Letter to the editor
Milt Zall's May 21 comment to military readers was on target, if a little rough on the
uniformed services. ("Hard as lips on a woodpecker" occurred to me.)
As in every debate, extreme cases sometimes obscure the real issue. No one
begrudges the military appropriate pay or recognition for what they endure
in service to the country. And not all civil service positions are either
underpaid or devoid of some of the same challenges and frustrations experienced
by uniformed brethren on the government roles. But there is a middle ground
from which inequities in compensation must be attacked.
Having experienced life in both camps, I'd like to see a more united front — combined efforts of all government employees seeking appropriate compensation
for work performed with accountability and rewards commensurate with performance.
A polarized discussion of the relative merits of "civil" vs. "military"
service probably doesn't advance that cause — and there is plenty of room
for improvements in both camps!
And, oh yeah, I sure miss those military tax sheltered "allowances."
Pete McHugh
U.S. Army (retired) and Federal Aviation Administration