Everyone needs their turn being a victim, come on down Mr. Anderson and Mr. de Lisle. While I do not know either individual and I am sure they are good people but to say Mr. McCaughey threatened you is a stretch. As businessman in this tough enviroment, look at it this way, he is laying you off, firing you for any services possibly needed. It's not personal; it's business. Or perhaps he is offering some free marketing, for every person disinclined to use your services because of his story you may gain a sympathetic customer from you involvement in the Chamber and EngageRI.
Back to involvement for a minute, if either Mr. Anderson, Mr. de Lisle, or Mr. McCaughey had been involved 20 years ago in asking if we were saving enough for these liabilities; perhaps we would not have ended up in this situation.
I won't hold your membership in the Chamber or EngageRI against you, but playing a sorry victim routine I will hold against you. As well as you, Mr. McCaughey.

Take "action" against somebody for writing you a letter? You're not the victims here, the teachers are. When you take political action by joining a group like EngageRI, be ready to pay the price. Thank you, Mr. McCaughey for making us aware of the action of some of our local businesses.

So Mr. Anderson is offended by Mr. McCaughey's "threat", and responds by actually threatening "to go after this guy." Tsk tsk Mr. Anderson.
When a local business (or group of businesses) takes sides in a political debate they had best be prepared to deal with the repercussions from the community and their customers. And to threaten an elderly man who just points out something that public record anyway is ridiculous.
You make a bold statement in your support of EngageRI Mr. Anderson, but then act the coward when called on the carpet for it. Shameful.

I spent sometime speaking with Mr. McCaughey on the phone after receiving "my letter" from him. I had only been a member of the EG Chamber for just a few days and at that only on paper. That in itself is another story and an interesting on at that!

I have to tell you I understand his desire to try and make a difference. Though his letter was very harsh. It grabbed my attention and that was it's intended purpose. I wasted no time and called him.

I respect Mr McCaughey as it takes great courage to address your grievances in public. In a small way Mr McCaughey has made a difference because it's made us stop and think about who represents us. Well done!

I'm trying to better understand all.....can someone assist please.

I'd like to remind all concerned that the financial troubles of our State evolved over time and that any and all remedies will probably take quite a while to balance things out. The elected officials and union leaders who negotiated the contracts that are now part of our problems going forward were not, as I recall, widely criticized at the time. Nor did any group of Concerned Citizens try to warn the rest of us. Tax payers and state and municipal union members accepted the deals as normal business. Now we have learned that things have changed. The old ways don't work anymore.

How we deal with this new reality is our challenge and will certainly test us as citizens and neighbors.

Mr. McCaughy is crying in his own soup...Bah Hah! Sir you voted for all your union bosses and politicians all these years...and you yourself are to blame. Start by looking in the mirror.

Mr. McCaughy has every right to shop where he wants and to express himself. Chamber members hold steady as I will tell all my family and friends to shop at your stores and by any products they can from you. YOU CAN"T GIVE INTO A THUG LIKE THIS GUY. To say he was a teacher is a joke....this is waht the education sytem in RI has turned into...people like MCCaughy. Now you know why Providence residents want charter schools and free choice for their children!

OK let me get this straight.... Mr McCaughy threatens to expose Chamber businesses with the potential loss of business from a particular group.
This group depends on the income derived from these businesses and their employees to fund their pensions.
Reminds me of the joke, where a man has a gun to his own head and says "take one more step and I'll shoot".....
Brilliant!

I will proudly support all East Greenwich Chamber Businesses, this is a new reality a page turned for the states economic future!

Thanks! Now I get it in that the minority expects all to continue as is with cloaks and daggers......cover up the issue to keep issues hidden and if the few don't like what the majority are saying, they will attempt to silence any objectors. Bottom line - unions prefer to maintain status quo while their customers and or bosses- taxpayers bleed.

I too will support any business that is being threatened by thugs!

