In a March 24 letter, Lee Hemen says “Blame collapse on Democrats,” and labor unions for the collapse of this country and individual states. He calls their supporters “minions.” Evidently he has forgotten that it was the lack of oversight by Congress that he, and the rest of us, have paid billions of dollars for: bonuses for executives despite the failure of their companies and the bailout of the Wall Street banking industry, GM, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others. Congress continues to give subsidies to highly profitable companies, allowing many companies to pay no federal income tax.
Has Hemen considered that Congress may be the strongest union in existence? Its members write their own rules that govern themselves, after one term they get 80 percent of their salary, a pension plan, which goes up with longevity, annual pay raises plus COLA and expense accounts. They have no co-pays for their life-long health care.
Hemen’s tax dollars support both Republicans and Democrats, politicians who are, for the most part, millionaires. Congress continues to benefit through their self indulgence and make cuts to people who are in need without taking one step back to curtail their extravagance. So who are the real “minions”?
Wilfred J. Hudson
Vancouver
