READER RESPONDS ON GEORGE BUSH
Robert D. Switzer, UAW Local 624, was pleased there were no negative letters or articles about President George W. Bush in the November edition of Solidarity. Sorry, Mr. Switzer, maybe you should not read this letter.

While I give the president 100 percent support in the war on terrorism, that is where I draw the line. His proposal to make Social Security into a cash machine for the brokerage business, his failure to offer a real prescription drug plan, his proposal on health care reform, his tax cut initiative for the rich, his push for fast track trade agreements are all reasons I do not support him on any other issue.

I resent that he used our state of military readiness as a campaign issue that might have given terrorists reason to think that we were weak. In Afghanistan today, the military that Mr. Bush claimed was so ill prepared is demonstrating that he was wrong.

Yes, he is our president because of a bad decision made by the conservative members of the Supreme Court. I will support him on the terrorism issue because our country cannot afford to be divided when it comes to our national defense. I would much prefer that Al Gore were making all decisions in the White House at this time.

Gene W. DeVaux
UAW Local 1021
Olathe, Kan.

DON’T PROFILE ARAB AMERICANS
Great article by Ismael Ahmed on the dangers of profiling Arab Americans, Muslims and all Americans in the wake of the 9-11 attack.

I made many Arab friends over the years at DaimlerChrysler’s Newark (Del.) Assembly plant, and they are some of the most loyal, hard-working, gentle people I have ever known.

Racists, corporate opportunists and right-wingers lost no time exploiting terrorism to promote prejudice, tax giveaways for the rich, fast track trade authority, suspension of civil liberties, and censorship of free minds and the free press.

Phillip Bannowsky
UAW Local 1183 retiree
Newark, Del.

FORE!
I’ve received Solidarity magazine for 42 years—since Walter Reuther spoke to us as students.

I was most interested in reading about the golf course that belongs to the UAW. Here in Scotland the National Union of Mineworkers rescued the fourth oldest golf club in the world, the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, from extinction in 1953. It’s still run by miners and ex-miners.

If any of your retirees come to Scotland and would like to play this magnificent course just outside Edinburgh, they will be given a hearty trade union welcome.

Bill Taylor
Health & Safety Advisor, Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland
Mighothian, Scotland

KEEP HANDS OFF TRUST FUND
I’m a retired factory worker. I’d like to ask all of my fellow union people to do something we did several times over the years. Write letters to your members of Congress and to President Bush about the proposed “raid” on Social Security. There’s a gleam in their eyes, looking at our money. Let them know we are out here and are voters. We may be over the hill, so to speak, but we know what’s right.

Thelma Miles
UAW Local 665 retiree
Melbourne, Fla.

PRIVATIZATION WILL HARM US
Each time I read an article about Social Security privatization in Solidarity, I do this slow burn.

If this is allowed to happen, it will impact Social Security negatively. The amount that all workers send to the trust fund, from which the benefits are paid, will be insufficient to make those payments.

There will be only one thing to do when that happens --decrease benefits and raise FICA taxes. We’d all lose in the end: seniors, baby boomers and the young.

Donald E. Hammerle
UAW Local 2055
Mesa, Ariz.

SUPPORT MEDICAL DATA BASE
I read the article “How to Avoid Medical Errors” in May’s Solidarity with great interest. Last year my father became one of the 44,000 to 98,000 Americans who die each year due to medical “error.”

President Bush has proposed the creation of a national database to report and track medical errors. The goal is to help hospitals, doctors and the health community learn from these mistakes. The drawback is that this information won’t be available to the general public.

I encourage everyone to write their senators and representatives to express their support for the creation of this database and to urge them to make this information accessible to everyone.

Patricia Webster
Louisville, Ky.

THANKS TO LOCAL 157
I’m a steward at the Woodbridge Romulus plant. I’d like to thank Local 157 for merging with my former local, 174. I’d also like to thank Local 157’s leadership for taking us in and helping us through the last negotiations.

We’re now with our sister plant from Whitmore Lake, and we have good communication with them, which helps us all. The president and his staff at Local 157 have opened up their doors to our members, and we want everyone to know they are doing a great job!

Manuel Torres Jr.
UAW Local 157
Romulus, Mich.

Letters
We welcome letters to Solidarity. Because we receive so many, we cannot print them all and we reserve the right to edit for length. Please keep letters brief and include your name, address, and local union number.

Send to Solidarity magazine, UAW, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI, 48214 or via the Internet: uawsolidarity@uaw.net