Power of public sector unions is Wisconsin issue

Published: March 15 2011 02:50 | Last updated: March 15 2011 02:50
From Mr Lawrence S. Schneiderman.

Sir, I must point out that efforts by Governor Scott Walker and the Republican state legislature of Wisconsin are to curtail the power of public employee unions, and not unions in general. Hence, Richard McGregor’s report “Republicans boosted by Wisconsin vote” (March 11) is not a full account of the issue.

The privilege for public sector employees to unionise is a recent phenomenon. It is not a historic birthright, as the unions would wish you to believe. It is Wisconsin’s taxpayers who employ these union members – not some fat cat, private jet, country club, cigar-chomping businessman.

Public sector workers are thriving because of the power their well-organised unions exercise. Their real bosses, aka taxpayers, have no voice other than electing public officials who represent their interests and not special interests. That was exactly what has been going on in Wisconsin. The people elected a Republican governor, state senate and assembly to put a stop to the Democrats in their special relations with the public sector unions, and their catastrophic addiction to spending.

Yet more disturbing is the picture that accompanied the article – a union protester in front of our state capitol waving the American flag upside down. According to Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1: “The flag should never be displayed with the union down.” Apparently, democracy and the will of the people is a “bridge too far” for America’s public sector unions.

Lawrence S. Schneiderman,
Milwaukee, WI, US

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Libya

I oppose any US Military (including NATO) intervention in Libya. Simply put, intervention in Libya is not in our national interest. Moreover, we cannot afford it! Elections do have consequences -- that's about the only thing Mr. Obama got right. His disastrous policies and catastrophic addiction to spending has rendered the US impotent to engage in small wars that don't significantly affect our national interest. Best to use our depleted resources to come to the aid of our friends in the region, and in situations that directly affect our interests. Finally, to believe that our intervention will cascade into some democratic open society contradicts every reality.