. >> i'm a scientist at nrdc. and i'm in "the stream." >> welcome back, and we're talking about chicago's $2 billion pension crisis at the end of 2012 alone. the city's retirement accounts were just 36% funded. for firefighters, some experts say that their funds, which currently support 4,000 retirees, could be dry in less than a decade. tony, many city workers see taking a little less salary while they work, and the payoff is security when you retire. what does this breach of contract between the government and it's employees mean for day-to-day life between you and your colleagues? >> well, we have already gone through -- new hirees will be getting a different benefit. number two, the city doesn't have to pay the workers [ unintelligible ] in the united states, you open up a business in chicago, and i have to pay social security. and pay a benefit pension plan. we're being led to believe by the association and others that we're greedy, and though it's not fair or accurate, and it's not decent. >> the fact that -