Unions undermine American economy

OPINION:

The current economic downturn is compounded by the policies of the ruling Democratic Party.

By that I mean that the Democrats who are indebted to the labor unions for helping to put them in power are using government money and programs to enhance labor’s hold on the American economy, which has shifted dramatically in recent decades. Only about 7 percent of the private-sector economy is unionized. This is because unions have destroyed virtually every industry in which workers have been organized. Examples include automobiles, airlines, department and grocery stores and manufacturing. The result is the same: State and local governments are bankrupt or are becoming bankrupt.

In spite of this fact, the Democrats have continued to follow policies that perpetuate our economic problems: raising the minimum wage, bailing out the auto industry to prevent the collapse of the United Auto Workers and creating a health care system that will alleviate the unions’ burden of having to provide health insurance to their members. The next step is pretty obvious: a bailout of state and local governments. The only way to stop this is to elect a Republican Congress.

MICHAEL HOXIE

Kensington, Md.