I am with you Mark Elliott! Could not have said it better and by judging what all of my long time friends say, they feel much the same way.  Take it a step farther and make all Alaska State employees cash out what ever they have in their pensions and end them.  The people of Alaska should not be paying for their retirements.  401K's good enough for the common Alaskan, good enough for them!  They can also buy their own health care just like I do and just like the majority of Alaskans.  It is time to stop the madness of the Citizens of Alaska footing the bill for all State employees.  Term Limits NOW!