I’ve been putting off writing about the right-to-work law being pushed by our Republican legislators. But I’ve become increasingly amazed at all the lies that are being fed to us by our representatives on this subject.

Gov. Mitch Daniels stated that more than two-thirds of Indiana citizens are in favor of the right-to-work law. Were you called for this survey? Neither was I nor any of my friends and family. But the way the question was asked, they got the results they were looking for. The way it was presented to them was: “Do you want freedom in the workplace?” Of course, most answers would be a resounding yes without giving it much thought. This answer was used to justify that a person was in favor of the law, because it gives an employee the freedom not to pay union dues. But at the same time they must be represented by the union official and enjoy all rights and benefits as other dues-paying members. Sounds like a freeloader to me. Another poll asked the respondent: Do you favor the right-to-work law. The answers were 25 percent yes, 25 percent and 50 percent didn’t know anything about right to work.

By not paying dues and still reaping all the benefits, the union will eventually be financially broken and no longer be able to represent their members. This is the main goal of the right-to-work law, no matter what you are being told. This whole issue is not about bringing more jobs to the state of Indiana; it’s about breaking the unions and bringing them to their knees, which in turn will bring down everyone’s wages, union and nonunion alike.

Why is it that businesses can have their own organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to represent them, but the common worker is not allowed to form their own union of workers to fight for them? Also, do you think those same businesses would be allowed all the benefits of belonging to the Chamber of Commerce and not pay the required dues (freeloader)? I think not!

I’ve got a couple more questions for our Republican legislators. Why won’t they give the citizens of Indiana the list of all those businesses they say won’t relocate here because we are not a right-to-work state? Why are they afraid to do this? They have been asked over and over again to furnish this list. Is it because their main reasons had nothing to do with this law?

Why the hurry in pushing through this law? Hold town hall meetings across the state and answer our questions so we can draw our own conclusions.

Most people I’ve talked to haven’t even heard of the right-to-work law, although we’re being told that most of Indiana is in favor of it. How can a person be in favor or against something if they haven’t even heard about it, nor been given both sides of the argument?

I implore everyone to check out the right-to-work law. Do it now! Time is running out.

JANET GARDINER

Fort Wayne