Assault on paychecks

Here we are in what even Democrats are calling the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The official unemployment rate is 10 percent, but those who have stopped looking for work make it several percentage points higher.

Yet in spite of that, Congress has just voted for a feral (excuse me, federal) budget that gives all federal workers a 2 percent pay increase next year. And that, according to the Dec. 15 S-R editorial, “is on top of the ‘step’ increases of 1.5 percent for most workers.”

This editorial illuminates an egregious federal salary fact that amounts to extortion from the private sector. Americans are struggling to make ends meet in this economy. “The average federal worker makes $71,206 annually. In the private sector, it’s $40,033.” Moreover, “federal workers have health care packages that only the richest corporations can deliver.”

This sounds like Clayton Williams’ comment about rape in the 1990 Texas governor’s race during a rainstorm, “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.” Well, I’m not “enjoying” this rape of our personal paychecks.

Call Sens. Murray at (206) 553-5545 and Cantwell at (202) 224-3441 and vent your hatred for this legislative rape. I did.

Bob Strong

Spokane