If you look at things that really affect people's lives - sport the arts charities - they were always at the back of the queue for government money - health social security defence pensions were all way ahead. And each of those areas - sports the arts the lottery - got relatively petty cash from the government.

I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative a centrist or a liberal Democrat - that doesn't think that it's important to have quality jobs that pay decent wages so that families can support themselves so that they can have the dignity of being able to afford health care put money aside for pension buy a home.

One state retiree 49 years old paid over the course of his entire career a total of $124 000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500 000 for health care benefits - a total of $3.8m on a $120 000 investment.

We cannot continue. Our pension costs and health care costs for our employees are going to bankrupt this city.

They said it was impossible to touch the third rail of politics to take on public-sector unions and to reform a pension and health benefits system that was headed to bankruptcy. But with bipartisan leadership we saved taxpayers $132 billion dollars over 30 years and saved retirees their pensions. We did it.

There is nothing inherently fair about equalizing incomes. If the government penalizes you for working harder than somebody else that is unfair. If you save your money but retire with the same pension as a free-spending neighbor that is also unfair.

I don't have a dime left. I am dependent on my friends for food and a small old-age pension.

I like eating out. I like buying beautiful paintings and being surrounded by beautiful things. I have to finance that life. I can barely afford a pension scheme because I don't make enough money.

I have a fear of poverty in old age. I have this vision of myself living in a skip and eating cat food. It's because I'm freelance and I've never had a proper job. I don't have a pension and my savings are dwindling. I always thought someone would just come along and look after me.

A retired teacher paid $62 000 towards her pension and nothing yes nothing for full family medical dental and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215 000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime.