ALL THE PRESIDENT’S ASTROTURFERS: THE CURIOUS CASE OF ELLIE LIGHT

TheCypressTimes.com ^ | 01/26/2010 | Gary P.

[Patriot1259]

This is actually pretty common practice for unions. Many provide members to go out and campaign for democrat candidates. SEIU, which is part of the same group that founded ACORN, is notorious for sending union thugs by the bus loads to events. These purple shirted bullies were sent out in force to town hall events this past summer, and were given priority admittance in order to drown out opposition to Obama’s unconstitutional health care “reform” legislation. Again, astroturfing to give the appearance of support for something that every single poll out there shows is wildly unpopular.

[John.Galt2012]

Here’s a crazy thought I had the other day. Are there any “conservative unions”? Why does it have to be SEIU or some other progressive liberal backed union. If I worked at a plant and wanted to ensure I had long term, sustainable jobs by encouraging increased profits, profit sharing, increased productivity, increased market share...I bet you could get people to sign up for that just like you get people to sign on for the typical unions. What do you think?

[GeronL]

This is actually pretty common practice for unions. Many provide members to go out and campaign for democrat candidates. SEIU, which is part of the same group that founded ACORN, is notorious for sending union thugs by the bus loads to events

and they're paid. And they'd probably be punished for not going.

Thats what they do in totalitarian countries like Venezuela.

[GeronL]

If your workplace unionizes you are forced to join that particular union. Its a monopoly, there is no choice or competition in the matter. It’s very wrong.

It would be great for millions of people to join and contribute to a real conservative “union” wouldn’t it?

[John.Galt2012]

Yes it would. It’s kinda like what John Galt did in Atlas Shrugged only he focused on the leadership striking. Conversely, if you had conservative unions for labor, chartered to follow free market principles, profit motive and capitalistic ideals working with small businesses to increase market share and profit in exchange for sustainable jobs at good wages. You would then have already have a union in the shop thereby preventing a “SEIU-type” union from coming in.

[GeronL]

That would be interesting. A union that encouraged workers to work. what a concept!

[Little Pig]

Unions are socialist by their very nature. A “conservative” union would be an exercise in cognitive dissonance.

[John.Galt2012]

I think most Americans (myself included but less as less each day) have a complete lack of understand regarding true Capitalism, Free Market principles and Wealth. About a year ago I read the quote from John Adams, "All the perplexities, confusion and distresses in America arise not from defects in the Constitution or confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, as much from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation." After reading that and pondering what it meant, I realized I was guilty as charged. I then started reading...Burke, Mises, Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations). If the average worker took the time to understand these principles, they would join a "conservative union". I know they would.

[ClearCase_guy]

Exactly right. The fundamental division is between Individualist or Collectivist.

Unions are collectivist by nature and therefore cannot be conservative. The attempt might be made, and a union might start out with conaservative ideals -- but it wouldn't stay that way.