Just a little sacrifice needed from all

Sequestration appears to have caused problems relating to the closing of the White House for tours and layoffs of air controllers (though now resolved), and it may result in future reductions in National Park Service, FDA, USDA and other governmental employees. What is confusing is President Obama is the one who suggested sequestration, and at that time an across-the-board cost reduction of 2.4 percent was also included in the package. Supposedly, every government account would be reduced by that 2.4 percent.

Well, much of the government expense is in the form of salaries, and 2.4 percent of 40 hours is a little less than 1 hour. Therefore, every employee would have to give up only one hour per week to achieve the objective and obviate the need for large layoffs or so-called furloughs.

Returning to the White House tours, I was under the impression that many of the guides/docents were volunteers. There are also some paid employees, but I wonder if any of them were laid off.

Fritz Alexander

Prospect Heights