Letter: Tackling public unions took great courage

I have yet to read in the Journal an explanation by Sen. Harsdorf’s critics for why she should support the state government sending public union dues to union administrators.

Is that an appropriate function of government? Or is it the responsibility of union members?

Dues payment might seem like an insignificant issue in the grand scheme of collective bargaining until the facts reveal that government payment guarantees dues delivery. Whenever members pay directly, dues collection declines because other things tend to take precedent in rank and file lives, like medical bills and mortgage payments.

And then there is the cozy relationship between unions and Democrats. Unions give Democrats votes and campaign funds in exchange for more and better benefits.

Returning to individual responsibility for paying dues means less union money donated overwhelmingly to Democrat politicians. This relationship is unethical because Wisconsin taxpayers of different political persuasions are inadvertently supporting one party.

It’s amazing that silent citizens haven’t screamed about it before now. Some people think Gov. Walker and Republican legislators committed political suicide by tackling this issue.

I see them as courageous. They have chased some fat foxes out of the hen house.

Tags: town of river falls, opinion, letters