How to ask for a Salary increase

One day an employee sends a letter to his boss asking for an increase in his salary !!! Dear Bo$$ In thi$ life, we all need $ome thing mo$t de$perately. I think you $hould be under$tanding the need$of u$.We are worker$who have given $o much $upport including $weat and $ervice to your company .. I am $ure you will gue$$what I meant and re$pond $oon.  Your$$incerely, The next day, the employee received this letter of reply: Dear I kNOw you have been working very hard. NOw a days, NOthing much has changed. You must haveNOticed that our company is NOt doing NOticably well . NOw the newspapers are saying the world's leading ecoNOmists are NOt sure if the United States may go into aNOther recession. After the NOvember presidential elections things may turn bad. I have NOthing more to add NOw. You kNOw what I mean . ---- Your Boss.