Thanks Cory!

As one of the last group of employees to retire from a Blue Chip corp with a defined benefit plan. I can validate everything you say about DBPs vs 401k. I actually had both when I took early retirement in 2007 and was able to "cash out" my 401k before it crashed and burned. Many of my cohorts decided to hang in there, hoping that 2008 would bring a turn-around. I don't have to tell you how that worked out for them.

Regarding the 1980s push toward Individual vs Corporate responsibility for retirement benefits: an amateur economist and friend reviewed all the financially related bills passed by the US Congress between 1960 and 2000 to garner this conclusion. Most all the bills passed prior to 1981 supported the social needs of the people. Most all the bills passed after 1981 supported corporate profitability and carried an undertone blaming Entitlement Programs for economic woes that followed. He made a strong case for the "blame the victim" strategy we are now experiencing. I guess that is why all of our fiat money now bears the IN GOD WE TRUST slogan. Has all our gold and silver evaporated!?