Why should those of us who get ZERO pensions get taxed to have "the government" pay out $100,000 a year plus pensions for airplane drivers?

As to the pension funds, the issue is that the stock losses 1999-2002 did serious damage to those funds making the max payouts unrealizable. But not zero. Word up is that the stew...I mean the flight attendants and lower paid folks will get theirs (up to around $45K/yr)but that airplane drivers and middle managers will get a lot less than expected. I believe, but am not sure, that the remaining pension assets get transferred to a govt agency and payouts are made from there.

To score big, work for the state govt. MASSPORT hacks retire at full salary after 20 years with lifetime 100% paid health care. A better deal than teachers who only get 80% healthcare costs paid to age 65, although their pension income is state tax free. And you wonder why the MA Teachers' Assn is always lobbying for higher taxes.