Recently, there have been numerous editorials and other articles in the papers about a supposedly mysterious and sinister group called Big Labor. Those who write these articles would have you believe that if this group is allowed to continue its dastardly activities, the United States or at least Colorado will cease to exist as we know it.

Let me introduce you to the peoplewho belong to this group. They are asbestos workers, nurses, teachers, firemen, mailmen, and grocery clerks. They are grandmothers and grandfathers, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, your neighbors and friends. Pretty scary people aren't they?

They work hard for things like health care, a comfortable retirement, college for their children, dignity and respect. They work for a living wage to have a nice home, food on the table, good schools for their kids and, yes, maybe a little vacation once in a while. They join together to form a union of people with common goals to share their resources and talents so that their voices will be heard and their contributions noticed.

Are these not things that you hope for? Are these not things that our Founding Fathers intended when they worked so diligently to form "a more perfect union"? Unions are not some sinister group designed to unravel the economy, they are designed to make it stronger. One truly important thing all Big Businessmen should remember - who will buy their goods and services if we, the backbone of America, can not?

If Big Business is allowed to succeed in its attempts to eliminate the middle class by eliminating living wages and benefits for the working men and women of Colorado and the United States, and destroy their right to collectively bargain, then in fact we no longer recognize our country.