At a time when the belief is that the destruction of unions will save our country, we tent to forget that if not for unions the majority of workplace protections would not exist.
It took unionization and the deaths of many union members who worked in coal mines, cotton mills, steel mills and the garment industries among others to effect change in safety laws, child labor laws and wages and benefit laws to make possible security enjoyed by most all American workers today.
If unions disappear do you think industry and government will continue to treat every worker with respect and fairness? Why should they? If we return to the time of management vs. one employee then management can effect any change neccessary for its own benefit.
As more benefits are taken from union and public employees we must be mindful of the fact that there will be a ripple effect which will eventually touch us all but, will stop before there is any effect on those who make the rules. With the current changes being made I still see no sacrifice of benefits or salaries by our local school system management, state legislators or our Congress members despite the fact that some of these have better benefits than any union member in this country.
No doubt changes should be made but, union destuction is not the answer. If we are all truly serious about solving our country's financial problems then change should start at the top and be shared by all Americans and not just union members and public employees.
Glenn C. Benson
In Tuesday's Times, was a comment demeriting the use of the term "manned" rockets, which included the concept no gals would be included on these guy-guided flights...
In the hopes a little peaceful clarification of common word usage might assuage feelings, may I point out the "manned" comes from the base word "human". Both "woman" and "man" have the root-word "man," hence "Mankind". Therefore, all manned flights include either of the human gender.
Smile, all is well in NASA's flight integration plans.
Speed road work
Following Wednesday's editorial about the slowness of the Alabama 53 road widening project.
Please think about this:
Construction of the Empire State Building; one year and 45 days. (source: Wikipedia)
Golden Gate Bridge: four years to complete (source: Wikipedia).
Pentagon: 16 months. (source: World Book)
Further they did not have the electrical tools of today. In my opinion it would take years to
build a Pentagon today.