Robert Schmetzer – 8/28/07

This page was last updated on August 28, 2007.

Bush ignores workplace safety; Robert Schmetzer; Beaver County Times; August 28, 2007.

I critiqued six previous Schmetzer letters and they are usually broken records. A 2004 letter asserted Republicans were “driving Americans into the ground.” That letter claimed the GOP planned “to reflect their commitment to defend our homeland by reintroducing the draft in 2005” despite the fact Democrats were the only guys talking about reinstating the draft. Recent letters resurrected the Cheney/Halliburton talking point, lobbied for VP Cheney’s impeachment, and lobbied for surrender in Iraq. Breaking the trend were letters lobbying for a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare system and another expressing panic at offshoring.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The underground rescue to save the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine has been halted. Tragically, the miners may be buried beneath the Utah mountain forever.

“I ask for your thoughts and prayers for the miners and their families, as well as for the families of the three rescue workers, who gave their lives trying to save the missing. I also ask for you to be someone who cares enough to take action to improve life for working families on many fronts.”

[RWC] After reading Mr. Schmetzer’s letters for the last three years, forgive me if I doubt his sincerity.

“Since the Bush administration came into office, it has been systematically dismantling workplace safety protections.”

[RWC] Note Mr. Schmetzer didn’t provide any details and thus this is just a drive-by accusation. If you recall, Mr. Schmetzer has a history of problems with the facts.

Even if it were true, why should this be a fed issue? Shouldn’t the states handle it? When did we go from “If you want something done right, do it yourself” to “If you want something done right, have the feds do it?”

“Corporate greed and the Bush administration’s neglect and indifference shall not go unchallenged.”

[RWC] When business is involved, it’s not really a liberal letter unless it uses the obligatory “corporate greed.” I believe it’s a requirement in the liberal writer’s style guide. <g>

“The neglect and indifference have not been isolated to workplace safety. Just look at our economy. Workers’ paychecks are stagnant while productivity goes up and up.”

[RWC] As usual, Mr. Schmetzer has a problem with facts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages increased 3.9% from July 2006 to July 2007.

“Just think back to the administration’s catastrophic response to Hurricane Katrina, the poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital, the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and our health-care crisis.”

[RWC] Wow, Katrina again! Does Mr. Schmetzer not know the first responders are state and local agencies, not the feds? Regarding “the nation’s crumbling infrastructure,” that’s under the control of state and local governments, not the feds.

Regarding “the health-care crisis,” Mr. Schmetzer’s solution is a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare system.

Regarding Walter Reed, while bad, the problem was not related to the quality of care received by our soldiers.

“Many people are wondering about all the things that are wrong with America. Fortunately, in our democracy we have a chance to fix what’s wrong by electing new leaders who put working families first.”

[RWC] Mr. Schmetzer, aren’t just about all families “working families?” If not, what is your definition of “working family?”