We are also entering an era in which Americans value individual initiative more than collective welfare.

I wish.

ajacksonian on December 12, 2012 at 4:06 PM

I am going to snark a bit here, please don’t think I am dismissing your well thought out post, but really?

Are you under the mistaken impression that the unions exist to help the workers at the shop floor level? Ummm, I don’t think so!!! They have been money laundering racketeers for libs since the first day of time.

Bmore on December 12, 2012

…

almost $5 million went to “political activities and lobbying,” nearly a third of what was spent on “representational activities.”

I’m sure that $5 million was spent on BIPARTISAN political activities and lobbying, right? Riiiiight.

Unions were probably a good idea way back when workers rights were being trampled on and there was child labor and people were working in unsafe and insufferable conditions. In some cases those things haven’t changed, but for the most part, laws have been passed to prevent such things from happening. So people no longer need to give up their wages so a bunch of goons can get get rich and line their paid for politicians coffers.

Basically get rid of the overhead, get rid of the cronyism, create something that is capable, responsible, and accountable to the workers and you should get a much better set of services, contracts and working environment in which those who want to be unionized realize they must respect non-union employees and the employer. Of course this can be done on a much looser association basis amongst those wanting such representation… do it ala carte so that benefits can be something you can check off for lower pay, or you can get more take-home by agreeing to fewer benefits. Choose what you want off a list and measure that against net take home pay… wouldn’t that be something that employees would like to be able to do? Can’t get that with a massive union overhead because it can’t respond in a flexible way to multiple small shops while a single-shop representation system could get you that.

The threat to unions isn’t RTW, it is their own bureaucracy, overhead, waste, fraud and abuse leading to inflexible standards that don’t suit a modern workforce. The modern followers of Taylorism and timing how long it takes to do something are the unions, not businesses because the inflexible overhead of unions can’t cope with changes in workplace efficiency that can happen in weeks or days. A way to better serve those that don’t feel skilled or capable enough to negotiate for themselves is to do it locally as the best and most responsive form of management is the most local and accountable to that level directly… not to some union boss who doesn’t even know the shop. Unions are their own worse enemy at this point.

However, unions claim that the reduction in revenues and dissent in the workforce will weaken their hand at the bargaining table, lowering wages and working conditions.

Doesn’t this argument sound familiar to history buffs? “We just can’t succeed economically if we don’t keep them locked into our work model against their will. And it’s for their own good, after all, they wouldn’t be able to make decisions themselves. It’s for their own good, and ours. Those others are just trying to render us powerless.”…

Too bad unions had to be dragged to that reform.

Too bad??? Good that they got dragged into it. Way over due, let alone allowing closed shops in the first place. I say this as an ex-Michigander that left over 30 years ago precisely over this. Good riddance.

He died too soon.

Schadenfreude on December 12, 2012 at 1:32 PM

Many do.

Thousands of people are going to have a nasty surprise.

tom daschle concerned on December 12, 2012 at 1:53 PM

Nobody expects the Spanish Obama Inquisition.

Tom, you are pretty smart guy, care to tackle this one?

http://apple.copydesk.org/2012/12/03/breaking-down-a-huge-fiscal-cliff-graphic-from-the-chicago-tribune/

My local news just covered this and it is over a month old ugh…

I have sent the link to HA editors… :-)

Scrumpy on December 12, 2012 at 12:44 PM

I agree with the author’s (Charles Apple?) assessment. At first glance it is a clusterschtuck, but it becomes manageable as you read it. One thing I noticed right away is that I am doomed to cross the income threshold from the 3rd to the fourth quintile…Which means my tax burden is going way up this year. Boy, I must be rich… The other thing that really bothers me is the numbe rof people that are going to get absolutely broadsided by the Alternative Minimum Success Punishment Tax.

Thousands of people are going to have a nasty surprise.

He died too soon.

Too bad unions had to be dragged to that reform.

Do a little digging and 99% of the problems and abuse are caused by the union bosses.

Thank you for releasing the one.

The others were several system tests.

!
$
*
Schadenfreude on December 12, 2012 at 12:28 PM

; )

Unions will collapse internally because of pension under funding. Unless they can get the Federal govt. to cover it. For the last two years the sheet metal and plumbers locals here have had to take $.50 to $1.00 an hour to keep the funds from falling further. Had they taken the money sent to Democrats to fund their pensions they would be in much better shape. The problem is the locals put in the money and the national headquarters divert it. They are now short 40% to fully fund.

BullShooterAsInElk on December 12, 2012 at 1:11 PM

Why do you think the idea is kicking around to have the government ‘assume responsibility’ for 401K accounts? Of course union pension plans won’t come under the umbrella if the idea becomes law.

The HA mill is really weird. It now holds back Michelle Malkin links, for odd reason.

Schadenfreude on December 12, 2012 at 1:05 PM

No, it tends to hold most links, thanks to the spam filters. Also, when you keep trying to post the same thing over and over again, the spam filters tend to hold more and more of it. I approved the first one that was in the filter but you submitted six versions of the same comment. Give us a few minutes to catch up rather than keep doing the same thing over and over again.

Obama WILL cover the Unions fo sho…

What he/she said from your link Shadenfreude…

Love the music links :-) thanks!!

Scrumpy on December 12, 2012 at 1:11 PM

Times a calling!

Love the music links :-) thanks!!

In fact, while we’re talking about worker choice, just what do unions have to fear from it — if they deliver the benefits they claim to workers for the money it costs them?

One could as the same question about photo ids to vote. Why would the Democrats be so afraid to have people verify who they are before they vote. Everyone has to produce photo ids for just about everything. Try switching your dentist’s office and see if they don’t ask you for a valid photo id.

To answer the above rhetorical question, it’s because a photo voter id makes it more difficult to commit voter fraud.