Cherrypicked data used to justify pay hikes
I have to shake my head at the recent AJC article showing how the State Commission on Compensation has recommended very generous pay increases for lawmakers and high-ranking state officials “Georgia panel recommends pay hikes for lawmakers,” News, Nov. 9. This is while law enforcement, administrative, and many other state employees all have to manage with continued wage compression or meager pay increases.
Do the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor and many other senior-level positions really need pay increases ranging from $25,000 to $35,000 a year? I will answer that question — no. The second word in being a public servant is about service. This involves a level of sacrifice and being willing to be a servant leader.
The pay increases are based on the false premise that good people will not take the positions at that pay. History has shown that this is not true. The other false premise driving this pay escalation is wrongly benchmarking salaries to other states. We have seen how cherrypicked data can be used to drive up salaries under the guise of competitiveness. Need an example? Look at the astronomical increases in CEO pay to see how this has been abused.
PATRICK LYNCH, DULUTH
Men, women must find common ground
The recent news that many American women have been sexually harassed, or worse, might finally tip the balance in the war between the sexes. Men, guiltily, are keeping their heads down waiting for the storm to pass. Constructive dialogue has been of the half-hearted mea culpa variety. I, for one, am not optimistic. If men and women can’t find common ground to forge new, respectful relationships, adoption agencies and do-it-yourself fertility clinics are going to be seeing explosive growth.
CAVANAUGH MURPHY, LULA
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