Decline of unions is loss of advocate
Courtney Sherwood’s Feb. 20 column, “Corporate breaks or a good wage?” ends up speaking about the role of labor unions in our economy. This is especially relevant given what’s currently occurring in Wisconsin (the governor attempting to abrogate the rights of state employees to collectively bargain), and the nationwide decline of the American middle class.
Sherwood implies that the unions’ “big piggy banks” used for lobbying is somehow a much bigger force than corporations’ lobbying efforts. Huh? And that somehow service sector jobs are not for union employees. What? And that unions have gained influence in people’s lives. Gads, you’ve got to be kidding. Union membership actually is less than half what it was in this country at its peak.
Why is this all that important? Because the American economy has witnessed a huge transfer of wealth in the past 35 years to the very wealthiest one percent richest folks in the land. This, unfortunately, has resulted in the precipitous decline of the middle class. Unions are one of the few advocates for the middle class and they, unfortunately, are losing ground. For an excellent read on the subject, I recommend “AfterShock” by economist Robert Reich, the labor secretary under President Clinton.
Jeff McCormack
Ridgefield
Appreciate burden on business owner
Courtney Sherwood’s Feb. 20 column on “Corporate breaks or a good wage?” highlighted some specific thoughts on unions and private enterprise. First, I agree that unions have a place and have brought benefits to the workplace. However, left unchecked, it is the characteristic of any union (reflecting human nature) to become greedy, demanding and asking too much in exchange for the value of work its members provide. There has to be a realistic balance on expectations — especially in today’s globally competitive economy.
Brad Clark, the president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 4 in Vancouver, stated, “But I don’t make as much as the people who run those businesses, and I’m the one that does the work.” Really? Clark clearly does not understand the burdens the independent business owner undertakes when they choose to own a business in terms of work demands, assumption of financial risk, demands to be competitive in a global environment, and employees.
It is critical to understand and appreciate the demands and critical importance of the independent business owner in our economy as it is our economic lifeblood and foundation.
Tim Hein
Camas
All show, with no bridge solutions
Now that the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee has dutifully listened to concerns of the community, they have packed up the “dog and pony show” and have moved on. Now we can breathe a sigh of relief. I did not attend, but it gave ample opportunity for the “No Tolls,” “No Light Rail,” and “Build that Bridge” groups to show off their neat badges and engage in discussions.
Our representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, has made it clear, she wants an efficiently built bridge to reduce costs and burdens on her constituents. Will she support a bridge with tolls and light rail? Obviously, she wants one that places as small a burden on citizens as possible. Are these code words for “no tolls” and “no light rail?” With the Republican position of “no new taxes,” does this include “no new tolls?” It would be nice to know.
In the meantime, we will still have the same bridge, same commute problems, with no end in sight.
Anyone suggesting a tunnel? The Californians built the BART tunnel under the Bay, and the British and French managed a tunnel under the Channel, so surely someone can design a “tunnel” under the Columbia River. Guess I should have shown up with a “Build a Tunnel” badge.
Hugh Shuford
Vancouver
CRC successful … at failure
It looks like our U.S. Transportation Chairman, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., wants the Columbia River Crossing to expand the scope of their project to include heavy rail. That promotion must be to reward Don Wagner and his CRC cohorts for their outstanding job performance. They have been highly successful at achieving their goal of milking the taxpayers and creating a monster.
Just compare the Hoover Dam bypass project built for $114 million and standing 900 feet above the Colorado River to the pretty pictures of an unbuildable draft that the CRC took six years to draw.
We had the same policy for the Hoover Dam Bypass and the CRC. Contrast excellence to failure. Could it have something to do with job performance or who is in charge?
I think that the CRC has achieved outstanding results. Yes, they have been very successful indeed. They just have different goals.
Welcome to government. We reward failure.
David Madore
Vancouver
Legacy of Pierce championed
Peter Callaghan’s Feb. 23 column, “Pierce no candidate for Rushmore,” denigrates former President Franklin Pierce for his human frailties. Callaghan writes that it seems “wrong to honor one of the nation’s weakest presidents, one who had nothing to do with our state or county.” Callaghan needs a history lesson.
Gen. Franklin Pierce brought in resources to Gen. Winfield Scott that were critical in capturing Mexico City and stabilizing our possession of the West. Scott then ran for president on a platform of giving the West up as being nothing but trouble. Pierce opposed this, won the election, and almost immediately assigned one of his former officers (and later our first governor), Major Isaac Stevens, to survey railroad routes from St. Paul, Minn., to the Puget Sound. (It should be noted that this was after a full year of weekly issues of our own Columbian demanding progress be made to develop our area).
Weak president? Nothing to do with Washington state? I think not.
Pat Campbell
Vancouver
Reminders also include vital info
The Feb. 22 story, “Vehicle renewal reminders face cut,” says the state wants to save money by not sending out, as they call it, renewal reminders.
As I recall, they’re more like a billing statement. They think we should look at our plates or put it on the calendar when the tags are due. I don’t mind that. What I do mind is, without the reminders, how do you know how much you owe? The amount does change periodically, depending upon what the bureaucracy does. Without the returnable “reminder card,” will I have to pay those auto license extensions an extra $3? How will I know where I can pay my license fee with no extra cost? I’m trying to save money, too.
Norman L. Wilcox
Vancouver
