LETTERS: TAXPAYER-OWNED EQUIPMENT USED TO SEND E-MAILS

To the editor:

It's said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree. I'll add that often the view of the fairness of political actions is according to a person's political bent. State Sen. Peter Kinder knew that his sending several thousands of e-mails to state employees would be met with howls of disdain. He was prepared.

Here's Kinder's lament about his e-mails: "My offense? Sending an e-mail to 20-something-thousand state employees, vowing to defend them from the coming, mandatory Holden lug of $20 a month on their pay, whether they want to join the union or not. The Holden lug will follow his decision to unionize your state government by executive order."

When Kinder sent those e-mails, he used taxpayer-owned software, hardware and possibly the time of state employees to do his bidding. He politicized state employees' employment.

What Kinder can't or won't admit is this: He had no right to use taxpayers' equipment to further his political agenda. My taxes and your taxes pay for Missouri government operations. I don't want my taxes paying for achieving politicians' goals.

I say to Kinder, a Republican, and to all other persons -- whether Democrat, independent or other: Hands off Missouri taxpayers' equipment.

BOB SHETTLES

Liberty, Mo.