Letters

Join 'Wellstone Action'

Last Oct. 25, when I heard news of Sen. Paul Wellstone's death, I cried. I had come to think of him as a precious jewel in the political life of this country. Now there is something AFSCME members can do to keep the Senator's memory alive: become a member of Wellstone Action. Based in St. Paul, the organization is dedicated to furthering the ideals of Paul and Sheila Wellstone. It promises to be a force for political change.

For more information, visit the Wellstone Web site, or write to Wellstone Action, P.O. Box 14386, St. Paul, Minn. 55114. Joining requires a contribution, but it need not be large — even $5 or $10 will be enough. That's appropriate: Paul Wellstone's campaigns flourished on small contributions from ordinary people.

— Elizabeth Miller
Local 957 (DC 37)
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Speaking Truth, Standing Up

Thanks for a great issue (September/October) on the Bush administration! I am glad that AFSCME has the guts to speak the truth against this administration's policies and to stand up for the laborers of this country. Let's hope those same workers wake up and understand what is really happening before the 2004 election, and before the country is further devastated by corporate and political greed.

— Virginia Clapp
Local 822, Civil Service 
Employees Association 
(CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 Frankfort, N.Y.

'The '70s Were Worse'

The September/October issue proclaimed on the cover that the econ-omic situation under Bush is the worst since the Depression: That is flat-out wrong. I remember the 1970s: "stagflation," 10 percent unemployment, stifling taxation and interest rates hovering around 20 percent. Those were not the good old days, and they were certainly worse than the non-stop gloom and doom about the present day that AFSCME dispenses on a regular basis.

If President McEntee and Democratic Party Chairman McAuliffe think that rank-and-file members are just gonna march in lock-step to whatever they say, they are badly mistaken. I'm fully aware of what the union accomplishes at the national level. But I'm disgusted that the entirety of AFSCME's political donations go to the Democratic National Committee — and that I pay part of those donations twice a month.

— Rob Hartsock 
Alaska State Employees
Association/AFSCME Local 52
Anchorage, Alaska

Editor's Note: The article said that Bush's record on employment, not the entire economic situation, is the worst since the Depression. In elections, AFSCME supports Democrats or Republicans when they back us on the issues vital to our union and our members. Backing for candidates comes substantially in the form of financial support from PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality), AFSCME's political action committee. PEOPLE draws on voluntary member contributions, not at all on members' dues.

Cheers for Senator Everyman

Among Presidential candidates, I have observed Bob Graham, as both governor and senator, since arriving in Florida. I think he and his "work days" have not gotten enough media attention: Graham has taken off as much as a day a month to do jobs ranging from garbage collector to bank teller — in order to better understand the lives of working people.

Although Graham is my favorite, I will vote for anyone who can defeat Bush. This is the worst administration I can remember, and I have been voting since 1942!

— June Rosenberg
formerly Local 950, CSEA
Delray Beach, Fla.

Buy American!

I am writing to express my anger at our government giving favorable trading status to China. We have lost many jobs due to the government allowing businesses to move to foreign countries in order to get cheap labor.

I do not mind paying a higher price for goods made in the U.S.A. Everything I buy now is made in China — and they are not our friends. We should take care of our own before we take care of foreign countries.

— Ethel Senan
Local 10, CSEA
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Protect 'Public' Medicare

I am a senior citizen who is very worried because the Bush administration and the Republican majority in Congress are trying to privatize Medicare. If they do, what will happen to the quality of care in our health care facilities?

The states and the federal government have very professional and highly qualified people investigating patient complaints and doing quality-assurance inspections. If Medicare is privatized, who will do those inspections? The insurance companies? And will they cover new procedures and technologies in the health care field?

Voters in the next election — especially our members — should think very hard about which candidates will best protect Medicare and our health care future.

— William Stevens
Vice President, 
Retiree Chapter 1
Baltimore