A recent sound off caller tried to explain right to work to me, and the caller described it to a T. Freeloading is what it is. It's reaping all the benefits of belonging to a union (wages, health care, pensions, etc.) and not paying dues.

The caller infers that all dues are used for is to back political candidates and issues. Wrong. A very small portion is used for this. Dues are used for negotiating committees for one. And these committees get fair wages and benefits.

When people don't pay dues, the unions can not continue to get them their fair wages. As a consequence, their wages go down and they lose benefits.

It's like getting benefits from AARP and not paying dues. It's like having your car towed free from Amoco and not belonging to the Amoco Motor Club. It's like not paying any taxes at all (sales, state, gasoline, utilities, etc.) and using all the things the country offers.

Yes, some of us don't pay federal taxes, but I'll bet the real estate taxes on my house -- you know, that "huge" house letter writer Leon Anderson is always mentioning -- is more than most pay in federal and all others combined.

No, the caller doesn't have to explain right to work (for less) to me. I know exactly what it means.

Michael Ray Dillier

Collinsville