Those against unions are also against workers
Lincroft, N.J.: On Labor Day of all days, you decided to publish an anti-labor op-ed (“All Americans need the right to work,” Sept. 1). To give an advocate of so-called “right to work” laws such a venue is an insult to the many men and women who work so hard for us. It is an old trick to name something the very opposite of what you intend. Does anybody really believe the People’s Republic of China is a republic?
The primary people and money behind these laws are owners who want to be dictators. Workers who would favor these laws are merely leeches who want to get something for nothing. They don’t join the union, but if the union goes on strike to negotiate a larger salary, they continue to work and get paid while union members suffer. They contribute nothing to the cost of lawyers who negotiate the contract but are happy to enjoy the fruits of the union. That’s not a principle, that’s a scam. And the claim about contributing to causes is a red herring. We elect people we most agree with, and sometimes they make choices we don’t like. Obviously, the union is going to support people most friendly to labor. That doesn’t mean they agree on everything.
Your guest columnist just echoes complaints of greedy owners. They know workers can’t compete with them as individuals, but they fear the power of numbers that unions provide. Unions are the only hope for the “little guy.” These folks are trying to split the labor community by doing the bidding of owners. They deserve shame, not a place in your paper. Thomas Carney
Disgruntled destruction
Bronx: I sometimes ponder how, despite his obvious failings, President Trump managed to get elected for a second term. Perhaps his success is the end result of President Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics from 40 years ago. Motivated by corporate greed, the theory eventually led to worker dissatisfaction due to stagnant wages and financial inequality. This led to voter resentment and the emergence of Trump and his MAGA rhetoric. Now we are burdened with perhaps the worst presidential administration in history, and the man who leads it represents the worst of us: greed, corruption, dishonesty, racism and ignorance. Either we learn from this and avoid having it happen again, or our experiment in democracy and the hope it brought will fail — not only for us, but for the entire world while leading it down the precarious road toward autocracy. Carlos B. Martinez
Resist or be doomed
Jamaica: To Voicer Jim Arneberg: Using the better-known paraphrase variation of the Spanish-born American philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I feel so helpless and worried that there is a head of the country that answers to no one. No matter what the courts tell him he can’t do or what’s illegal, he will stay his course. And the very concerning aspect is the Congress, Senate and Supreme Court are allowing and enabling him to do what he wants. I have the same thoughts you have, Mr. Arneberg, and as I keep telling people, we’re going to reach that breaking point and we’re going to fight. We can’t be doomed to repeat history! Carol Grant
Kept in line
Charlotte, N.C.: To Voicer Steven Malinofsky: I know you mean well in expecting the major tourism businesses in Florida to flex some political pressure against Gov. Ron DeSantis, but have you forgotten the Disney debacle? Disney tried disagreeing with DeSantis and the retaliation was swift, intense and borderline illegal, although we know Republicans don’t recognize “illegal” when they want to do something. Why would businesses stick their heads out? Freedom of speech is a lie in Florida. Barbara Haynes
Pre-pandemic event
Largo, Fla.: With all the current changes at the CDC and the firings of qualified medical specialists only to be replaced by RFK Jr. like-minded anti-vaccine appointees, I think we finally know what caused the zombie apocalypse in “The Walking Dead.” Michael Ferrara
Impotent hope
Scarsdale, N.Y.: After visiting the site of the church shooting on Wednesday, JD Vance said, “I think all of us, Democrat, Republican and independent, want these school shootings to happen less frequently. Hopefully, there’s some steps that we can take to make that happen.” Yeah, when thoughts and prayers don’t seem to stop the gun carnage, the next best thing is hoping it doesn’t happen too often. Unbelievable. But sadly, it isn’t. John Kern
Contradictory headlines
Park Ridge, N.J.: In Wednesday’s Daily News on page three, the headline said, “Major crimes drop” (Sept. 3). On page four, the headline said, ” ‘Nightmare’ as bullets claim two more in Bx.” What are we supposed to believe? Steve Ostlund
None better
Kew Gardens: Trump would like to see a two-person race for mayor in New York City like many of us. Under normal conditions, he would support the Republican candidate like he did for Lee Zeldin in the governor’s race. In not doing so, it clearly shows that the Republican leadership in the state has failed to produce a viable Republican for the mayor’s race. They were clearly asleep at the wheel when the best they could do was a comic book figure in a red hat. Even if the race were reduced to two opponents, Zohran Mamdani would beat any one of them. When people are not particularly enamored with a candidate, they tend to hold their noses and vote along party lines. This is a Democratic city by majority and Mamdani won the Democratic primary. I predict he will glide into office, and the GOP helped clear the way for him. Phil Serpico
Computing error
Bronx: To Voicer Joan Cocurullo: You say Mamdani’s views border on communism. Please define communism for me. I don’t think you know what it is. W. Twirley
Sticker scam
Rockville Centre, L.I.: Just an alert to store owners and even some private homeowners: Those “24-hour locksmith” stickers you’ve been finding on your front door have been placed not by any legitimate locksmith who recently did work on your door, but scammers who will rip you off for hundreds of dollars if you make the mistake of calling them. They hire people to go around plastering doors with these stickers, regardless of whether you give them permission. Don’t fall for their tricks, like their $39 service call. Ask your friends for the number of a local locksmith they’ve used and trust. Don’t wait until you have an emergency and fall victim to these people. Oh, and you can call 311 to file a complaint. It has been illegal for someone to put a sticker on your door without permission since 2003. Rick Duskiewicz
Right to kill?
Spotswood, N.J.: Why is anyone surprised that yet another young woman has let her newborn baby die in a trash bag (“University of Kentucky cheerleader accused of hiding dead baby in closet,” Sept. 2)? This happens all too often because society has taught women that it’s their right to take the baby’s life. What difference does it make to abort a baby’s life at 8 months, 9 months or right after birth? It’s gruesome that this has become acceptable in our society. Tom Scott
Wind is the way
Brooklyn: Trump doesn’t want to “do the wind thing” because he thinks wind turbines are big and ugly, obviously not competing in the same beauty pageant as gas plants and smoke stacks. But Americans’ jobs and dollars are lost in the irrational cancelation of renewable wind power projects like the Arthur Kill Terminal, five years in development and now dead in the water. Canceling major offshore wind projects and the ports and manufacturing that support them is no way to handle rising electricity use. Gas turbines are on back order for years. And can we retire the wind-don’t-blow/sun-don’t-shine argument? Powerful batteries store solar and wind power for use when needed. So far, Gov. Hochul has stood up to Trump and saved Empire Wind. Its attendant port in Brooklyn isn’t on the scrap heap, but as we’ve seen, Trump is unreliable. Hochul must be ready to stand up to him again. Joanne Boger
