I agree with your agenda except for this old and inaccurate saw.
The old CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) was a union-like defined benefit program (mostly gov't funded and extremely "generous") and was eliminated beginning in 1984 (remember Reagan?). It was changed to FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System.
Under FERS, employees are in the Social Insecurity System the same as everyone else. In addition, they have an employer/employee contribution system called TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) which is the major component of the retirement system. It is basically a 401k plan and is invested in stocks, bonds, etc. at the employee's discretion. It is "owned" by the employee (or his heirs) and not the government. The old "defined benefit" system like CSRS is still there, but was cut w-a-ay back, and is really a minority player in the mix.
FERS is quite unlike most union controlled state and local retirement plans which are gold-plated monstrosities befitting of UAW and other predatory like union systems. It is one of the few smart things the feds have done, along with the federal employee health plan (FEHBP) - which will eventually be coopted and ruined by the ObamaCare monstrosity and made more expensive to the taxpayer as well.
Thank you for the correction and elucidation!
One of the reasons I enjoy the exchanges I experience here is that I can always learn something.