Voices Question

I want the Republican candidates to answer questions about right to work legislation in relation to unions that exist in particular sectors. How would this legislation effect particular groups' rights and protect or risk those rights? If one is in a teachers' union and right to work legislation limits the bargaining power of that union - how will the individual worker benefit? How are the jobs that are to be added as a result of right to work laws actually going to come about? A cause and effect relationship is hinted at by this law but what is the proof? Unions don't equal less jobs but is that the implication?

Any candidate that attacks workers rights to form a union is against the working class and only pro-business. I believe businesses need support but who makes any business viable, it's the employees. All unions need to continue to push all candidates on their views of unions.

I am a very disolusioned libral who no longer believes Obama can lead our country. We are not even close to making enough jobs for the people. The republicans need a chance to talk about job creation. Mitt Romeny has been a business man. I want him to have a chance at putting our government in order. However, i know that strings are being putted in the background and that is such a shame. We need an overhaul! It isn't Obama who can do it ,at this rate.

I am continually disappointed in the Republican candidate's stands on Unions and Right-to-Work. I feel like I am not valued as an educator. I would like to pose the question to each of the candidated, "If unions go away or right-to-work is put in place, how do they propose that I bargain for myself when I don't feel I have a supportive superintendent, and how would I continue to provide for my family without legal support provided by my union should I have some legal issue arise?" Just because I work for the public doesn't mean the public knows me and could determine what I deserve as an educator.

Issues: Turning the economy around; stop govn't spending; leave the small & middle size busniess alone to run their own busniess & create jobs; stop messing with electric cars and drill for oil; build the pipe line; make it more attractive to operate in the U.S.; stay out of my pocket.

I will be voting for Obama again so I want the Republicans to talk more about taxing the rich folks more and funding education more and creating more jobs and going green and inspiring young people and so on. I am a teacher so I (and my colleagues)are currently just waiting to see what more damage our Republican dominated state legistature will have in store with education cuts this coming school year. The great thing is, we remember and we vote!

None of them are qualified on what the average American is going on through. They all have gotten rich the people who make America and are working on taking away all rights and privileges we have earned through our ancestors. Yet they are benefiting from their ancestors coming here to have a better life for themselves and their descendents. Now these descendents what to deny us the same rights and privileges. Many Black Americans are still trying to obtain the American dream. They want to be the masters and the rest of America Serfs that their ancestors ran away from. History keeps repeating itself and we have not learn from history.

I would like to see the gap between incomes get closer together. Politicians, I believe are not seeing what is right in front of there faces. Our children and teenagers should be able to look into their future and see that they will have more than their parents. I should be looking forward to retirement after working two jobs for over twenty-five years. Everyone in the U.S. has the right: to have money not only to pay the monthly bills, have benefits that are not expensive with great coverage and have enough money to have recreational time.

I believe that the clear focus of both the Republicans, as well as the Obama Administation, should rightly be about jobs. Clearly, we do not need mere words but actions towards that end. Take for example the proposed pipeline from Canada down to the Gulf. Why the delay on this "shovel-ready project?" Oh, I forgot - we MUST get the EPA to do a study first. Think about it! Karl

Frankly, while I pay mild attention to the outcomes of these races, I have such little respect/confidence in all the candidates that I consider it a waste of my time to even address their comments. I believe they are pandering, pure and simple. I wouldn't even attempt to ask them to address issues of import to the populus (the economy and jobs creation - returning American jobs from overseas), because it would be a waste of time. THEY HAVE NO PLAN; AND ARE ALL INCAPABLE OF DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING ANY PLAN. So they stick to the "tried and true" - bashing or stomping on whoever they can. Pauline

I think every Legislator that supports unions should Use the phrase "Right to Work for Less" every chance they get. They need to stand up to the Republican misinformation machine. More importantly Right to work for less is a more accurate label which pro union legislators need to make a point of as well.

Republicans continue to support big banks,predatory lenders and the rich over workers, senior citizens,students,and those among us who need a safety net. As usual the voices of anyone who supports a liberal agenda are made out to be unpatriotic and unamerican.Union workers teach our children,protect our citizens,put out our fires,find work for the unemployed and process social security just to name a few of the many jobs done for the benefit of society. I refuse to be called the enemy by these racist,sexist greedy politicians. Republicans need to stop perpetuating hate and fear and actually have a plan.

