Yes, except that fiscal responsibility tends to be incompatible with democrat policies and ideology 
Exactly!
Unions run amok and bloated pensions have contributed greatly to breaking companies and municipalities left and right.
If people want or expect to be paid a stream of income for life, they need to put away a little of their own $ each month into a certain type of annuity that will do such a thing for them, and can even be set up to transfer monthly payments for life to beneficiaries.
Municipalities and corporations cannot be expected to pay workers mid to upper five figures or more for life when they are retiring in their 50s (or even younger) and living many decades.
It wasn't quite as bad many years ago when people were paid $20 an hour to turn screw until they were 65 or 70, then they continued to be paid until they died 5-10 years later. But now they're being paid $40 or more an hour and often living well into their 80s, 90s, or even beyond.