Hey! Pssst > Pension Fund Problems Worsen in 43 States

Pension Fund Problems Worsen in 43 States
By Laurie MeislerLaurie Meisler

Published: June 30, 2017 | Updated: August 29, 2017

The news continues to worsen for America’s public pensions and for the people who depend on them. The median funding ratio—the percentage of assets states have available for future payments to retirees—declined to 71.1 percent in 2016, from 74.5 percent in 2015 and 75.6 percent in 2014. Only six states and the District of Columbia have narrowed their funding gaps; New York did best, going from 90.6 percent to 94.5 percent. D.C. is now overfunded.

Bloomberg ranked the states by the size of their funding gap. The lower the funding ratio, the more money the state has to come up with to meet its pension obligations.

Arizona Funding Ratio = 60.4 

Link > https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-state-pension-funding-ratios/ 

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Notes: *Figures are for 2017 because New York has a March fiscal year; **Figures for these states are based on GASB Statement No. 25 and have not been ranked.

Source: Bloomberg, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports

Methodology: Bloomberg ranked U.S. states based on their pension funding ratios in 2016 (unless otherwise noted) under the Government Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 67. The funding ratio, which is calculated by dividing each state's aggregated fiduciary net position by its aggregated total pension liability, provides an indication of the financial resources available to meet current and future pension obligations. To assemble these figures, the Bloomberg municipal fundamentals team collected and supplemented data from each state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, a set of government financial statements. Where specific data were missing in the consolidated reported totals, the pension funds were contacted directly. Data are for individual states' respective fiscal year-ends as of the date of publication of the CAFR. Fiscal year-end of supplemental pension reports may differ from the state's CAFR. In 2012, GASB released Statement No. 67, which affects financial reporting for pension plans. Implementation of GASB 67 is contingent upon the pension plan type, and figures are not available for five states. They use FASB 25, the previous standard. Calculated medians exclude those five states.

Design & development: David IngoldDavid Ingold, Mira RojanasakulMira Rojanasakul and Cedric SamCedric Sam

With assistance from: Karen Altamirano

End of British Empire: A Lesson From History for American Imperialism?

What BBC won't tell you about Brexit: Decline of Britain since 1973 EEC ... and only obvious 44 years later?????????????

Published on Feb 28, 2016

Views: 1,381,216

So much for the propaganda - now here's ONE fact - one HAS to laugh - lol
Scots prefer post-Brexit UK to independence, poll finds
The poll's findings suggest that most Scots do not want another referendum on independence despite the EU vote https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/p...

Latest Brexit newshttp://www.911forum.org.uk/board/view...

Bilderberg exposed in Dresden 6. Anglo-American Tyranny to divide Germany and Russia, Manfred Petritsch: Alles Schall und Rauchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pka6P...

What the BBC won't tell you about #Brexit II
Documentary evidence the EEC and EU was designed in 1942 in Berlin by the Nazis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rXox...

German Panzer Banks Crush Greece, Washington Winceshttp://www.strategic-culture.org/news...

Lobbying: the Dark Force' behind the Brussels machinery
Best documentary by far on who REALLY runs the EU
The Brussels Businesshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMuUE...

Here's the next session of Pippa's show (audio only)http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/pr...

Decline of Britain since 1973
EEC & EU as 'soft-fascist' German cartel
Tony Gosling, Pippa Jones
Talk Radio Europe - 26Feb16
No single market
We are meant to be operating under the bloc's Single Market mechanism as an EU member.
The EU describes it as "one territory without any internal borders or other regulatory obstacles to the free movement of goods and services." It's basically meant to stimulate competition and trade, improve efficiency, and helps cut prices.
We are meant to operate as one. Basically, it only works if all countries are identical and work as a hive, like the Borg in Star Trek. That sounds like a Utopian ideal, and it has not worked at all.
At the beginning of September, my colleague Oscar Williams-Grut pointed out that the so-called Single Market has a massive problem – Germany.
German manufacturing is a booming behemoth, while almost every other nation bar Greece is at some sort of low. Britain's manufacturing sector is not he same as it was back in 1950s, and we now depend a lot on imports and exports (I will come to this later).
Greece's rebalancing towards exports has been achieved simply by imports collapsing. All you need to do is take one look at that country and realise there is nothing about that nation that is rebounding at the moment.

