Stubborn Is As Stubborn Does

Dear editor:

First let me point out that I have never been a member of a union, but rather a member of management and ownership. However, I have great respect for the work that unions have done over the years improving the lives of their members and made it possible for them to form the greatest block of middle class the world has ever seen. I did not always agree with their demands for what sometimes I felt were pay demands that raised the national cost of living and retirement plans that were beyond the ability of corporations and governments to pay in the future. Well the future is here now.

Unions and organizers fought hard all thru the 20th century to earn the right to represent workers. Some corporations fought back just as hard and sometimes (as in the case of steel companies and other heavy industries) hired thugs to physically harm striking workers who were after a decent living wage. Without these early union fighters we would still have child labor, 60 hour work weeks, dangerous working conditions, and wages that would compare with what is paid to workers in India, China and other third world countries. They helped build the industrial might of this country.

But now we have a problem….our cities, states, and even our country are bankrupt and can’t afford everything the average working man has grown accustomed to. I am well aware of the problem.

Now comes the governor of Wisconsin, trying to solve the problem, and is forced to cut back in many places that hurt the average state worker and all those teaching and municipal union members. These unions have offered to help and take deep cuts in their pay, a cutback in retirements and an increased cost in health insurance. They have offered to do “their share.”

But the governor and the Republican majority legislature want more. They want to take away the basic right (and need) of the union members to have the ability to go into collective bargaining. He is doing the opposite of the famous words of President Lincoln, “Together we stand, divided we fall.” Evidently he and his cohorts in the legislature want the unions to fall.

Just remember that all those TV commentators, truck drivers, police, firemen, garbage collectors, and thousands of others in a variety of industries all belong to unions. (And I’m not talking about unions of professional sports figures who earn outlandish money.) If this law passes in Wisconsin it could affect the whole country as it spreads to other states, and could bring our country to a screaming halt. There has to be a way to save the right to collective bargaining, and stop a stubborn governor who obviously has no respect for the working man who must have his right to bargain collectively.

Texas Bigotry

Dear editor:

Anti-Judaism is alive and well and living in Texas. Not just in Texas, but in the state legislature. Not just in the legislature, but as spoken by the leader of the majority party (Republican.) Of course he was not alone in his bigotry, but one of many Tea Party activists who formed a right wing coalition to oust Rep. Joe Strauss (R) as Texas House Speaker, because he is Jewish and not of the “right” faith and beliefs.

The coalition began circulating emails with anti-Semitic messages against Strauss. Robo-calls and emails started demanding a “true Christian leader” and endorsed his opponent for the position of Speaker as “a Christian Conservative.” Two members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee said in one email that “We elected a house with Christian, conservative values (and) we now want a true Christian conservative running it.” This marked the first time an elected party leader had semi-openly called for a “Christian conservative” Speaker. What these haters are saying is Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths are not qualified and might as well stay home.

John Cook, one of the party leaders, in one email wrote “I want to make sure that a person I’m supporting is going to have my values. I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They’re the people that do the best jobs over all.” Where does he get the nerve to make a statement such as this?

The saddest part of all is that this so-called leader insisted he is not prejudiced against Jews. No, he just feels that they are not smart enough or virtuous enough to hold such a high position in the state legislature. Is this something new? Of course not. Anti-Jewish bigotry has existed for a couple thousand years. It’s just strange to hear venom like this in today’s America when it involves leaders of a state political party, who supposedly represents “all” of us no matter their religion or race. Evidently they have never heard of, or really wish to ignore the Constitutional separation of church and state. When did religion become a qualifying point for being Speaker of the Texas House?

The truly strangest part is that this action did not hit any of the evening news programs or appear in newspapers. That’s what you call bigotry by silence.

But the best part of all is that the Texas legislature ignored their leadership and re-elected Joe Strauss to the position of Speaker. Good for them.