County Pensions

Politicians and bureaucrats never seem to get it. Your Jan. 8 story about public works Director Thomas A. Tidemanson retiring with a pension that is $35,000 more than his annual salary makes this taxpayer want to vomit. At age 61, he can enjoy the good life for a long time. I’m older than he, am self-employed and have no pension plan.

What private company can afford a pension plan that will pay a retired employee almost $200,000 a year? We have allowed our leaders to pile perk upon perk until the retirement pensions we pay the average government employee are totally out of line.

WILLIAM C. JOHNSTON, Pasadena