Letters from Readers

I have a couple of guesses about President Obama’s apparent need to bow to crowned heads of state as though he is one of their subjects.

One is that he really is aware of the fact that he has no business holding the office he somehow gained. Whereas any other American leader worthy of the presidency would know that in greeting other heads of state — whether they are elected or crowned — he’s greeting his own peers, Obama is self-conscious when faced with a “real” leader.

The other possibility is that Obama sees the whole thing as a game. “Oh, wow! What do you do when you meet a real king/emperor? Why, you bow! Everyone knows that. So let me bow just like I practiced. Isn’t this fun!”

Which is it? Frankly, I suspect it’s a little of both.

Stephen Kosciesza

Silver Spring

Union members are not all white-collar yuppies

Re: “Ban government employee unions,” Editorial, Nov. 16

This editorial denigrates government workers, painting the false picture that they are all white-collar “yuppiecrats.” But the government work force also includes warehouse workers, maintenance workers and mechanics.

The editorial also relies on quotes from James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation, a notoriously anti-union organization, who mentions that union membership is down to 7.3 percent of the private-sector work force but fails to mention why. The current state of labor law in this country makes it virtually impossible to form a union even though more than 60 percent of U.S. workers would like to join one.

Union salaries have always helped raise the pay of all workers. Is it just a coincidence that the average worker’s salary has remained stagnant since the decline of union membership began? Unions also helped end child labor and unsafe working conditions, and were the catalyst of the eight-hour day and the weekend off.

Americans love democracy, so why do we put up with a dictatorship at work?

Tim Shamble

Sterling

Palin drives away moderates, independents

Re: “Like her or hate her, Palin is here to stay,” Nov. 18

Noemie Emery has confirmed my worst nightmare that Sarah Palin is here to stay. Emery’s ridiculous comparisons of her to FDR and Ted Kennedy aside, Palin’s recent publicity tour and persecution routine are constant reminders of exactly why I abandoned the McCain ticket.

Palin’s strengthening ties to conservative factions continue to divide the Republican Party by driving away the majority of moderates and independents. If she is indeed the best candidate that “grass-roots” Republicans can muster and successfully moves the party to the extreme Right, I’m afraid it will be a long time indeed before the Grand Old Party is ever taken seriously again.

The sooner Palin stops being news, the sooner Democrats will stand any chance of being challenged.

Ross Dangel

Eldersburg, Md.