(RE: “State’s salary freeze is unfair,” April 9):

Life is not always fair. Sometimes promises cannot be kept. Sometimes everyone has to tighten their belts. Children also need to learn that.

Consider my situation. The company I was working for had to cut 50 percent of its workforce. And those of us that were kept on not only didn’t get raises, we had to take a 10 percent pay cut.  After about 18 months, I got my 10 percent back — just in time for the company to be sold and me to get laid off as part of the consolidation of the two companies.

This is how it works in the real world.

Imagine if I had wanted your family and all the other families that are feeling the effects of the recession to have to pay money to my employer.

And we would not be asking you to contribute money, but you would be forced to contribute. Imagine if you had to pay money so that not only would I not have to take a 10 percent pay cut, but get a raise instead. I would be all for that, but I have a feeling that you and your family would not like that.

As a taxpayer, I would also have to pay money to the company, and I would be willing to do that. So you should not have a problem with it.

So fine, if you want the teachers to get a raise, in a time of a recession where there is not enough money, then I have no problem with that. We still cut the budget the same amount. And the schools can lay off more teachers, so that they have more money to give out as raises.

I have a feeling that your husband would be one of the ones with a pink slip if he is just finishing up his master’s degree.

But you and your family would be willing to have him unemployed so that others with more seniority can get their raises and are not lied to.

Jim Stumbo, Federal Way