Our financial freedoms are at stake

To the Editor:

The indoctrination efforts of government labor unions coupled with inroads of liberalism have contributed greatly to the downfall of our society morally and economically.

People need to realize when we elect people to office we empower them to act on our behalf. Whatever laws and taxation they enact we must obey, for better or worse. Because these are unprecedented times, we must pay very close attention to what candidates actually say and “deliberately” not say.

Recently, Democrat hopeful Claiborne Pell announced his candidacy for governor and noted he’s “running for governor because people of his generation feel they cannot find a job,” that it’s “too hard to start a business and get a good education and stay in our state.” In addition, Pell noted the need to “make it easier to start a business” and “streamline regulations” and stated, “The state must be forward-thinking and willing to make investments in our state’s cities and towns, including making our schools strong.”

Shouldn’t he have given one example of what he would do differently? Where is that money going to come from? How will we make our schools strong? What are some of the regulations that need to be streamlined? What does he mean, “forward thinking,” and what kind of investments is he referring to?

His statements were designed to bring comfort to the disillusioned that mirror Obama’s claim to fame that was built on nothing more than lies and profoundly unrealistic expectations, and shame on the Johnston Democratic Committee for their endorsement.

In addition, just recently, Democrat hopeful Richard J. DelFino III announced his candidacy for the Johnston Town Council for District 1, in which he “promises to meet regularly with Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp. and with businesses in the area to help resolve air quality, traffic and health and safety issues.” In addition, he “supports the revival of the Thornton Plainfield business district, including “improved traffic patterns around Plainfield Pike” and promised to “work cooperatively, respectfully and professionally with all his colleagues in government.” Delfino also supports “community policing and increased surveillance to ensure compliance with traffic laws and town ordinances” and wants to “provide first responders with the support and tools to function effectively with the highest standards.”

Mr. DelFino’s objectives are well-intentioned, but there are other far greater objectives. The truth is government labor unions continue to bankrupt our cities and towns, in which all the wishful thinking can only be achieved via ever increasing unsustainable taxation. Candidates need to read through the contracts, as I continually do, to realize the endless continued bankrupting and unsustainable provisions and outrageous pensions and how they are calculated, including 12 percent pension contributions, 3 percent COLAs and continued fully paid healthcare for life upon retirement. I strongly urge every Johnston candidate to get the contracts and make cost affective government priority number one that would “truly” accomplish all the above.

As for Mr. DelFino’s appreciation of Mayor Polisena and our current Democratic elected and unelected officials – his colleagues – they deliberately go out of their way not to address the above real issues of which voters need to be weary.

In closing, as I’ve stated countless times, our only recourse is privatization wherever possible and only paying wages and benefits that reflect the private sector including affordability that again, the above mentioned will never address. I know keeping up with the issues can be very difficult especially considering all the false rhetoric but I hope the voters will realize this is the year to take the bull by the horns and give it a sincere effort because our financial freedoms truly are at stake.

Peter A. Filippi III

Johnston