Rauner's misguided idea of 'work'

Does anyone else see how Governor Rauner values work in our society? He has scoured the country to find highly qualified advisers, according to his explanations. These advisers are "idea" people.

They don't actually perform any physical services for the residents of this state outside of advising Rauner how and where to cut expenses. For their ideas they are very highly paid.

When questioned, Rauner says their salary is high because they are well qualified. However, when it comes to the working people of our state, like teachers, firefighters, policemen and skilled tradesmen, he considers them all overpaid.

In fact, eliminating the prevailing wage so that state service providers can save money, due to draconian budget cuts, he is actually telling us that we can make do with people of questionable skills. While he demands quality advisers, we can have our schools, community safety, and infrastructure built and maintained by anyone who calls himself a professional. At least with trade unions, apprenticeship programs taking years of training insure skilled workers.

Shouldn't we also look for the best qualified? Shouldn't we pay what quality work is worth? Rauner has no idea what quality work really is since he works with ideas, not actually building something or teaching or policing or fighting fires.

Eliminating unions and the prevailing wage only lowers the wages and living conditions of workers in our state. Poverty will indeed trickle up as fewer dollars translate into less spending and a shrinking economy with business leaving.

Irene Wojtysiak

Pingree Grove