Letter: Rights revoked by dictatorial governor, he says

TO THE EDITOR: The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by the U.S. 64 years ago, opens with these words:

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world...”

Article 23.4 states:

“Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.”

Scott Walker and his Republican comrades, with a dictatorial slash, outlawed this freedom, this universal right, for public employees. This, along with tax cuts for the extremely wealthy, consolidates ultra-conservative power at the expense of the middle class and the impoverished. In Wisconsin, renowned for progressivism, this is radically regressive, sending us back half a century.

Extremist conservatives, with $30 million of dishonest and dirty propaganda, have convinced enough people that Walker’s failures are successes; that down is up; that backwards is forwards. They have won this battle. But Walker and his comrades started this war, and it is far from over. Fortunately, the state senate gained a Democratic majority-which must be made stronger in November—to check the unbalanced policies and methods of this regressive governor.

There are calls to now work together. Where we can, we should. However, as long as Walker’s violation of the “dignity” and “inalienable rights” of those who work to make our state function continues—and as long as his assaults on the environment, the rights of women and the poor goes on—those of us who find these assaults to be abominations must continue to strive for justice, and then for peace.

Walker divided our state, and he and his plutocratic backers have now conquered it—temporarily.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics