A federal judge has given Delta Airlines permission to end its pension program for pilots.

These guys spent their careers doing a very difficult job with the understanding that when they retired, a comfortable pension would be there for them. Now, they may end up having to start new careers (can anyone say Wal-Mart greeter?) after they become too old to legally pilot an airplane.

I feel for these guys - I really do. They were promised that they would be taken care of in their old age, in exchange for 40 years of dedicated service. Just like so many other people, the mistake they made was depending on other people for their security and for their future.

“Go to a good college and get good grades so you can get a nice, safe, secure job with a large company who will take care of you after you retire.”

Those days are gone.

The only person who cares about you and your future is you, and if you’re in a position where you are riddled with debt, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and depending on your company to take care of you in your old age, you’re playing a very dangerous game.

If you’ve been toying around with the idea of starting an internet business to help you get out of debt and become less dependant upon other people, when will the time finally be right to get started?