Unions

Being somewhat juvenile, I still get easily exercised over things that are screamingly unfair. For example, there are Conservative members of trade or public sector unions. These unions are allowed to charge dues, then use the money to promote Progressive candidates and causes. How is that even legal? Why can't members opt out of paying for the political activities of their union? This has to be a free speech violation. Some would counter that corporations make political contributions, too, so things wash in the end. Not true. Corporations can't collect from their employees against their will, and corporations have the wishy-washy habit of funding both parties rather than promote a particular ideology. In 2008, for instance, 70% of Wall Street money went to Obama. If anyone knows of a Republican candidate who received 70% of union money, let me know.

How about strikes? When trade unions strike, their members can collect unemployment. The law requires employers to buy the unemployment insurance that the striking employees collect. Do you see the lunacy? The employer is required to finance the strike against itself. For a little salt in the wound, after the strike is settled, the employer's unemployment insurance costs rise because of high payments made to the striking employees. No one else qualifies for unemployment if they walk out. Why unions?

Both of these unfairnesses (sometimes I make up words) are because Democrats made the laws, and Republicans were asleep. Politics is (was, and always will be) the process of buying and holding power. Democrats have had generations to slant the playing field using taxpayer money. It may take a generation or two, but there's still time to reintroduce fairness into government; and the ironic solution is to get rid of a lot of it.

This November, and every November thereafter, elect people whose entire platform is to remove Progressive cancers from the body politic. A little pain; a world of gain.