Right-to-work will lower wages and weaken the economy

Currently, Missouri Republicans are bent on passing so called "right-to work" legislation. Even though the president pro tem of the Senate said it isn't a priority of the Senate and it faces veto by the governor, they press on while they could be working to modernize our economy.

It's amusing, after winning a local election, that some of these politicians instantly become economic experts pushing unproven ideas placed in their heads by corporate donors. As an agribusiness man who has used my capital to hire new employees, I can tell you "right-to-work" will do nothing except lower wages in our state and weaken our economy.

However, let's say at some point the agenda becomes tomorrow's short sighted law of the land. Who will they blame then?

Case in point from Southeast Missouri: After taking millions in federal loan guarantees, Nordyne, located in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has announced they'll move production and close shop. You'd assume greedy unions chased the job creators into the welcoming arms of a "right-to-work" state, but Nordyne wasn't a union shop. Unionization wasn't even talked about at their plant.

Nordyne didn't close its plant to move to a "right-to-work" state; they moved the operation to Saltillo, Mexico. Pass all the union-busting legislation you want and it wouldn't do a thing for the 700 people in Southeast Missouri who lost their jobs.

Why haven't more companies bypassed Missouri for Arkansas, rather than wait on "right-to-work" to pass here? Jobs in RTW states are consistently lower paying, lack health care benefits, and are almost always attracted due to tax incentives that reduce services at the expense of the citizens.

The legislature is copying Kansas in dropping income taxes, even as Kansas is facing $800 million budget shortfalls. Are they now going to copy Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to "buy" jobs with tax breaks -- jobs that will keep workers in poverty and on the Medicaid rolls?

Anyone doing minimal due diligence will realize "right-to-work" states are notorious for lower wages, graduation rates, education dollars, living standards and the list goes on.

These right-wing politicians are indebted wealthy donors who blame unions for any ills. It leads me to wonder, if they are successful in lowering wages, living standards and public services, who they will blame when they don't have unions to kick around anymore?

Barry Aycock is a businessman residing in a Parma, Mo.