To the editor:

Special interest is, perhaps, the most damaging to our democracy of any one item. Special interest is everywhere –unions, race, industries, ideologies, etc. One excellent example is government employee unions.

Chicago leads the nation in driving a state (Illinois) almost single handed into a debt they can never pay off. They contrived a benefit for government unions that has driven the whole state into an impossible financial position. Chicago is totally controlled by Democrats and their primary special interest is large enough to turn an election. They have gained the power but mortgaged the state to do it.

Illinois’s state-managed pension system debt is $313 billion. Employees hired before 2011 average $2 million of retirement benefit. Their contribution is less than 6%. Also, they retire in their 50s. That means that many will be retired longer than they have worked. There are many government employees in Chicago as the $313 billion debt can attest.

Illinois spends 19% of its budget on pensions vs. an average by other states of 4%. In the last 22 years, Illinois pension spending has grown 584%.

Illinois is not alone in its effort to capture the state government employees’ voting support. Even though the average is 4% there are many states that are in serious trouble for the same reason. It is overwhelmingly tempting for some politicians to give unrealistic benefits to a big and faithful special interest.

Consider all the special interests and how much they receive through invented handouts. Debt is not the only cost. Crime is mostly a result of the special interest strategy. Inflation is due in large part to a special interest strategy. The list goes on. Politicians provide benefits to their faithful constituency at a massive cost to America.

No surprise. Power is an addiction for many and they will sacrifice America to keep it. Even the White House uses it. Build Back Better was an unprecedented benefit to special interest groups and just the first-year cost was estimated to be $1.7 trillion. America was saved when two conservative Democrats would not go along with it.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the politicians had to contribute their net worth when we don’t have enough money to pay for their handouts!

John Benedict

Cape Coral