Just remember: promoting class warfare is bad, except when you're warring on the working class:

Seattle pensions give early retirees benefits much more generous than they have earned... This is a fine benefit, but most taxpayers will never have such a benefit themselves. That is a fairness problem.

Uh-huh. And you know what other benefits most taxpayers don't enjoy? Mercer Island waterfront homes. Custom-crafted tax breaks. The rare privilege of inheriting a daily newspaper and then running it into the ground.

That is a fairness problem.

I'm guessing that the Seattle Time's recent obsession with editorializing in favor of slashing public employee pension benefits has something to do with the shoddy job Frank Blethen has done managing his own employees' pension fund. Total speculation here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Frank attempt to use contract negotiations or bankruptcy in an effort to skip out on a big chunk of his pension obligations. And when he does, don't be surprised if he offers an excuse somewhat like this:

This is a fine benefit, but even public employees will never have such a benefit themselves. That is a fairness problem.

Note to elected officials: Frank Blethen is a crappy businessman! Don't take financial advice from this man!