jjj Read your response and the first thing that caught my eye: "What has hurt the system the most is where the employee somehow gets 5 years of salary jacked up...by either a new job /promotion at univ, or friend giving them a raise."
Definitely agree with your statement but believe it happens to those at the highest level. Don't believe the average state employee, teacher, etc., -- even if employed for 25, 30 or more years -- got that kind of farewell boost. Whereas the private sector is overloaded with buyouts, severance packages, and golden parachutes which eat up more of a corporation's profits than the rank and file.
My second thought was this person actually appears to understand all this crap......wonder if I could get him to invest what little free money I have?
My third thought was you'll never get elected because you're too honest.
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LOL, thank you for the response.... I have no intentions of running for any office because I am too analytical and too honest.

One of my students in January had some money to invest in the stock market. I told him put it all in NFLX at 110. He didn't listen because he felt that the price of 110 was way to high.....he wanted something something at 5$ a share ,which is stupid thinking. By May, NFLX is at $140 and he lost half his money on some penny stock bs...my advice to you is NFLX, and PI.
And no, I do not teach in the finance department....