Public workers, be thankful what you have

Employees of taxpayers (public workers) have nerve to be protesting in any state. I know the city of Cedar Rapids' workers have plenty of benefits I will never have.

I know a former custodian of the Cedar Rapids school system who retired at age 55. She is having her health insurance paid for 10 years by the taxpayers, until she is 65 and is eligible for Medicare benefits. (She was so excited about that she bragged to me). She said she was going to make sure, if she wanted to work, she didn't work for a company that offers health insurance. That is the one way she would disqualify herself from receiving that benefit.

My private job health insurance payments have doubled and I had to take a more expensive deductible this year. Still, I help to finance her health insurance.

Also, I can't count the times I have seen city plows scraping bare streets but didn't turn on to a street with any snow on it.

Only two examples of Cedar Rapids expenses. I think the public workers should rethink their benefits and be thankful for what they have. Many private worker taxpayers are underemployed or unemployed. You could be laid off also, if the taxpayers can't handle your benefits.

Rae Schaefer

Cedar Rapids