Adumbration

Dug out from past writing, this to the SPEEA president (May 30, 1997)

I read the recent Spotlite (May, 1997), and your statement as SPEEA President.  One comment caught my attention:  "SPEEA's main goal is to ... afford leadership involvement in labor politics".

This is the reason why I am not interested in joining SPEEA.  "Labor politics" is a polite way of saying "this is how everyone must contract with an employer", irrespective of personal interests or goals.  "Labor politics" has the effect of forcing the desires of some people upon all people, whether they like it or not.  "Labor politics" does not even help those most often portrayed as needing it (for example, minimum wage laws price people out of jobs they would otherwise be able to keep).

The "main goal" sounds like you want to increase paid dues so you can hire more lobbyists to walk the halls in Washington DC and Olympia;  this is not where I want my money to go.

I wish for no special favors from the government;  such favors always come at the expense of someone else.  Is this really what you think the union is all about?

Unfortunately, the SPEEA web site does not include 1997 in their archives, or I would provide a link.