A recent issue of ENR contained an article, “Robot Arm Points to Steel Fabrication Future,” about robot arms being used for structural steel fabrication (ENR 9/27 p. 17). The senior welding engineer, Brad Shaw, said, “the idea is to make [fabrication of] steel structures more competitive.”

I don't know where Mr. Shaw practices steel fabrication but, in the markets in which I practice as a steel detailer, if it gets any more competitive, I’ll have to pay the client to work for him.

JOE SLATER
Detailer
Urbana, Ohio

Political Puzzle

I never cease to be amazed at the continued support labor unions provide to the Democratic party. The Democrats claim to look out for you, but in reality, their tax policies and economic practices result in a slower economy and fewer dollars spent on construction. The result: Fewer union jobs, paying less money.

Why do they get this blind support?  Because they claim to protect your job and back minimum wage increases? These won’t mean much when you don’t have a job to go to. Unions thrive under Republican administrations, and then they vote for Democrats. I don’t get it.

BRYAN HUGHES
PPR—A rePipe Company
Sacramento

Back Off

In our Manhattan office library we keep yearly bound copies of ENR dating back to 1919 for reference and history. For more than 50 years I have been a reader of ENR, the best construction industry magazine of its type, anywhere.

However, in your Oct. 25 issue, you inserted a misleading political advertisement, “2004 Voter Guide,” paid for by Associated Builders & Contractors. When one reads it, it is not a guide but a pure partisan political advertisement providing erroneous information.

I have searched many ENR issues in my office published during previous presidential campaigns going back to Warren Harding and have never found any partisan advertisements such as this. The ad is not worthy of inclusion in ENR.

BERNARD HABER
Partner Emeritus
Hardesty & Hanover, LLP
New York City