Michael Sauers

June 29, 2026

In a June 25, 2026 Bloomsburg, PA. Press Enterprise “Editorial” the authors lampooned Berwick educators for what they consider to be “high” salaries/benefits. They are what they are only because educators unionized. Without teacher unions salaries/benefits would be even more depressed. For every sin unions have committed, capitalists have committed thousands. I will stand with unions every time.

The above is worthy of a full-throated public discussion. I would point out the nobody goes into public education thinking they will be financially successful. You will pay your bills, have healthcare, earn a pension and, most importantly, have an opportunity to affect the lives of hundreds of young learners. More discussion is necessary.

What the authors failed to mention is that public schools in Pennsylvania have been underfunded by the State of Pennsylvania for decades. In 2023, Pennsylvania courts ruled that the accepted funding paradigm was unconstitutional and ordered the Pennsylvania legislature to remedy it. Our Governor, state representatives and state senators concocted a multi-year plan (7-10) to bring state funding to mere “adequacy’. There has been/is a multi-billion dollar surplus in state revenues. More discussion is necessary.

The editorial decries the lack of improvement. Over the years and after numerous funding advancements, the State of Pennsylvania and most school districts have failed to do the one thing that would truly make a difference, REDUCE CLASS SIZE! This is a no brainer. I have personally experienced the difference between 15 students and 25 students. They have spent taxpayer dollars on everything but CLASS SIZE REDUCTION. CLASS SIZE MATTERS! This is not rocket science. It is common sense.

So, let me briefly say that the Governors and Legislatures of Pennsylvania have severely failed taxpayers by establishing a natural gas impact fee instead of a natural gas severance tax. We are talking about tens of billions of dollars annually. To me, this is stupidity on full display. The oil and gas industry (fracking) is driving the bus in Pennsylvania. Do some research. This alone could put a dent in CLASS SIZE REDUCTION!

In a June 17, 2026 Bloomsburg, PA Press Enterprise “Editorial” the authors referred to our federal government as “feckless” in reference to handling nuclear waste. This is unfair. Nuclear power could not exist without corporate welfare and lots of it. What they failed to mention is that the nuclear power industry heavily lobbied for the passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 1982. The nuclear industry successfully shifted the financial burden of the highly toxic nuclear waste they created to “consumer” fee and taxpayers. Oops!

It is painfully funny and interesting to watch pseudo capitalists. True and ethical capitalism has merit as does worker owned enterprise. No corporate welfare!