In answer to David Anderson’s letter published Sept. 17, titled “DFL keeps taxing low-income side,” I submit the following.

He starts out by saying that most don’t take me seriously. I got news for you, Dave. You far-far-right Republicans are not the most. I know you think you are everybody, but you are not. When I say I am the most-hated person in Albert Lea by the far-far-right individuals, it doesn’t mean everyone. I enjoy all the atta-boys I get when I go out, especially from some of union executives I run into.

The next thing you mentioned was me calling you people names. I explained this more than once. The names I use are pinheads and loons. I mentioned I got this off of Fox News from Bill O’Reilly. Every time he talks about a Democrat he calls them these names. Why don’t you mention this in your letter? You won’t because you think it is so cute.

The next thing you mentioned was PolitiFacts. You were always asking where I get my information. So the one time I did, you say this is just a tool of education. Well, PolitiFacts has been accepted by Republicans, Democrats and independents to be acceptable facts.

In your letter you challenged me to talk to some small business owners if they aren’t paying enough taxes. The majority of those businesses you mentioned make less than $250,000 a year. The Republicans think that a person making that kind of money is small business. Any business person who makes $250,000 a year is not a small business anymore. Remember, you only pay taxes on your net income. This is a point Republicans fail to point out. The Republicans keep trying to lower the tax and give tax breaks to the filthy rich and top 1 percent and I call that welfare for the rich.

This has proven to not stimulate the economy at all. It has been mentioned in another letter by someone else that they don’t feel they should have to pay union dues if they don’t want to join the union. It shows lack of appreciation for what the union has done for them and they don’t even want to say thank you by paying their dues. Or the sacrifice union members have made to get where they are today.

Back in the 1960s I was a plant accountant at a packing house. We got an opportunity to get in the union. I remember sneaking down to a house at night to meet with union members. I remember sneaking out to the packing house at night to sign up fellow voters. I remember going to fellow voters’ houses and signing them up. In those days, you risked losing your job if you got caught promoting a union vote. We were successful voting in the union. I was making $3.50 an hour at the time. As soon as a contract was negotiated I was making $5.25 — a 50 percent raise and the biggest percentage raise I ever got in my life.

Now if any of you people don’t feel you should have to pay dues think about the sacrifice previous members have made to get to where you are today with your pay, vacations, retirement and job protection.

 

Wayne Thorson

Albert Lea