Contract Workers

Re “Contract Workers Seek the American Dream in Iraq,” July 11: I can certainly sympathize with the men and women who, because they are not able to earn enough to support themselves here in the U.S., decide to work in Iraq. The lure of earning a lot of money cannot be overemphasized. However, they are being paid these large salaries from taxpayer dollars. That fact seems to have escaped notice.

If municipalities and counties had the tax dollars to pay firefighters and police officers a reasonable salary, then perhaps these people would be able to stay home and the jobs could go to Iraqi citizens who also deserve more than simply surviving.

Carol Marshall

Yorba Linda