The republican candidates'position on right to work laws would set union workers back to the dark ages before they had any rights and were beholden to the whims of their bosses-remember the NYC Triangle fire where the bosses locked the doors so workers couldn't leave and 150 women were burned to death? I would like to hear the republican views on education Arnie Duncan and NCLB and Race To The Top! janet Mayer UFT member for 50 years!

I would like for any candidate to address teachers health care and retirement issues.We prefer to have the same quality health care program and retirement benefits that congress and all federal employees receive, including cost of living increases. It's a shame that the Texas Teacher Retirement System has not received a COLA for the past several years.

Health Care: If a patient has cancer,and has children to support but insurance cancels policy because unable to pay. The hospital will not take uninsured persons with cancer. Troop Withdrawal Now: Too much spending on wars. Education:When we retire we don't have Social Security Benefits because we have Teacher Retirement its our money. Immigration:Give them permission to work, If they dont want to become citizens send them back home. Make an application for citizenship. Housing:Adjust the cost of housing for the poor and middle class. Gasoline: If they wanna jack the price of gas they need to automatically give us an increase in salary.

Right-to-work regulations push wages and working conditions back to the stone age for workers. Please do not dishonor our mothers and fathers in their hard-fought gains to live better, healthier lives. This is another attach on the middle class in disguise as a job-creation move.

Plz have the Repugnant Repubs Stop lying about Pres Obama's record-especially on Education;He may not have delivered everything we the Dems wabted for education, but at least he didn't stick us with the failed NCLB. I am both a Spec Ed and Gen Ed teacher and this lame exuse for an education policy has hurt our kids for future generations-as Pres Obama has stated, we have lost 10 years of college grads,now 12th in the world, and who know when we will get back to No. 1!

The field of Republican candidates is an absolute embarrassment to the United States of America. Their bigotry, their anti-worker mentality, and their total lack of respect for the American middle class is deplorable. This is not the values that I learned growing up in the United States of America!!!

If I WERE going to vote for a Republican, I WAS going to vote for Romney. BUT he is a known UNION BUSTER, so he has not chance with me. I am impressed with Huntsman being an educated cultured man being able to speak other languages. I am still watching and waiting, tho, to see what his practices have been towards unions.

We need to put more money into education at all levels especially grades K - 12. I was a bilingual teacher for 30 years. I am now retired and make 2,250 dollars per month. I enjoyed my work. I loved the children. It is very difficult when you have 35 mostly non-English speakers in your classroom. The USA isn't going to be a top power if we don't educate our youth!

Ron Paul works towards the elimination of the inefficient Department of Education, leaving education decisions to be made at the state, local or personal level. The Constitution does not authorize the Department of Education, and the founders never envisioned the federal government dictating education policies. Teachers, parents, and local community leaders should be making decisions about exactly how our children should be taught, not Washington bureaucrats. The Department of Education has given us No Child Left Behind and massive unfunded mandates. AFT needs to break w/tradition (only supporting democrats) and support Paul!

Where in The Constitution is Congress's authorization to write a national "Right to Not Collectively Bargain" law? Doesn't the First Amendment provide for feedom of speech and association?

The Republican primary highlights the major differences between the two parties and the role that labor must play in the upcoming November elections. While the Republicans claim class warfare it is in fact a fight for survival for the middle and lower classes. In Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, unions and their members are under attack by the Republican Tea Party extremists. It is up to union workers and union leadership to help organize and support lawmakers who will protect and support the American worker from the policies of the Mitt Romney's and other Republicans who are intent on continuing the onslaught against workers and their unions.

In light of the fact that the Republican Party was taken over by the "Right Wing" that calls themselves "Christians" when they do not follow, in any way, the teachings of Jesus Christ but instead have a Doctrine of Hate, it is no wonder that the candidates pandering to this leadership are so nauseating today. Their Policies do not help the citizens of this country but some of the Billionaires that have gotten rich using God's Name. There are some Republicans out there somewhere that have a brain, conscience, know what real Christianity is, have a love of their fellow man, and a love of this country. Please take your party back!!!

Should we go back to the days of sweatshops?