Letters to the Editor sent to FLORIDA TIMES-UNION - Congressman Southerland of Florida by Gilly, Nicole M.

Dear Editor:
I have read the remarks Congressman Southerland made in Tallahassee about what a burden it is for him to serve in Congress (with his $80,000 a year raise and all) since he was elected. I sympathize with him. $174,000 simply isn�t enough to live on in this day and age. Especially when one takes into account his personal suffering � long hours, time away from  loved ones (being in Washington, away from them for two out of every three weeks and only getting the whole month of August at home to make up for it) and the treat his job poses to his life.
Lucky for him, I have a solution. Unlike, his counterparts in the United States military (who make less than 1/4th of what he does, work long hours and spend months � sometimes years � at a time away from their loved ones and face the possibility of being shot, blown up or captured by our enemies worldwide) he has the option to simply walk away at any time. He can simply resign. Members of the United States Military are called deserters when they fail to fulfill their obligations and it�s still a Capitol Crime to desert during a time of war. But I digress�
If he truly misses the �good life� he had in Panama City prior to putting all that time and energy getting himself elected to an unrewarding job in Congress, I suggest he stop wasting the American Tax-Payer�s time and money. GET OUT of Congress and go home!
I�ve been listening to Congressmen  & Women blather on since I got back from Afghanistan about the �spending problem in Washington.� Time and again they all talk about cutting spending yet, every one of them has failed to lead by example. They want EVERYTHING on the cutting table; Social Security, Medicare and the Military. If they want me to take them seriously, they need to put their Federal Wages on that table before they start talking about taking more away from the poor and middle class or the Military! As long as their wages, health care and pensions are OFF the table I assure you EVERYTHING is definitely NOT ON THE TABLE!
At $174,000 a year Congress can afford to buy their own Health Insurance on the open market just like they want senior citizens to do. At $174,000 a year they can afford a private 401(K) and put THEIR retirement in the hands of Wall Street like they�ve been demanding of everyone else. They can do all of that and take a pay cut too. That would show the American Tax-Payer that they�re serious and willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
Read Letters to the Editor sent to FLORIDA TIMES-UNION - Congressman Southerland of Florida by Gilly, Nicole M.
