Federal workers shouldn’t be under verbal attack

I applaud you, Maureen Rose, for your column in the April 21 Turret.
We do pay our congressional representatives very well and, as you mentioned, their health care and pension are not included in their $174,000 salary. A free lifelong pension, you say, for some, after only two years of service! And many are verbally attacking the federal workers, in and out of uniform.
I’ve gotten a bit peeved (I’ve used a stronger word than ‘peeved’) myself, reading and listening to how the federal workers and retirees are attacked in most media. We’re talked about as tho we’re less than human. For what? We earn a living by serving our country. The oath I took when hired is the same oath my late husband took. He served wearing a green suit and I, a gray.
I learned a great deal about budgeting during those active duty days. (My sons might say I got a master’s in budgeting!). Big difference, though. I managed to budget on a 30-day paycheck. We were ‘brown shoe’ Army folk that did not change when this new mid-month pay came into being. Those budgeting skills are valuable today.
I am now a much older retiree managing on a ‘fixed’ monthly income, without a COLA, and am worried about the future of my earned federal annuity.
I remember information from a survey of average grades and salaries on Fort Knox done many years ago. The average grade was at the GS-9 level (pushed up due to nurses at IACH, a higher skill level). Do the math. How many “fat cats” do you think there
were, exploiting the public (hey, we’re a part of the public) with their big salaries?
According to a financial program host heard recently in answer to a question about our government’s debt, the highest IOU is not held by China as many think. He said the government owes the most to the military and civil service retirement funds! The funds we worked and paid into, saving for our golden years. If this radio host’s comments are true, our retired futures are in more jeopardy from current congressional actions underway.
I, too, hope we’ll have an approved budget soon. I’ve paid the increase in a myriad of taxes (property, school, insurance). I even managed to pay the IRS guys—all without that wished-for COLA. Come on Congress, get your act together, earn your annual $174,000 salary (minus the lifelong pension), and stay out of the earned military and civil service retirement funds
Lela Williams
Radcliff