Dear Editor,
The free market determines what people earn. Government is the only entity that determines its own pay. Santa Rosa County is under attack with a jobless market. First responders like most doctors do the job for a reason of helping others, not for the riches of the job. This aspect like many others in our ever changing society is trending to more of a personal enrichment mentality. Government jobs are trending to a pay higher than the surrounding free market jobs. Better pay, benefits and government supported retirement than 90% of the rest of the population who are the one's paying for these services out of their weekly check or year end taxes. The lower middle income people are being squeezed at every point by higher prices, taxes and health care if you can afford it. There are many arguments as to people making more money but society must be in a position to afford government pay raises. Society doesn't need a fire dept. if it is fighting over bridges it can live under. Society doesn't need a doctor if that cost puts them under the same bridge. Police normally investigate a crime after it happens, rarely during the act of the crime. If anyone wants to jump on the bandwagon about pay and first responders lets talk the 18 year old kid dumped on a battlefield. With thousands trying to kill him and the little money he makes and the healthcare provided when dodging death to come home injured. You people need to quit complaining and count your blessing for what society has afforded you. As a first responder you have very little to complain about until you are a medic or a police officer on a active battlefield like Omaha Beach. These people complained far less and deserved far more, but society does what it can afford, and unfortunately that’s trending to be less because we are all making less. Join our club.
Steven King
Milton
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: First responders do their job to help society