Public employees have it too good

When, I ask, will public employees realize that they serve at the taxpayers’ pleasure? When, I ask, will public employees realize that the taxpayers can no longer afford their extravagant salaries, vacation/holiday time and pensions compounded by full pensions at early retirement? When, I ask, will the public employees realize that they should not be exempt from the economic crunch? It is long past time.

When, I ask, did it become appropriate for teachers to lie about their absence from the classroom? Passing out sick slips at a public rally is not teaching our children good moral values, but deception and deceit. Why, I ask, did this attempt to balance a budget, as promised in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign, surprise the public workers? A greater portion of the populace voted him into office. They are mad and are not going to take it anymore.

Why, I ask, have public employees not been weaned into Social Security system to level the playing field? That should be the very first order of business from President Obama on down through all public employee ranks.

Why, I ask, do our elected representatives get a pension when having served only one term? They should pay into Social Security just like the rest of us and start their own 401(k) plan.

And lastly, how is Illinois going to pay these extravagant pensions when the pension fund needs $136 billion. Shame on the negotiators for agreeing to these outrageous unfunded demands to keep the public employees from striking. The time is long past for public employees to feel the pain that we, in the private sector, have felt and are still feeling. You go, Gov. Walker, and may many states follow your example.

Nancy Hershberger

Arlington Heights