Today's Letters: Let's strive to meet the basic needs of America's workers

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 3, 2007

Labor Day

Labor Day honors average working folks who sweated and toiled to erect a righteous America. We need to put the best interests of mainstream America, as well as the core values of our nation, in the forefront.

A charismatic individual with an incredible intelligence and organizational finesse who comes from the labor class would be a good thing for America. Why should only the affluent assume power positions in politics? President Bush mainly looks out for the interests of his own class - big tax breaks for the wealthy and zilch for the poor and middle class have been his lopsided legacy.

It's about time laboring men and women across America who fight our wars and perform their duties and keep America viable get their just dues, such as a national health care program. The 47-million Americans without any health insurance come from the ranks of the working class and not from the rich segments of America. Labor Day should remind us to labor for the basic needs of those who built our country and sustain its economy and very existence.

Robert B. Fleming, St. Petersburg

Remember those in construction trades

While the St. Petersburg Times often covers the many contributions made by our community's working men and women, I hope that today, Labor Day, we can highlight the efforts of a particular group that sometimes goes unnoticed: the construction industry's craft professionals.

These include the carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, masons, plumbers and welders, just to name a few. They are part of an industry that employs more than 9-million workers.

In addition, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the construction industry added $648-billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2006, a contribution that represents 5.6 percent of the total GDP.

The evidence of its size and scope is all around us: Our industry's professionals build the homes, offices, schools, churches, restaurants, highways, sports arenas and other venues that make our communities unique.

Many believe Labor Day focuses on labor unions. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 13 percent of the nation's construction workers currently choose to join a labor union, while 87 percent work in a merit shop, a free-enterprise setting. So on this Labor Day, let's remember to thank all of the construction professionals, regardless of labor affiliation, whose hard work building America each day improves all of our lives.

Steve Cona, Associated Builders & Contractors, Tampa

American thinking in ParisAug. 30, George Will column

Hard work is for others

I see that George Will agrees with the French finance minister, Christine Lagarde, that having it "too easy" for the French people is "stupid."

I think that the goal, or at least the aspiration of a caring, compassionate government would be to progress forward to an "easier" life for its people. Would a 35-hour work week, five weeks of vacation, a decent retirement, health care and education for all be really bad for us majority working people?

Of course, Will and the rest of the aristocrats here think that a dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest, corporate owned and controlled, uncaring, uncompassionate society is just great!

For those at the top, it is.

John Culkin, St. Petersburg

Target those who hire

Snooping for illegals, building fences, and turning immigrants over to immigration officials after they are found out in an emergency room is like inviting your friends to Disney World but then taking them to jail. We need to take responsibility for the fact that we ask these people to come here.

If Americans do not want illegal immigrants here, Americans must stop hiring illegals. Instead of going after poverty-stricken Latinos with their families torn apart and living in daily fear and squalor so they can do jobs citizens don't want, why not have enforcement resources go toward stopping the hiring of illegal immigrants in the first place? If you do not hire them, they will not come.

Amy Sauers, St. Petersburg

Her pain, his ache Aug. 28

No stranger to pain

I feel like the woman in this story (days where I just can't live like this anymore). Doctors blow me off even though I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist more than 20 years ago. In fact my last appointment I was blown off when I told them I sometimes feel like committing suicide because there are days I can no longer take the pain.

Most of the drugs that do come out, I can't take because of other medications I am on. Meanwhile, the doctors shiver in fear of giving their patients pain relief because of close scrutiny of the FDA.

So what alternatives do we truly have but to shut up and take the pain for as long as we can? I find no surprise in this article. I just pray you won't be writing the same type of article about me some day. My condolences to Tommy Varillas, and shame on Mrs. Varillas' doctors.

Erika Elshoff, New Port Richey

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 20:35:20]