Dear Editor,
My comments are regarding Lawrence Fury’s statement that people with police and military pensions are “on the public dole” (re S.P.O.R.T.). Perhaps he would be less offended if he changed his view of these pensions to deferred compensation for those who spent their lives doing a job most people are not willing to do. Law enforcement and military personnel have high suicide and divorce rates due to constant stress, years of being deployed overseas, family separation, forced moves every few years to places around the globe that are not quite as nice as Sandpoint, and pay much lower than a career in the private sector. There is simply no comparison between these type of hard-earned pensions and unearned public welfare. Fortunately, most Americans value this service and don’t begrudge those blessed enough to have survived these careers our pensions.
Brent Bidus, USAF Retired
Sandpoint
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