MAIL

ACTUAL LETTERS
FROM
ACTUAL READERS


Opinions expressed in this section are those of Free Press readers.

Send your opinions to
WAfreepress@gmail.com
or snail mail them to
1463 E. Republican #178, Seattle 98102
Longer letters will be edited down.




Workers Are Without a Voice

Regarding "Boeing Jobs Take Flight for Profit" WFP #24, (Nov/Dec '96): Rather than portray Boeing executives as businessmen moved by the same economic imperative as Andrew Carnegie-to reduce costs as the only way to survive in the jungle of competition-the boys from Boeing are painted as poor peddlers unable to sell airplanes without selling out workers. The airplane sale to China was used by the Bosses at Boeing to justify what economic imperative required-the movement of $3000-5000 a month jobs to low wage countries like China where workers are enslaved at $50 a month.
Donald Barlett and James Steele of the Philadelphia Inquirer bought the Boeing public relations hyperbole about the provision of jobs in foreign lands being required to sell airplanes. What choices did the Chinese have? Without a system of roads to integrate the Empire, China's leaders will be forced to use airplanes in massive amounts if a growth rate of over ten percent is to be maintained.
In fact, China will need so many airplanes that she will be required to buy from both of the world's largest airplane suppliers-Boeing and Airbus-regardless of the deals offered. Is Boeing threatened by the possibility of moving jobs to a country where wages are for slaves? As Europeans, we can assure you that there would be another revolution in France before the European Community and the Euro Unions would allow Airbus jobs to disappear. The elimination of 50,000 well-organized American union workers from the forces of countervailing power was also, no doubt, seen as a worthy goal and a great benefit to business. The destruction of unions allows labor costs to be driven down to subsistence levels.
In short, workers in America are without a voice. Unions own no large daily newspapers in any city in America. One would think the Machinists would own a newspaper in Seattle and other concentrations of union membership - to present the workers' point of view to the world while preaching to the converted at home.
Why isn't a portion of union membership dues devoted to buying or starting newspapers and television stations to counter management propaganda? Why aren't some of the former 50,000 Boeing union employees hired by union newspapers and television production companies? Why aren't union membership dues used to establish political parties devoted to job and work-related issues?

Grace and Michael Hogan
Publishers of the Amsterdam Chronicle




Bike Paths on Every Street

There is a simple and low cost solution to lack of bicycle road space: simply mandate that all parking for cars be on one side, not on both sides of the road. Convert the other side to a two-way bicycle lane. Literally every street would have a bicycle path.
There are those merchants who would complain that they lost "their" parking spot out front, and car-driving customers would have to cross the street, but keep in mind it is not cars that shop in stores, it is people! Some businesses would actually benefit more with a bicycle lane out front instead of parking. Sorry Charlie (Chong), [Seattle City Council member] it is time that car drivers realize that we cannot keep driving up sales and property taxes just to pave our streets in oil! We need land for other things like homes, schools, factories, stores, and yes, a little grass and trees would be nice. Bicycling is an alternative to this forced gasoline addiction, and more healthy bicycling will happen if there is more road space separated from killing cars.

Martin Nix
Seattle



Please see WFP #26's article "Busted Bike Ride" for additional coverage on cycling issues.




More Stadium Blues

The day I realized the need to be involved in my government is one I'll never forget. This was the day a man named John Ellis called what proved to be a contrived news conference to announce the sale of our beloved Mariners. The violin was tuned to perfection as this gifted civic and business leader laid the shrewd groundwork for holding the citizenry hostage. As I listened to this manipulation of the truth, an important message was delivered: "A democracy will cease to exist without the active participation of its citizenry."
Later, as the King County Council was voting to authorize the stadium bonds in compliance with state law, I was gathering over 2000 signatures for Initiative 16, which provides a public vote for the stadium, which the voters of King County had already defeated once at the polls.
Many people were so disgusted they literally grabbed the pen from my hand before I finished my opening sentence. Others spoke of being deceived by legislators who refused to honor a public vote, the very core of our democratic process. I remember telling people that gathering signatures was necessary because elected officials were making a mockery of our democracy. I'm learning that the best way to prevent the need for the initiative process is to work hard and smart for public servants dedicated to representing their constituency, and willing to go one step further by having a sense of integrity and leadership.

Tom Kubick
Seattle



Please see WFP #26's commentary on stadium issues for additional coverage on this topic.





[Home] [This Issue's Directory] [WFP Index] [WFP Back Issues] [E-Mail WFP]

Contents this page were published in the May/June, 1997 edition of the Washington Free Press.
WFP, 1463 E. Republican #178, Seattle, WA -USA, 98112. -- WAfreepress@gmail.com
Copyright © 1997 WFP Collective, Inc.