yeah that's all fairly reasonable for you, and I certainly don't begrudge you that choice at all.
I still think it is pretty crazy to judge people for being upset when their benefits system that they had nothing to do with setting up or choosing goes bad. The fact that I was born and raised in Kansas determined that I was probably going to get a job in Kansas. For nearly everyone this is the case, so acting like people have all these choices and that they are using this as rational, when in reality that isn't what is going on. I shouldn't get credit for lucking in to a good system.
I don't judge people for being upset. I'd be pissed too if I was in that situation. However, I in no way support bailing out state pension systems with federal funds. And if I was a taxpayer in those states with failing pension systems, I would in no way support higher taxes to support the pension systems.
Like I said earlier, I can see guaranteeing individuals in those pension systems benefits that are comparable to what they would have received through Social Security if they are in a system that opted out of Social Security. I think that is fair. However, anything above and beyond that, I wouldn't be in favor of. My position is that if you believe promises that are too good to be true, don't get too upset when they turn out to not be true. If you are currently a part of a pension system that is in bad shape, you should be planning and saving based on that information. The information is widely available and you can't claim ignorance at this point. If you don't like the situation, have some agency and make a change. I'm forced to be a part of a retirement system I wish I could opt out of (Social Security). Rather than dwell on how terrible of a return I get from it, and how much I'd like it to go away, I take it as a given and make plans accordingly. If I could opt out of Social Security when I am 40, and let Social Security keep all of the taxes I have paid over my lifetime (it would be 27 years of taxes at that point), I would do it in a heartbeat. Even if it meant I had to save the 12.4% that goes into it on my behalf in some sort of retirement account, that would be fine. In terms of opting out, I mean Social Security would never owe me anything and I never pay in again.
In terms of you lucking into KPERS, I guess I don't attribute as much of the results of life to luck or things beyond my control. I also wonder how many people around the country would agree that you are lucky that you were born and now work in Kansas. Don't get me wrong, it is where I want to live and work and don't ever plan to move away, but I don't think a lot of people share that sentiment.