Buried deep inside the idea of a government pension is the idea that individuals are incapable of saving for their own retirement. That government needs to care for its people in old age because they won't take the necessary steps themselves.
Questionable assumptions aside, this article and many, many more like it demonstrate that government is incapable of caring for people in their old age, making many of the same mistakes with "investing" that individuals will. From the federal government down, officials have shown no reluctance to raid pensions to fund pet project, resulting in chronic underfunding.
Inflation supplies the energy to keep this toxic cauldron bubbling along. It's not enough to simply "put money aside for retirement." Instead, you need "investments" that will at least keep up with inflation. Savings accounts are out.
Enter investment "advisors," all too willing to tell an individual (or government) what to do - for a fee.
Edit: the downvotes are amusing, but a comment explaining why would be more interesting.