"... it isn't rocket science. It's math ..."  The first thing that flashed on me upon reading the original RG article was that the expense in both (undeniably) hardluck stories could have been easily covered by just one month's PERS payment to a former OHSU physician or a football coach.  

Also not 'rocket science', but neither one of us are holding our breath that a corrupt system of self-interested bureaucrats will trouble itself to alleviate problems in the helot class, eh?  :-/

"... Hint: public education; public infrastructure; public health ..."   Actually, for the most part *public-private* partnerships that function best in vibrant market economies that are adept at producing surplus wealth.   Public-sector bureaucratic functionaries commonly are the least important part of this equation, and might actually be detrimental.  (See Venezuela, or Cuba ...)

"... are you a birther? ..."  Nope.  Are you a lifelong public-sector employee, or, perhaps a spoiled 14-year-old?