My intent is to offer another view. Even though that letter's main focus was on the legislators, it painted a very negative profile of public employees.
Firefighters are also public employees.
Most of us aren't in this profession because of the money or benefits but rather a true love for this type of work and a strong desire to help people. That's why many of us do other work on our days off to supplement our income. As public employees, we are constantly fighting for the fundamental right of fair treatment. We consistently engage in court action to require the employers and legislators to do what they are legally required to do. This process wastes our members' money as well as our own tax dollars.