What I see lacking in this article, and all articles in the Denver Post on this subject, is the positive economic impact that retired State of Colorado employees have. Their retirement checks are put directly back into the local and state economies! This is a large, positive significant contribution for everyone's good. It is true that this good comes with a cost to the state, BUT, since state employees are not part of Social Security, AND, anyone who PUTS UP WITH WORKING with the state DESERVES a retirement, the state MUST contribute. And believe me, after working for a long time at DOC, you deserve a retirement! The economic impact of letting PERA fail would be catastrophic. State agencies from A to Z would shut down. Employees would simply walk away from their state jobs. Employees and retirees would lose their homes. Local communities would suffer badly. State employees are NOT over-compensated. Retirement checks are modest for most retirees. No more politics. Fix it, knuckleheads!