Editor,

Whidbey Islanders probably will not be bothered by this because it is my opinion. Most don’t give a damn about our military, in fact, most older people were in all likelihood protesting the war fought in Vietnam. Here goes anyway.

Concerning the proposed minimum wage of $15 an hour, low military pay is not mentioned. Working with hamburgers for minimum wage was mentioned in the State of the Union address. And striking for that just doesn’t work for me. So let’s do some math.

The $15-an-hour fry cook would make $31,200 a year. An E1 private in the service makes $18,378. An E5 sergeant with eight years of service makes $32,814 a year. So, you are telling me that Freddy hamburger flipper would deserve as much as those kids being shot at? These kids that volunteer to serve in a time of war in hostile environments put their lives on the line so we can eat hamburgers.

Here is the deal. Mr. Fry Boy and Ms. Fry Girl, you are working a job designed for a kid in high school, where you are learning how to work with minimum skills while earning enough money for gas and hanging out with high school friends. If you have chosen this as a life profession and feel the need to strike for $15 an hour, you have failed.

If you don’t want minimum wage, don’t have minimum skills.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. Since it’s in English, thank a vet. And let Rick Larsen, the supposed friend to Vets and the military, know that this is wrong.

JIM THOMPSON

Clinton,

USMC 1968/69