WAGES: How did we get to this point?

So far I have read two letters asking federal workers to cut their salary, benefits etc. to help the budget. But I haven't heard anyone complain about the six figure wages, free medical and huge lifetime pensions our top officials receive from the willing taxpayers of Idaho!

Did you know that one of these officials has enjoyed an 8 1/2 percent raise in pay, since the recession began? At the same time he has cut Medicaid for seniors and the disabled and wants to get rid of more than 700 teachers and has cut funding for our schools!

Also the starting pay for a freshman congressional senator is $179,000, free medical and huge pensions! How about that? When the Constitution was signed back in 1700 they wanted to make the job voluntary, but they decided to pay anyone who sat in session, $6 for the day!

How did we get to this point of paying such outrageous wages? Could it be that every time they turned around they voted themselves a raise? How about starting at the top with cuts and then working down?

M. ALBERS

Coeur d'Alene