Currently, more than half of our states have so-called “right to work” (RTW) laws in place. Anti-union RTW laws hurt state economies and lead to lower wages than non-RTW states, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), an independent, nonprofit think tank. These laws restrict workers’ ability to bargain collectively, leading to lower wages, reduced access to health care and retirement benefits, and increased fatalities in the workplace. None of this should be surprising. With the exception of New Mexico, the poorest states in the United States, by standard economic measures, are both, not coincidentally, right-to-work states and also controlled states. by Republican legislatures – in almost all cases a Republican sits in the governor’s mansion. . While the governor of Kentucky, for example, is a Democrat, the large Republican majority in both houses of Parliament prevents any legislative progress on workers’ rights. A supermajority also has the power to override a governor’s veto.

Fortunately, New York State continues to strongly support workers’ rights, including the right to unionize and bargain collectively. Even though most of us in the private sector do not benefit directly from collective bargaining, we nevertheless benefit indirectly because these workers, on average, have more discretionary income to spend, some of which will inevitably be spent on locally and across the state. Public and private sector employees who are willing to dedicate 20 to 30 years to their profession should have the power to negotiate benefits and live reasonably well while actively working and for the rest of their lives after retirement. Aside from the concept of fairness, this simply makes economic sense. More financial security as a teacher in Arkansas than in New York? How about a firefighter in Missouri or a state trooper in Mississippi? Of course not. I’m not asking anyone to just believe that. Fundamental research is needed here.

Even though the Republican Party has been openly hostile to working people for decades, it certainly continues to dominate politics in our region. In 2022, gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin lost an overall low 6% (compared to recent GOP Republican candidates), but won Chautauqua County by more than 30 percentage points. If Zeldin had won, he undoubtedly would have felt emboldened to try to implement the Republican Party’s playbook of weakening worker protections. Why do so many voters in our region find this outcome desirable?

Speaking of playbooks, the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” should alarm anyone who values ​​democracy and individual freedoms, something Republicans are traditionally concerned with protecting. And yes, this organization has been closely tied to the Republican Party since its founding in 1973. You don’t have to read all nearly 900 pages to see its plans for workers, like eliminating public sector unions, limiting overtime and lower wages. safety standards. This is not even the tip of this deeply worrying iceberg. Project 2025 reads like a dystopian hellscape. Again, don’t take my word for it, but don’t take the word of some pretty people sitting on a couch at Fox News either. I implore you to consider this.

Regarding our November picks: Local Republican politicians are really good at cutting ribbons, pretending to dig with a shovel, and changing the names of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. There’s nothing wrong with honoring a deserving member of the community — and Democrats are good at photo ops, too. Aside from photo ops and name changes, Democrats actually believe in government, as if it is something to “believe in” or not. It seems strangely necessary to remind elected GOP leaders that they have a job in government (with a taxpayer-funded salary, health insurance, etc.), and that they have real jobs to do related to this government position. Rather than complaining about how heavy-handed, cumbersome, and ineffective government is, they should try to meet needs and solve fundamental problems. Despite the best efforts of stomach-churning Republican elected officials, both locally and across the country, they typically run for re-election, often for decades. Always running out to “protect us”, usually from Albany. I suggest putting them out of their misery, at least for one election cycle. The economy is strong and unemployment is low. Maybe they will find happiness in the private sector.

Dennis Myers is a resident of Jamestown.