Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@turbont.net>
> >>
> >> Give every kid a Thinkpad......
>
> >I've often thought that this would be a good idea, that the
> >savings alone in the reduction of future prison populations (at
> >$50,000 per year per convict) would more than pay this investment
> >back.
>
> We agree on this...
>
> >>I'm sure the National Education Association would really hate
> >>this policy and that's pretty good evidence it's a good idea
> >> I'm sure they would hate it, but we disagree as to why....
>
>
> >Stupid is as union does....
>
> Sorry Mike we don't agree on this one. The vast majority of
> scientists in this country are Union, and even the doctors are
> organizing now.... Every right you have in the workplace was won
> for all workers by the effort of Union labor.
>
> Less than a block from where I sit typing this is Haymarket, where
> in the early part of this century Union organizers were framed,
> then murdered by the police to try to prevent the establishment of
> the eight hour workday.
Unions once were an effective means of collective bargaining, and may still play a part in some professions, however any profession that is based on knowledge and intelligence has no rational need, IMNSHO, for a union unless there evolves some sort of monopoly buyer of professional labor. Unions were needed when there were only three steel companies, one oil company, three car companies, etc, and anyone who worked in those industries was dependent on those companies for their living. If these conditions are not met, then it is the union that is trying to manipulate and extort the market. The ABA, the AMA, the NEA and others are IMHO manipulative, extortionary unions that should have anti-trust actions taken against THEM.
It is no accident that in the US only 14% of private sector employees are unionized while 37% of government sector employees are unionized. It shows that the extortionists are clumping together at the center of power. In the private sector, no company can maintain pricing control over the market to pass off extortionate union demands to the consumer for long, as there will always be a non-unionized alternative in the free market that can compete better than the unionized firm. Stockholders will thus maintain pressure on management to prevent excessive union concessions. In the government, since union lobbying money is not limited, the government employee unions are the most powerful voice, which is why taxes and budgets always go up, or never go down for very long. The politicians do not effectively represent the taxpayer as shareholders in the political corporation.
Mike Lorrey