At the mercy of Germany
Concerns over the Single Market being a whole load of poppycock are more relevant than ever, especially since the eurozone debt crisis of 2009.
First and foremost, even though we are meant to be part of one big unit, we have no fiscal union to address underperforming areas.
In Britain, for example, London may generate greater amounts of wealth than certain regions in the country. If somewhere like Nottingham was struggling, the money is redistributed to pay for welfare or prop up the local economy. Infrastructure, like new railway lines, could be installed to link cities and create greater connection for people working or looking to expand business.
In the EU, we don't have this. Just look at Greece and the sorry mess it is. Sure, we lend money and force them to gut their country from the inside out, but a loan is not a re-distribution of wealth. Countries that need to devalue their currency to spur exports can't. The bloc is not a "single" anything.

Destroying national sovereignty
Relinquishing national sovereignty sounds a lot like right-wing hooey, but having a look at how the EU has operated in the worst of times hasn't resolved any of these concerns.
Sovereignty is meant to be when a state has the absolute power to govern itself, make, execute, and apply laws, and impose and collect taxes.
Of course, being part of a union means we should all technically share that burden and have a say in what laws are enacted, while also making sure others aren't penalised to the advantage of other nations. It shouldn't be all bad.
Take a look at Greece again. The country has teetered on the brink of collapse so many times, it might as well jump off the cliff. But it can't because it's stuck with loans it doesn't want, that seem near impossible for it to pay back.
The one time it did show some semblance of sovereignty or power was at its referendum on the bailout. The public voted against the extremely harsh (and arguably necessary) conditions in exchange for emergency cash. And we all know how that turned out – an utterly pointless exercise.
All that happened is that Greece wound up owing its creditors so much that they used it against them in their next round of negotiations.

Renegotiations look impossible
The UK doesn't really have much of a say in what happens within the bloc.
Since 2010, the EU has introduced over 3,500 new laws affecting British businesses. "The British Chambers of Commerce has shown that the total cost of EU regulation is £7.6 billion per year,"

Just Like Here > Who's Got A Plan ?

On the rave menu today it's
The Brexit Problem and Pie is always ready

Published on Sep 3, 2017

Views: 11,864

Has anyone got a Brexit strategy?

Business Skills For Artists | Jack Conte

How artists can (finally) get paid in the digital age

Published on Aug 30, 2017

Views: 65,791

It's been a weird 100 years for artists and creators, says musician and entrepreneur Jack Conte. The traditional ways we've turned art into money (like record sales) have been broken by the internet, leaving musicians, writers and artists wondering how to make a living. With Patreon, Conte has created a way for artists on the internet to get paid by their fans. Could payment platforms like this change what it means to be an artist in the digital age?

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

Wink-Wink > District 3 Drama : What's Next?

Trying to get ahead of the narrative - or to state exactly what the narrative will be - within an hour of the "Special City Council Meeting" for a public hearing held on week-day in a work-week before a major holiday when workers have other things on their mind - members of the non-judicial branch of government here in Mesa did pass judgment on District 3 elected representative Ryan Winkle 2 hours and 39 minutes into "a public hearing that started @ 07:30 in the early morning on Thu 31 August of the so-called "determination", Mr. Winkle's public service to elected office was terminated.

Keep in mind this was a DIRECT VOTE by the people who live in District 3 - that's why a DIRECT VOTE BY THE PEOPLE is necessary to fill the position for 18 more months in the term. If past practices of the entrenched political machine are any clue to what 'The good ole' boys' plan to do, they will hand-select a chosen successor for a temporary appointment. In a representative democracy this is not the way it works.

