https://portside.org/2017-12-18/federal-bailout-detroits-pensions

'This has all the markings of a larger game.  The heavy doses of symbolism in the sell-offs and pension cuts serve a number of purposes, and one of the biggest is to reinforce the idea that the United States can no longer afford the financial security of its middle class.

'Next stop, Social Security. The same myths used to push pension fear - changing demographics and worker-to-retiree ratios, "greedy geezers" - will have been subliminally "verified" by these pension cuts.  That opens a door that should remain closed, for sound economic reasons as well as ones of basic fairness.'

Richard (RJ) Eskow, writer,
Senior Fellow - Campaign for America's Future
on the theat to Detroit employees' pensions