A Letter To John Perzel

Sept. 15, 2005
Representative Perzel:

As a hard working, taxpayer in Pennsylvania, I was outraged by the legislative pay increase that you and the majority of the other state legislators voted for yourselves as well as the covert and clandestine way in which it was done without any public debate. Furthermore the way the raise went into effect immediately as an "unvouchered expense" instead of at the next election was appalling. I was also very offended by the attitude you displayed on clips of the smart talk program on PBS, where you defended your actions, claiming you were not paid as well as many in the private sector, in particular dairy farmers. Also, you lamented missing out on family activities and the like due to your duties as a legislator.
Well, sir, my response to you is quite simple: Firstly, there are few in the private sector, with the exception of company CEO’s who earn what you do and have the perks and benefits that you as a state legislator enjoy. In addition, the CEO of a corporation is not elected by the public, but chosen by a board of directors or stock holders and is consequently not beholden to the public as an elected official is. Furthermore, our above mentioned CEO’s salary is not coming out of the pockets of the general public. Sure, if I choose to purchase a product from a particular enterprise, part of the purchasing price I pay goes toward our CEO’s salary. But notice the operative word "choose." I chose to purchase that product. I could have easily decided not to or to take my business elsewhere and none of my money would have gone to our CEO. With government officials, such as yourself, we have no choice to pay or not to pay. We are forced by the tax system to pay up or face the consequences. Thus, our righteous outrage!
Secondly, you speak as if you are the only one who is underpaid and has to miss family activities due to your job commitments. That sir is an insult to us all. I myself, remember many times having to miss family activities and cancel plans because of "mandatory overtime" So, Representative Perzel, in the popular parlance of today, get over it! Who do you think you are that you can expect to enrich yourself at our expense and be so cocky about it. It just proves that you and many of your comrades have lost touch with what it’s like to be an ordinary citizen in the private sector. If you don’t like the pay and the responsibilities, then sir, please resign!
In closing, I would like you to know that I have obtained the results of the roll call vote on the pay raise and I plan to provide a copy to anyone and everyone I can. Radio talk show hosts, newspapers, family and friends. In other words, voters. I also plan to write to all 119 legislators that voted Yea. And to the 79 who voted Nay and express my appreciation to them. Incidentally, why is it that the legislators who chose to vote Nay and refuse the pay increase, do not get to give that money they would have received back to their constituents? It seems to me, that would be a bit of a good faith token on the state legislature’s part and might also help to heal the resentment many of us hold toward you collectively. Maybe it would even help to assuage your guilty consciences for your repeated acts of extortion upon us. Of course, that is assuming you admit to any guilt feelings.
Finally, below is a copy of a "letter to the editor" article I had submitted and had published in several newspapers. Perhaps you may want to take it to heart as I believe my sentiments are reflected in many Pennsylvanians.