Whether or not the City Charter "allows" a temporary appointment is way off the mark.
It is up to the people who live in District 3 to directly vote for the candidate they choose to represent their interests NOT a temporary appointment

Within one hour - an usually fast time for follow-up to any actions of any kind by the Mesa City Council - where few members of the public even know know what's on the meeting agendas, or even know who represents the districts where they live and vote - the first of two press releases were made online from the City's "newsroom" revealing the plans to replace the popular City Council member after he requested a voluntary suspension from the city council that effectively removed him from performing the duties of office just five months after gaining office in a hard-fought election campaign where he defeated an opponent hand-chosen and endorsed by Mayor John Giles and other members of the entrenched political machine who have exercised undisputed control for generations.

Now that Ryan Winkle has self-destroyed his own public trust and credibility by an incident of getting-caught lying on police body-cam evidence made public during an apprehension for drunk driving, who will take his place to elected office is now up-for-grabs.     

Plans to fill the seat were made public after 4 pm on the same day before noon and after three hours of hearing evidence that the Council voted unanimously that Winkle is no longer able to represent the residents of District 3 and the City of Mesa. 
There's more than a year left in the term of office


WHO WILL BE CHOSEN? ...Will a quick election be held in November 2017 or will someone be appointed for 18 months 


Citizen engagement is missing in the way government functions here in Mesa - faults in the way representative democracy is supposed to work




Two announcements from the City Of Mesa Newsroom

1. Disciplinary hearing results regarding Councilmember Ryan Winkle

 Post Date: 08/31/2017 11:39 AM     

Mesa City Council, at a special meeting this morning, determined that Councilmember Ryan Winkle will forfeit the office of City Council effective immediately as a result of his DUI conviction.
The Mesa City Charter allows City Council to discipline its members in order to uphold the integrity of the office of Mesa City Councilmember. On May 7, Winkle was arrested for DUI and subsequently pled guilty to extreme DUI.
After nearly three hours of testimony, based on all the evidence at the hearing, including the DUI arrest and conviction, Council voted unanimously that Winkle is no longer able to represent the residents of District 3 and the City of Mesa. 

Council to any actions of any kind by the Mesa City Council - where few members of the public even know what's on the meeting agendas, or who represents the districts where they live and vote.
The process to fill the vacancy in District 3 will be announced shortly.

 

. . . less than 5 hour later

2 Mesa seeks to fill temporary City Council seat

Post Date: 08/31/2017 4:01 PM     

District 3 residents interested in serving their community are encouraged to apply for a temporary appointment to the Mesa City Council.
The temporary Council seat term will end in the fall of 2018.
Any voter who has resided in District 3 for a period of no less than two (2) years is eligible to apply.
Applications will be available online beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5 at: http://www.mesaaz.gov/D3application.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
On Thursday, Sept. 21, during the Council’s regularly scheduled study session, Councilmembers will discuss applications and select interview candidates.
The following week, on Sept. 28, the Council will interview the candidates and appoint the District 3 Councilmember during a Special Council Meeting that morning.

The resident appointed to fill the temporary Council position will serve as Mesa’s District 3 representative until a new Councilmember is elected and sworn into office. 
 Elections for a permanent District 3 Councilmember will be held in August 2018, with a run-off in November 2018, if necessary.
 
Office of Public Information & Communication
Contact: Steven Wright, Director
Tel. 480-644-2069 steven.wright@mesaaz.gov

Grand Inquisition @ Mesa City Council Meeting Thu 31.08./2017

 A public hearing with comments of the public excluded???????????????????????????
Mayor John Giles reads from a script prepared ahead of time, and once again can't say what day it is. He opening remarks are filled with confusing contradictions.
Speaking in an imperative voice, does he appear to be impartial and objective in these proceedings?

BUILDING BETTER CITIES > Different Scenarios | Peter Calthorpe

Sprawl is what separates people

Published on Aug 31, 2017

Views: 64,580

More than half of the world's population already lives in cities, and another 2.5 billion people are projected to move to urban areas by 2050. The way we build new cities will be at the heart of so much that matters, from climate change to economic vitality to our very well-being and sense of connectedness. Peter Calthorpe is already at work planning the cities of the future and advocating for community design that's focused on human interaction. He shares seven universal principles for solving sprawl and building smarter, more sustainable cities.

Check out more TED Talks: http://www.ted.com