To the Editor:
Many of the people protesting on Saturday don’t even understand what they are doing. They talk about “Worker’s Rights” (which I support). But they have been duped into protesting for public sector “Union rights”, the right of unions to conspire with politicians against the interests of the American people.
President Franklin Roosevelt said it was wrong to unionize government workers because they are supposed to serve the public. He was right. The public sector was unionized about 50 years ago. Unionization has led to union leaders and politicians creating an increasing number of safe, easy and often low value, well paid unionized employees whose union dues are funneled back to the politicians. It is a vicious cycle. Politicians are supposed to represent the people, but they ignore the good of the people to reward their union supporters. This is corruption pure and simple.
To the Editor:
Many of the people protesting on Saturday don’t even understand what they are doing. They talk about “Worker’s Rights” (which I support). But they have been duped into protesting for public sector “Union rights”, the right of unions to conspire with politicians against the interests of the American people.
President Franklin Roosevelt said it was wrong to unionize government workers because they are supposed to serve the public. He was right. The public sector was unionized about 50 years ago. Unionization has led to union leaders and politicians creating an increasing number of safe, easy and often low value, well paid unionized employees whose union dues are funneled back to the politicians. It is a vicious cycle. Politicians are supposed to represent the people, but they ignore the good of the people to reward their union supporters. This is corruption pure and simple.
Do unions care about workers? Did they take a brief unpaid leave to save jobs when requested by Gov. Lynch? No. Are union pension plans for union officers often better funded than those of workers? Yes. Are union dues squandered on high salaries, conventions, and cushy jobs for friends? Yes. Does it show concern for “workers rights” when unions use their efforts to promote policies and politicians which members feel are against their best interests? No. Does it show concern for “Workers rights” when unions try to eliminate secret ballots in union elections? No. Union members are just tools of power hungry union leaders and politicians.
Unionization was unnecessary, the civil service system protected government workers from arbitrary abuse and dismissal. But unionization was seen as, and turned out to be a great source of campaign funds for politicians.
This arrangement hurts taxpayers, our country, and it is not fair. Federal employees are compensated at twice ($120,000 average) the rate of the private sector workers that pay them ($60,000). In Wisconsin, the impetus for the current protests, compensation for teachers averages over $100,000 while the private sector workers who fund them average about $50,000. Politicians keep growing governments because each new worker’s union dues helps fund their re-election campaigns. The resulting government growth is unsustainable.
It is time to abolish public sector unions, the corruption they breed, the growth of government they foster, and the pending national bankruptcy they have helped create.
Don Ewing
