We Hear From You

The following letters from current and retired members of AFSCME are their own views and do not necessarily reflect the views of AFSCME.

On the most recent cover of AFSCME Public Employee you asked if the Speaker of the House represents me. My answer is Yes! He represents me everyday! I am a retired member of the military, a life member of the National Rifle Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and the Fleet Reserve Association. I am a confirmed Ditto Head and a sub-scriber to the Limbaugh Letter. I am still waiting to see AFSCME do something which represents me. So far all I have seen is lies, misrepresentation of conservatives, and liberal whinings. The President of the union local which supposedly represents us wrote a newsletter calling all of us fair share members dead weight. I am quite proud of my dead weight status and I feel that it is only fair to demand a dead weight status union card, so that I can show it with pride.

Christopher Licht
Auburn, IL

With regard to the cover of the Jan/Feb issue of the Public Employee, please don't put Newt Gingrich's photo on any other covers. This man scares me. Not only does he not speak for me and anyone else (other than the 1% upper income people) but every time I see his face, I want to slap it. My goals in 1996 are to have a contract with the state of Connecticut and to insure there are no Republicans returned to Congress.

Rose Curran
Norwich, CT

The suffering of real people is not the concern of politicians whose moral universe is represented by the dollar sign. The assault on Medicare and Medicaid is purely and simply a naked grab for hundreds of billions of dollars earmarked for the care of people unfortunate to have fallen ill. Health professionals believe the Republican party's proposals for Medicaid will result, by 2002, in 9 million to 12 million people—including children, pregnant women, senior citizens and the disabled—being left without any health coverage at all. The only growth that can be anticipated by this Republican proposal, is in the areas of suffering and mortality.

Herbert Miller
Franklin, PA

I'm a Pennsylvania state employee with 10 years of service. After reviewing the Jan/Feb issue of the Public Employee, I've concluded that my union is not representing my views whatsoever. I'm 99% in support of the Republican-led Congress to get this country out of debt, to stimulate the economy by easing the tax burden on individuals, to reduce and/or eliminate government programs which are wasting taxpayers' money, and to encourage pro-family values and morality in our nation.

Neal Mishler
South Mountain, PA

I wish to ask you as to why we should give tax breaks to the poor who do nothing for this country but bring it down. Tax breaks are for those who will put it back into the economy by spending money on products, or by investing in this country's future or by investing in business improvements. Welfare is the scourge of our nation. Those on welfare, not all, do not participate in family life, do not care for their children, are mostly the criminal element; partake of drugs or alcohol to the extent that they abuse those around them. Give responsibility back to the individual. Make everyone responsible for his own life. I do not want to support anyone else but my own family. Let them support themselves. If you do not work you do not eat.

Maureen Singer
Port Jervis, NY

Newt Gingrich and his gang have a mandate only in their own fantasies. A voter turnout of 37% in 1994 represents only about a third of eligible voters and the Republicans overall received only a slight plurality; their "mandate" reflects only about 19% of the total possible vote. Nonetheless, Newt and the Republican leadership are savvy and have consistently misrepresented the strength of their position. The only way to stop him is as you indicate—a massive voter registration and an equally dynamic follow-up to get the voters to the polls in November. Count me in—I will help in any way that I can!

Mel Praissman
East Setauket, NY

You ask the question, "Does he speak for you?" I don't know if Newt Gingrich speaks for me, but certainly his ideas have merit. Having been a Depression Kid, getting out of high school in 1934, I learned how to manage my salary. Meager as it was, I always saved something. Recently when the federal workers were out of work, I was aghast that they immediately went for food stamps. We now have a wonderful retirement, having been in Sun City the last 17 years—but only because of savings and early sacrifices. Yes, maybe he does speak for me.

Vera Kraker
Sun City, AZ