This is just one reason why people are skeptical of unions and their desire and ability and to squeeze more money from strapped taxpayers.

Residents in Framingham are talking about a new cost to the town courtesy of the local police union, which says officers need to be paid more because they use computers.

“The police department asked us to fund laptops for the cruisers and now that we provided them they’re suing us because we’re making them use them?” asked Rebecca Connolly, a Town Meeting member.

“It’s taking advantage of the goodness of the people and the town to pay you for something you should already know how to do,” Town Meeting member Jim Rizoli said. “Think about it. What police officer today does not know how to use a computer?”

“Police officers have a critical job and they get paid for that,” Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said. “But these extra creative ways of padding the paycheck really are not appropriate, and undercut the bond with the taxpayers.”

And they wonder why some people are in support of ballot Question 1 which would eliminate the state income tax.

While citizens have to tighten their home budgets, some in government believe we are a piggy bank they can take money out of whenever they want, and insulting our intelligence along the way is something we should be honored to deal with.