To the Journal editor:

It seems as though I have hurt someone’s feelings with my scathing letter. Sorry but if you don’t want to be called a hypocrite, don’t align yourself with hypocrites.

The conservative right is hypocritical on so many levels. Let’s just start with fiscal policy. Tell me, Mr. Sharland, how is that old trickle down theory of economics working? Doesn’t this theory postulate that as the corporations and the wealthy do well, so do the rest of us?

During the Bush/Cheney “Reign of Error” we had a vibrant economy with budget surpluses, the national debt being paid down, and what did they do with it?

They were advised by many economists to stay the course, but did they? No! Their economic policies wreaked havoc on the country, and we are slowly recovering from this fiasco despite conservative obstructionism.

We are basically under these policies because Republicans have stonewalled any change.

Hogwash, Mr. Sharland? Hypocrisy? Let’s talk about the Republican cry to cut spending. Can you tell me of any time in the recent past when they have cut any significant spending without raising spending on their own pet agendas?

You call the Democrats “tax and spend,” but isn’t it more responsible to have enough income to cover your spending? The only thing conservatives cut is income (taxes), they are the party of borrow and spend.

They are the party that is mortgaging our county’s future. Ronald Reagan, the icon of fiscal conservatism, increased the national debt by over 300 percent. How’s that for fiscal responsibility?

I hate to assume, but I will assume that Mr. Sharland’s unions “coercion” comment alludes to unions using dues money for political purposes, something we do not do. Using members dues money for politics is expressly forbidden by law.

Do the corporations labor under the same restraints? No. Shouldn’t the use of shareholder money be held to the same standard?

Isn’t it coercion to use these funds for politics against many stockholders wishes? The Koch brothers alone gave more to PACs than the top ten unions combined.

As for being compared to bullies, do the names Christie, Cruz and Perry ring any bells? How about Limbaugh, Hannity and O’Reilly? These are the faces of conservatism that are highly visible on the nightly news. Not a very pretty face is it?

By the way, Tom, I know the difference between quoting and paraphrasing, do you?

Jeff Prusi

Negaunee