I don't think the poll question attached to the article is very useful. The question at issue here is not about what the legislature did last year, it's whether or not it is "fair" to try to "punish" or "get revenge" on people who were publicly involved in the discussions leading up to that decision.

1. The state is in a tough situation. A 42% pension cut to retirees doesn't seem like a balanced solution to me. If cuts/savings were distributed more equitably, I could support some pension cuts.
2. How much did the EG chamber contribute to EngageRI? What % of spending was it? If this is a tiny amount of chamber spending, and they're spending more on other items that contribute to the community, then I wouldn't not patronize a chamber member. I think most people feel the same way. If the chamber's main focus is on state-level political issues, then I would question the judgment of chamber members.
3. I'm past questioning Mr. Anderson's judgment. To suggest that sharing publically available information constitutes a threat, say that to threaten is idiotic, and then in the same breath ACTUALLY THREATEN to "go after" Mr. McCaughey is beyond ridiculous and unprofessional. Over the years, I've spent a lot at Mr. Anderson's shop and have referred friends to him over big box stores. I'll find another small local business to patronize next time I need new equipment.
4. A bit of advice to chamber members: If you support EngageRI and can rationally and professionally defend that decision, you don't have anything to worry about. If you didn't know the chamber was supporting EngageRI, than you can thank Mr. McCaughey for informing you and make a decision about what is best for your business. Either way, take a cue from Ms. Muzalewski, not Mr. Anderson.

Central Falls, East Providence, Woonsocket, West Warwick.....shall I continue?? How about union suggestion of giving them Twin River to subsidize their pensions. How about the union suggestion that the state raise taxes to subsidize pensions. How about the union telling members not to contribute to charities that supported EngageRI....do they know who they are actually hurting, do they care? Attitudes of the minority are simply amazing. Can you say "true colors"?

All of this reminds me of the old expression "Be reasonable, do it my way".

Also, I wonder about the excellent salaries and benefits the union officials get. Are they going to share in this dilemma in any way? I doubt it. Instead, Mr Walsh (NEARI)promotes the guy who was convicted of cyberstalking. I think the union needs a good PR guy/gal as "You get more with honey than with vinegar" or, so it is said.

I'm also reminded of another expression "It all depends on whose ox is being gored".

I'd like to point out that this article never mention NEARI, and the only reference to any union is a quote from the anonymous hate mail that Mr. McCaughey received. In fact, Mr. McCaughey expresses his displeasure at the people fighting to save his pension:
“I’m sitting back and I have heard nothing from any organization,” McCaughey said. “Maybe I can do something myself.”
I assume Mr. McCaughey is a union member, but even that simple fact is never mentioned in the article. The article never asks if NEARI approves or disapproves of this letter writing campaign. This article depicts the action of one man who worked his entire life for a state that promised him certain rewards upon his retirement, but is reneging on those promises and contracts years later.
To wrap this up as union vs. taxpayers undermines the whole premise of the article. That arguement has been talked out on websites, tv, talk radio, and every other local media outlet. This is the story of single individual taking a stand on his own and getting hate mail and threatened for it.

Projo article - Chafee prepping us for both tax increases and cuts. I'm looking forward to increased cuts without tax increases........this state needs to stop raising taxes to promote business and growth. Also on his agenda - addressing individual town and city pension issues. I was also appreciative of unions stance that the state does not need to become invloved with town and city pension issues. Probably best to allow the unions to squeeze all they can until all is similar to Central Falls.

GV1953 - I have personal knowledge of each point I have indicated. Your indications to the contrary very much show either your lack of knowledge or ignorance. Either way you are a representation as to why the average tax paying resident should be concerned..... very concerned. If you follow suit as others such as yourself, you will now disappear now that you have been exposed.

ahhh civil dis-coarse (before I am corrected - I meant to spell it like that) this thread has reminded me that many of us are pretty angry and, apparently, bear no responsibility for the mess we're in. How about all you folks with all this important information posting under your real names?

Doesn't matter how we got here, we're here. All this finger pointing is wasted energy.