Common sense would be helpful

So County Councilman Dave Gossett thinks that a $6 million pay raise in this economy “was a very fair contract for both parties,” does he? Fair for whom? (Feb. 15 article, “Snohomish County defends pay raises amid layoffs and cuts.”)

You see, Mr. Councilman, the rest of the county taxpayers don’t have the ability to raise our wages if we have a job. We can’t do what you do so easily, raise the county income by taking more from the rest of us. I suspect that the 160 folks who lost their jobs don’t think much of this “fair contract.”

Politicians continue to astound me even after more than 68 years of life in the real world. There is a ray of hope out there, however. The five unions representing ferry workers agreed to forgo the increases that were already in their contracts. What a concept in these extremely bad economic times — common sense!

Phil Bate

Lynnwood