Currently, over half of our states have so-called ‘right to work’ (RTW) laws in place. According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), an independent non profit think tank, anti-union RTW laws damage state economies and result in lower wages than non-RTW states. These laws restrict workers’ ability to collectively bargain, resulting in lower wages, reduced access to healthcare and retirement benefits, as well as higher incidents of workplace fatalities. None of this should be surprising. With the exception of New Mexico, the poorest states in the U.S., by standard economic measures, are both, not coincidentally, right-to-work states and also states controlled by Republican legislatures- in nearly all cases with a Republican in the governor’s mansion. While the governor of Kentucky, for example, is a Democrat, the Republican supermajority in both houses of the legislature prevents any legislative gains in workers’ rights. A supermajority also has the power to override a governor’s veto.

Thankfully, NY state continues to be a strong supporter of workers’ rights, including the right to unionize and collectively bargain. While most of us in the private sector don’t benefit directly from collective bargaining, we still benefit indirectly because those workers, on average, have more discretionary income to spend- some of which is inevitably going to be spent locally and across the state. Both state and private sector employees who are willing to dedicate 20-30 years to their profession should have the power to negotiate benefits and to live reasonably well while actively working and for the rest of their lives once retired. In addition to the concept of fairness, it just makes economic sense. More financial security as a teacher in Arkansas than in NY? How about a firefighter in Missouri or a state trooper in Mississippi? Of course not. I’m not asking anyone to simply believe this. Some basic research is what is needed here.

While the Republican Party has been openly hostile to workers for decades, it certainly continues to dominate politics in our area. In 2022, gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin lost by a comparatively (as compared to recent Republican GOP candidates) low 6% overall, but won Chautauqua county by over 30 percentage points. Had Zeldin won, no doubt he would have felt emboldened to attempt to implement the GOP playbook of weakening worker protections. Why do so many voters in our area find that outcome to be desirable?

Speaking of playbooks, the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” should alarm anyone who values democracy and individual liberties, something Republicans traditionally care greatly about protecting. And yes, this organization has been closely linked to the Republican Party, since its inception in 1973. You don’t have to read the almost 900 pages to see its plan for workers, such as eliminating public sector unions, limiting overtime pay and weakening safety standards. That’s not even the tip of this profoundly disturbing iceberg. Project 2025 reads like a dystopian hellscape. Again, don’t take my word for it- but don’t take the word of a few pretty people sitting on a couch at Fox News either. I implore you to look into this.

Concerning our choices this November: Local Republican politicians are really good at cutting ribbons, pretending they’re going to dig with a shovel, and changing the names of roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Nothing wrong with honoring a deserving member of the community- and Democrats are good at photo opportunities as well. In addition to photo-ops and name changes, Democrats actually believe in governing, as if it were something to “believe” in, or not. It seems strangely necessary to remind elected GOP leaders that they have a government job (with a taxpayer funded salary, health insurance, etc.), with actual duties to be undertaken related to that government position. Rather than complain about how cumbersome, unwieldy and ineffective government is, they should be trying to address needs and solve basic problems. For all the belly-aching elected Republicans engage in, both locally and across our nation, they typically run for reelection, often for decades. Always exhausting themselves 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’ll find happiness in the private sector.

Dennis Myers is a Jamestown resident.