I took issue with the News Tribune publishing a commentary on business regulation by Thomas J. Donohue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (PRO/CON: "Should tax cuts be extended for all income brackets? Yes: Extending tax rates will boost economy, jobs," Oct. 2.).
The chamber (not to be confused with local chambers) seems intent on buying the 2010 elections with foreign corporate money. The chamber refused to reveal the identity of these corporate contributors. Americans should be very troubled by this foreign influence. The corporations want to influence U.S. economic and foreign policy and want U.S. companies to further outsource American jobs while Republican/Tea Party candidates they support howl about the unemployment rate.
Chamber money is supporting Tea Party/Republican candidates across the country. These candidates can be expected to fall in line with Republicans who have continually obstructed efforts by President Obama and a majority in Congress to improve the economy and help the unemployed. Parts of these efforts include protecting America from Wall Street and big-business strategies that have tanked the economy. The chamber and its favored candidates seem to want to eliminate the minimum wage. A rising tide of Tea Party and Republican candidates seem to want to privatize Social Security.
Voters should think clearly about who is going to help middle- and low-income people and who is going to protect the interests of large corporations and the very top income bracket. I never have seen a Tea Party or Republican who consistently supported working people. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not have our best interests in mind.
The News Tribune should commit acts of journalism and investigate the U.S. Chamber or re-publish other reports on their funding efforts.
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Robert Jokela
Duluth
