contribution at some level.
Amazing, amazing…well done, well done. These two guys need to be in leadership positions. Well done Charlie…..
Our legislature is comfortably numb….
(as sung to the Vermont legislature via pink Floyd)
Hello, Hello, is there anybody in there? Nod if you can hear me? Is there anybody in there. Just the basic facts…..can you show me where it hurts?
It’s our pocket book!!!!!
Yet our legislature it totally addicted to what they have become addicted too, under the false premise that the tax money we send every second of every day under force of foreclosure and garnish of wages is FREE, they are addicted to “FREE MONEY”, it happens on the local levels too, talk Grant money to any selectboard member it’s no different.
It’s worse than drugs, you can’t get these people off it, regardless of how reasonable or sane the argument is. These guys are talking about a completely easy proposition that hurts nobody!
Vermont has an addiction epidemic. Great video, great video. Enjoy the music, we have become comfortably numb.
https://youtu.be/_FrOQC-zEog