The Free Press, Mankato, MN

July 25, 2010

Your View: Randy Demmer has declared war on the worker

Craig Jaskulke, Madison Lake

— When it comes to the unemployed people of the 1st Congressional District, state representative Randy Demmer has something to tell you. He thinks you are lazy and selfish. He thinks the only thing keeping you from employment is your love of a handout.

In The Free Press, Demmer said, “When they’re put in a position to really go and find something, I think they will.” Demmer has declared war on the worker.

This is just the latest example of the contempt he has for the hard-working members of our communities. Demmer has continually voted against the minimum wage, for the rights of outsourcers, and has stood squarely with Wall Street every step of the way.

He has made political capital and millions of dollars on the backs of the working poor and the middle class. Now he wants a promotion by kicking the unemployed at their time of greatest need.

It is time we defend ourselves. We need to tell Demmer that we want jobs and not rhetoric. Over the next four months we need to remind him that the unemployed still have rights, and one of them is the right to vote.