Letter: Enablers grow unfavorable conditions

I read with great interest Leon P. Miller’s letter titled “Finish eating and leave.” Often times others see things in a different light than we do. Because of the anti-union, anti-worker sentiment that’s prevalent in our area, I have had to do a lot of traveling over the years in order to earn a living.

Unfortunately, I have shared Miller’s negative view about the Baton Rouge area for quite some time. It’s my belief that because of corporate cash and cronyism, our political system has become skewed and out of balance. Hard work is rewarded with low wages and little, if any, benefits such as health insurance or retirement. High taxes, $6-a-gallon milk, pollution, high dropout rates in our schools, not to mention the lack of opportunity for those who do graduate, are just a few of the things that I’ve noticed wrong with Louisiana in general.

The fact that I have worked and lived in other areas of our country has afforded me the ability to view our state in some ways as an outsider. This special insight has brought me to the conclusion that when, as a society, you quit rewarding the hard-working people who help build our great nation, you’ll soon discover that, willingly or not, you will have become an enabler of unfavorable conditions that will continue to plague us all for many years to come.

Mark Walock

pipefitter, Local 60

Walker

Comments

1) Comment by billynurse - 18/02/2013

Old Man Kensey, did you actually read what I wrote ?? I've been there!

2) Comment by arin - 18/02/2013

ole man, do really believe everything you read in the newspapers and see on network TV?

3) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 15/02/2013

Question billynurse. Out of the feds, unions, and corporate America, in the last decade, who has been in the news most often concerning corruption? >>>>>>>>>>>>≥>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Corporate America is the correct answer and they need a scapegoat. Unions fit that bill. >>>>>>>≥>>>>> Are you sure you are seeing the truth?

4) Comment by billynurse - 15/02/2013

Unions have become the beast that they have always charged businesses with being... If you want to mention cronyism , there are as many corrupt "cronies" in union management as in gov'mt.... I've been to Detroit for contract work at the auto show , and saw first-hand how the UAW puts a stranglehold on productivity. We were forced to join the union and pay dues just to do a 3 day job ! My crew and I also had to sit in a "meeting" where UAW reps tried to convince us to keep up paying dues, even though my company may not have ever gotten a contract there again . There were 10 union workers piddling around for every 1 that was actually doing work , and I had to get up for mandatory breaks every hour.... I am so glad to live in a state where we are not forced to join unions , especially since they have become just as corrupt as the Feds. I've always just been one of the little workers , but I can see the truth.

5) Comment by DMJ - 15/02/2013

Well put, Mark.