Recovery wanted, not rewind to past

With our new “governor of the past,” even more Republicans, plus their creepy little sister Tea Party, now in office, we suddenly find ourselves confronted by those who think they have a mandate to conduct their extreme agenda.

The current political situation was created out of frustration. Votes that made the difference were provided by common working people who remain desperate to see improved financial situations in their daily lives, especially those who live in the despair of unemployment with little or no hope for improvement. Our newly elected officials were put into power to provide change for those who have lost so much, but instead, an old tired agenda has once again become business as usual with these so-called public servants.

What kind of jobs will be created by limiting a woman's right to choose, legislating discrimination by abolishing same-sex marriage, eliminating the Department of Natural Resources' oversight of waste waters and other potential environmental hazards, union busting state employees, cutting educational funding and the elimination of state project labor agreements that guarantee a well-trained local work force for public projects? These efforts are a travesty by the very people entrusted to help us!

Economic recovery from this situation, brought about by greedy neoconservative ideology, will never succeed when further hardship is unjustly thrust upon the backs of hard-working middle class people while multimillionaires and corporations receive even more tax breaks and concessions.

Charlie Hogue

Cedar Rapids