To the editor:

I write regarding Bryan Clapper’s column of Sept. 12 advocating once again the unfettered free market and against unions which would ruin the small bakery owner.

I was surprised that he has some approval of unions. I was a union member for 20 years. I disappoved of much of what they did, especially when they would protect slackers. I didn’t have to be a member but chose to pay my dues as a small contribution for what unions have done for this country. Among other things, unions have fought to get good wages and health care, creating a solvent middle class. Even non-union shops had to raise wages in order to get workers. Management would not have done so out of the goodness of their heart in most cases.

Now that is mostly gone. A greater share of the economic pie goes to CEOs (note their tremendous salaries, even when the business goes bankrupt.)

The results of these past 30 years of an increasingly unregulated free market can be seen in the fading of towns throughout the country. Soon there will be no tax base for basic services. Infrastructure will continue to rot. The free market forces are making this a country of haves and have nots. Democracy is a factor as has been recently demonstrated.

Soon few will be left who can afford the $4.00 loaf of bread Mr. Clapper writes about.

Donald Szeszycki
Niles