Government workers seem to be feeling attacked, under-appreciated and fear losing their jobs because many politicians and taxpayers are suggesting a cut in the number of government workers’ and their benefits. Government jobs are highly sought after because of job security.

Most government workers are good hard working people, and not all of them make the big bucks. However, there may be a higher percentage of slackers then in the private sector, as I experienced from 20 years in the Air Force supervising many civilians (and military), as well as 13 years in private industry. Also, it is nearly impossible to fire a government employee.

I say all that to make two points. First, our government, at all levels, has grown out of control, and we taxpayers have to support it. If our country is to survive, we need to reduce the size of the government. So yes, some government workers could lose their jobs, but probably not nearly as many as have been lost in the private sector.

At the federal level, we need to get back closer to what the constitution requires, which does not justify the large workforce we currently employ.

Point two – government benefits are very good, and have been very secure. No one wants to skip pay increases, or loss of benefits. But that is a fact of life in the private sector, if they still have a job at all, so we all are going to suffer in our current economic situation.

Even though government workers are an easy target, they also should not think they have a right to be protected from the cuts that are definitely needed, all the way around.

Larry Brickman, Bellevue