Right-to-work legislation will weaken Missouri's economy

5/3/13
St. Louis Post Dispatch Letter to the Editor

The article by Barry Aycock, CEO of AgXplore International Inc., ("Right-to-work legislation will weaken Missouri's economy," May 1) calls into question the agenda that is instilled upon our elected right-wing politicians in Jefferson City. It has become apparent that these politicians will spend more time and energy on trying to dismantle the unions in our state, cut state programs for those in need, lower taxes for the rich, and raise taxes for the poor. Essentially these so-called religious right-wingers and economic experts could care less about having morals or seeing economic stimulus here in our state.

As stated in Mr. Aycock's article, eight of the 10 poorest states are right-to-work, along with seven of those 10 states representing the highest unemployment rates in the country. It would be advantageous for these legislators to forget about repaying those anti-union lobbyists with such policies, and to acknowledge the simple facts of the importance of having unions here in Missouri. Along with a higher union wage comes benefits for everyone. These solid, hard-earned wages create various forms of economic stimulus through a higher taxable income, money spent on education, automobiles, homes, and everyday community expenses. Economic stimulus and job creation does not result from cutting workers' pay and benefits.

For those states surrounding us that are right-to-work, they have not lured any positive businesses to the area or created any positive results for their citizens. However, they have been effective in implementing lower wages, lower graduation rates, less education dollars, lower living standards, slim health care coverage, more on-the-job deaths, highest unemployment rates in the country, poorest states in the country, and many more negative outcomes from becoming right-to-work states. This agenda did not work for the Southern states, and it is certainly not the answer for Missouri.

Maybe those of you in Jefferson City could take some time to study the facts of those states that have already become right-to-work. The facts don't lie. Missouri will not survive as a right-to-work state.

Dan Dempster  •  Wildwood