The vice chairman of the Wasatch County, Utah GOP said Friday that he meant no offense by writing a letter to the editor in two local papers explaining why he feels businesses should not be “forced” to pay men and women equally, local TV station KSTU reported.
James Green was motivated to write the letter, published Wednesday, by a bill in the state Senate that includes a requirement for employers to adopt baseline policies about equal work and equal pay, according to KTSU.
Green said he disagrees with the bill because he believes “traditionally,” men have made more money because they are providers, while women stay home to raise children.
“Traditionally men have earned more than women in the workplace because they are considered the primary breadwinners for families,” the letter read. “They need to make enough to support their families and allow the Mother to remain in the home to raise and nurture the children.”
Green argued paying women equally would take away money from men and force mothers to leave the home in order to work.
“If businesses are forced to pay women the same as male earnings, that means they will have to reduce the pay for the men they employ… simple economics,” the letter continued. “If that happens, then men will have an even more difficult time earning enough to support their families, which will mean more Mothers will be forced to leave the home (where they may prefer to be) to join the workforce to make up the difference.”
The letter sparked swift backlash as it circulated online, and Green told KTSU that he has been in “hot water” since it was published.
“There was no offense intended toward Women, whatsoever,” he wrote in a letter to KTSU. “And yet some took it that way. To those who were offended, I profusely apologize. I sincerely did not mean to do that.”
Read the full letter below via KSTU:
“Dear Residents of Heber Valley,
I submitted a letter last week which some found offensive. First of all, I want to clarify those were purely my opinions and do not reflect those of the Wasatch County Republican Party or the Republican Party in general.
Secondly, I want to clarify the main focus of my letter was to express that I don’t feel the government should be dictating to private establishments what they must do in regard to employment, hiring, or wages.
There was no offense intended toward Women, whatsoever. And yet some took it that way. To those who were offended, I profusely apologize. I sincerely did not mean to do that.
Of course, Women’s contributions in the workplace are just as valuable as any one else’s. I was merely pointing out the historical reasons for pay disparity and the challenges of overcoming that.
While I worked my fingers to the bone (with numerous extra side jobs) so my Wife could stay in the home and raise our two Sons, who are now both Physician/Surgeons (plus one also has a Law Degree), I realize not everyone is so fortunate.
Please accept my apology for any misunderstanding.
Kind regards,
Jim Green”
I am guessing he is a White Jesus Republican who wants a cheap house cleaner, subsidized by US taxpayer.
Trump: NO. It is meant to be offensive. Women should just stay home.
What’s with the Extra Caps in Green’s letter? I think I need an apology for his poor capitalization.
I wonder how far Green’s “traditionalism” goes: do men with larger families deserve higher pay? Are some men more equal than others?
Last point: has anyone sat this nice man down to explain to him that employers are paying for the work, and not who does the work?
James Green had this little gem published in the Salt Lake Tribune just this morning:
The Trump administration promised they would dismantle the ACA (Obamacare) and encourage Congress to repeal it.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. It should never have been passed in the first place and it has been a disaster ever since, affecting many lives negatively, including mine.
However, it appears the Republicans feel obligated to “replace it” with some other government program. Not sure what they have in mind.
But I would strongly recommend that they don’t replace it all. Just let this be returned to the free-market, where natural forces of competition take care of affordability and coverage.
No one has a right to medical care anyway. This is something that must be earned by individual effort and careful shopping.
The government surely is not obligated to provide it, as that is not its proper role.
As for having “all” health care covered by insurance, that opens up a Pandora’s Box.
Medical insurance should only be for catastrophic occurrences, such as an accident, cancer, heart attack, stroke, serious illness. But never for routine and insignificant ailments.
Covering these is what has largely driven up the cost of health care. We have car insurance for accidents, loss or damage … but not for oil changes, tuneups and alignments.
People should pay for routine procedures (runny nose, scrapes, upset stomach, sinus infection, etc.) out of pocket. That encourages frugality and price competition and saves everyone money.
Please tell your congressmen you don’t want any “replacement” for Obamacare. You just want the government out of the business completely.
James Green
Heber City
He’s a real piece of work.
Translation:
Dear women, I’m not sure why any of you found it offensive that I think you should stay home and that your work isn’t as valuable as work done by a man, but boy am I sorry to be getting the consequences of saying it!
I take it then that he’s a Marxist? “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” – Karl Marx