Well, my depressing start to 2009 is complete, having just read the article ‘“Top dollar” pay rise for council bosses’ (Times Series, February 5), which says that council bureaucrats are to enjoy an “inflation-busting” increase in their salaries.

Some even earn more than the vice president of one of the most powerful countries in the world, while I sit in my bedsit wondering how I’m going to get through the month, never mind the rest of the year.

There are many more like me, of course, who are living from day to day not knowing if they are going to be sacked or whether or not they are going to get a job at all so to read this in the local paper is like having your face rubbed in the dirt metaphorically.

It reminds me of a speech former Labour leader Neil Kinnock made at the Labour Party conference when he talked about “councillors riding around in taxis while handing out redundancy notices”.

He was, of course, referring to the then leader of Liverpool Council Derrek Hatton, but it could just as well refer to Barnet Council.

I believe it is high time someone pushed the button and put an end to this messed-up, evil and disgusting world once and for all — maybe the insects will make a better job of running the planet.

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