Nikola Drobac – 5/1/08

This page was last updated on May 1, 2008.

Regulate foreign trade; Nikola (Nick) Drobac; Beaver County Times; May 1, 2008.

Mr. Drobac is taking a break, kind of, in that the primary focus of the letter isn’t to bash Republicans for something. Mr. Drobac wrote at least 31 anti-Bush and/or anti-Republican rants since July 1, 2004. In a letter entitled “GOP messing things up” (October 29, 2002), Mr. Drobac expressed a wish to be able to laugh as all Republicans face financial ruin in retirement, calling them fools because they may have more confidence in themselves than in government bureaucrats and politicians.

According to his website, Mr. Drobac attended CCBC, Pitt, and USC.

Mr. Drobac appears to spam his letters to multiple papers, including newspapers in eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. Some of the papers in these locations include The Republican, The Patriot News, The Ephrata Review, and the Cumberland Times-News. At the same time he wrote letters to the Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette claiming to live in Aliquippa, Mr. Drobac sent letters to these other papers claiming to live in Oakland, MD, and/or Stevens, PA. You can see examples on Mr. Drobac’s website.

Mr. Drobac appears to be a journeyman secondary school teacher – at least three school districts over the last several years – who has taught in the aforementioned locations. As of this writing, Mr. Drobac appears to be on the Reading School District staff. In a previous letter Mr. Drobac described himself as a current/former “high school accounting and business teacher.” Does anyone doubt the stuff he writes in letters like this also finds its way into Mr. Drobac’s classes? Mr. Drobac also appears to serve as Vice President Information Systems for DiCenzo Personnel Specialists of Pittsburgh.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Taxes are like a bully. They keep coming at you until you stand up and fight back.

“That’s where America is today. We have been beaten up by taxes for so long that we now fight for lower taxes, no increase in existing taxes and/or the elimination (permanent or temporary) of taxes.”

[RWC] Let me get this straight. Mr. Drobac believes tax opposition is something new? I can’t speak for Aliquippa schools beyond kindergarten, but at St. Titus and/or Center High I learned about the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s right here in Western PA.

“Unfortunately, taxes are a necessary evil.”

[RWC] Mr. Drobac is being disingenuous. Leftists believe taxes are a key tool used to consolidate power in the government and to control the population.

“Clinton, McCain and Obama are discussing the possibility of temporarily eliminating the federal taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel for 60 days as a way to boost economic growth and development.

“These taxes go to fix roads and bridges that are necessary for safe travel by all Americans. We certainly want to do everything possible to prevent another bridge collapse like we had last year over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn.”

[RWC] Sorry, Mr. Drobac. The collapse report came out and attributed the main cause to a design flaw (Gusset plates were ½ the thickness they should have been.). A contributing factor was the weight of construction equipment/materials on the bridge. Maintenance was not the problem.

“So what is the solution?

“Back in the 1950s, I know of several people who graduated from Aliquippa High School and went on to the University of Pittsburgh.

“During the summer months, these individuals worked at J&L Steel in Aliquippa. A couple of them earned degrees in education. Those who earned a degree in education told me that steelworkers made more than twice what they made as first-year teachers.

“Although people never want to pay higher taxes, the Republican Party platform of 1960 never once mentioned lowering taxes or tax cuts.”

[RWC] What does the 1960 Republican platform have to do with anything? In any case, Mr. Drobac is wrong. The Republican Party Platform of 1960 stated, “To that end we favor: Broadly-based tax reform to foster job-making and growth-making investment for modernization and expansion, including realistic incentive depreciation schedules.” It sounds like “lowering taxes or tax cuts” to me.

“Since the 1950s, the United States has lost millions of manufacturing jobs. Western Pennsylvania has lost more than a half-a-million industrial jobs. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a half-a-million industrial jobs in the Pittsburgh area that paid more than twice what a new teacher makes?

“Wouldn’t it be nice if the federal government had tax sources adequate to finance expenditures as it did in the 1950s and 1960s? All we need to do is the five little words in the Constitution of the United States: regulate commerce with foreign nations.”

[RWC] If you’ve kept up with Mr. Drobac’s recent letters, you know by “regulate commerce with foreign nations” he really means protectionism. Does the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 ring any bells? Remember, Mr. Drobac claims to be a current/former “high school accounting and business teacher.” Where did Mr. Drobac learn history and economics?

In additional to protectionism, let’s also ban the use of automation. Robots that machine, paint, weld, etc. are taking jobs. Let’s not forget power tools since they allow employees to produce more in less time, meaning fewer employees. Come on, Mr. Drobac; think outside the box!

“Wouldn’t it be nice if the federal government had tax sources adequate to finance expenditures as it did in the 1950s and 1960s?” The feds are collecting more tax revenue now than ever before! As a good leftist, Mr. Drobac believes a lack of tax revenue is the problem, not excessive spending.

Finally, I need to mention a comment posted by William Horter (May 1, 2008 @ 10:17 AM) regarding the Drobac letter. Mr. Horter wrote, “Why anyone would expect our workers to compete with virtual slave labor in [Red] China and other places is beyond me.” This is the same man who in an e-mail note at least implied Red China was a great country. Mr. Horter’s exact words were, “You say all socialist countries have failed. None have risen to greatness? What say you of China?” It’s funny how Red China can go from “greatness” to using “virtual slave labor” depending on what Mr. Horter’s trying to sell, isn’t it?