Letter to the editor

To all those who believe that all government employees should be equally compensated: I agree. Compensated based on skill and risk and sacrifice.

Never forget that military members are not employees. I can't quit and just not show up tomorrow. All government civilian employees have the legal right to quit their job anytime they would like. I don't know of many government jobs aside from law enforcement where employees put their life on the line every day. A lot of what the military does is life-threatening, even when all is well in the world.

I agree about equal compensation, but quit trying to compare what civilians do to what your military members do. I don't get to go home at 5 p.m. every day simply because that when my work schedule is up. I get up some mornings to find out I am leaving the country, not sure when I am coming back.

And why do I do it? Not for the money. I do it because I love my country. And I gladly defend your rights to compare apples to oranges and complain that your job, which would be filled tomorrow if you quit, is not fairly compensated.

I don't claim that all government workers would not benefit from a pay increase, but quit using the military as your comparison. We are not the same.

Name withheld upon request