Insult to (comp) injury

Referring to Mal Leary’s article on Workers’ Compensation in Maine (BDN, Aug. 31), I must comment from the worker’s viewpoint rather than the one-sided view of Chamber of Commerce types, and Republicans in general. These are the bodies who consistently moan and whimper about taxes, the comp system, unions, Social Security, indeed virtually every single governmentally deeded program designed to aid the common person. Now we have the newly created band of social program destructors calling themselves the Workers Compensation Coordinating Council chartered in 1993.

Not once in the article did anyone mention, and I suspect no one at any time mentioned, the grief suffered by injured workers or the protection the business world enjoys since Jock McKernan’s pet program was begun changing the system to the deplorable state that exists today from the victim’s point of view. The above-mentioned tormentors, whose slack practices were the cause of the uprising about the comp system to begin with, seem to be crying again about “the cost,” none giving a twit about those suffering from injuries, often because of poor safety practices at their establishments.

Think of this advantage for one. Businesses are exempt from lawsuits by injured workers because comp is supposed to eliminate that necessity by paying settlements much lower than a “private” case. They’re capped.

You’ve heard that heralded GOP war cry even in Washington where the fight continues to cap HMO settlements. These people protect the least worthy, the wealthiest. Even at the onset of the struggle for the Social Security system in the 1930s, the GOP fought to not have it even exist. They continue to fight to ruin it. Read the papers and you get the message. Tinkering with Social Security is one of their favorite pastimes. Keeping the minimum wage minimum, another.

Imagine the mean-spiritedness of these people of the so-called “coordinating council” threatening to banish political candidates because they might not agree with their selfish demands. That’s what they’re doing, make no mistake about it. Who are they coordinating for? Certainly not me, nor any common workers like me and many, if not most, readers of this column.

Gubernatorial candidate John Baldacci was given a “cool” reception when introduced at their little gathering of candidates where the threats were bandied about, while business tycoon Cianchette received resounding applause while promising to keep those comp reformers in their place if elected, and “lay out the welcome mat to business!” Scary stuff. The other GOP wannabe said, me too, as did that pretender, Democrat/independent, David Flanagan.

In another part of the Bangor Daily News that day was a poll by The Associated Press asking people’s feelings for labor or business. Labor “won” overwhelmingly as people are finally beginning to realize all this GOPness with their support going exclusively to the business community ain’t what it’s cracked up to be.

This coordinating group (how it troubles me to say that) has a new plan to further destroy our already crippled Maine comp system. They want to change the membership of the comp board by adding to it. You can be certain they won’t be going to the AFL-CIO hall to drum up candidates. They would prefer something like the 5-4 setup at the U.S. Supreme Court, that wise group who selected the illustrious occupant of the White House.

I hope the system of comp changes with a return to one which benefits those for whom it was designed, workers. It’s not a “Business Compensation System” although it would seem that way. Don’t be fooled by this little group of pocket zealots who threaten people. Watch who gives what to whom during the gubernatorial race, especially the coordinators who coordinate for the few with the most. Haven’t we had enough of this?

George F. McCann lives in LaGrange.