Bad economy is affecting everyone

The writer of a Dec. 5 letter, “Make everyone take 10 percent pay cut,” has a narrow-minded view of the problems our economy is experiencing. He states that anyone who agrees state employees should take a 10 percent pay cut also should take a pay cut of the same percentage without deducting it on their federal income taxes.

I was employed at Cryovac Sealed Air until the company closed the plant to move. I'm sure all 250 employees would gladly have given up

10 percent of their pay to keep their jobs but that wasn't an option. I've also read that there are other union employees who voted to give up a percentage of their paycheck to avoid layoffs to their fellow workers who have “families, mortgages, and lives to live. ” Does the writer believe that he is the only one suffering here?

The bad economy is affecting everyone in one way or another. I have two suggestions for the writer:

1) I'll trade places. He can go on the unemployment line and I'll take his job with a 10 percent pay cut.

2) Forget the 10 percent pay cut for state employees, but make him the first one laid off.

Rob Bierl

Cedar Rapids