THE SOLUTION is to stand up to public-employee unions, not bust them.

The misguided conservative push to eliminate collective-bargaining rights for government workers would, in California, actually make it harder to control escalating government debt stemming from unaffordable worker pension and health care benefits.

We shouldn't blame labor unions for advocating for the best compensation they can get. Nor should we blame rich people and businesses for seeking tax breaks that unfairly advantage them. Blame elected officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, who sell out constituents and kowtow to special interests to preserve their political careers. They're not leaders, they're pawns.

Absent public outcry, our elected representatives listen first to those who finance their campaigns. Fortunately grass-roots discontent is growing louder. As voters learn of generous, guaranteed public-employee pension