Across the nation, federal, state, and local governments have an accumulated unfunded liability of over $5 trillion for future retired public employees. We can thank the government employee unions and our spineless politicians for this dire predicament.

Our elected officials routinely bow to the demands of these unions who then keep their campaign coffers full to ensure future demands are met. Your June 16 front-page article on Assemblywoman Addie Russell’s bill on pension benefits is a good example. Since the civil service union opposes the bill, it is being rewritten.

If letter writer Cindy Graham (June 15) is going to fault those of us who believe in sound fiscal policies, she should at least ensure her facts are correct. Unions did play a major role in establishing worker rights. But there is a huge difference between rights and greed. Why should I and others who have lived our lives responsibly pay for the instant gratification and greed of others?

Our founders envisioned a part-time government. Today however, government in the United States has become, arguably, the largest and most inept employer in the free world. Government cannot create wealth, but can only consume the wealth of those it governs.

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin was originally elected based on the promises he made during his campaign. When he enacted those same promises, unions forced a recall. But since the voters saw the results of his actions — lowered property taxes for the first time in 70 years, decreased unemployment and businesses actually returning to Wisconsin — he received an even larger percentage of votes on the recall than he did when first elected.

By the way, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a well-established Democrat, not a Republican. He currently has a 70 percent approval rating based on his sound management and fiscal policies. Hopefully he’ll retain the backbone that he has shown so far. If he does, our children will indeed have a better life.

James Nasman

St. Regis Falls

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