RAISES: Here in the real world
Hmm. I read the article in the Sept. 2 Coeur d'Alene Press regarding the pay raises for some officials and, while I have refrained from voicing my opinions because I like to keep my privacy, I need to comment on this issue as a whole.
I have reduced my grocery bill by more than half, have three luxuries; my cats ($24/month), my Dish TV ($33/month) and the Coeur d'Alene Press ($12/every three months). I open all windows and doors in the summer (use no A/C), wear lots of clothes in the winter (heater is kept at 62 degrees), use as little electricity and water as possible, collect cans to help pay for my medicines, use one tank of gas per month and have a small business for which I've raised my prices ONCE in eight years. I am also on Social Security Disability.
I, as with the rest of the national recipients, have not received a COLA (that's a raise) for two years in a row because "The CPI [Consumer Price Index] has not risen since the last cost-of-living-adjustment was determined in 2008" and "inflation did not rise in 2009" (kid you not, those are the actual statements from my SSA documents). Not sure what planet the government is camping out on but it sure isn't Earth.
My point is, I have managed my budget as best I can given what I have. When there is not enough money to go around, I must cut some other corner that isn't as essential and, unlike the majority of businesses, my prices are stagnant because it is better to have customers and something coming in rather than nothing. I have stopped patronizing many establishments because they've raised prices (understandably) and I can no longer afford to shop there. No business will survive if they continue to price their customers out. If I can't find it cheaper or don't absolutely need it, I won't have it.
I've said this so many times, and I will continue to do so. We're all in this economy together. We're all suffering as much, if not more, than the next person; we all need money the same as our neighbors. Almost every business, commodity, service, etc., has raised their prices in the past two years in an effort to remain solvent and profitable and/or assuage employee hardship at the expense of the consumer.
If the general American public is expected to, and can, work a budget in their own home with what they have, there is no reason those elected by this same public can't, and shouldn't, be required to do the same. Millions of us are surviving without raises for several years; why are "officials" any different? ANY paycheck is better than none.
JEANNA AIRRIESS
Coeur d'Alene