As to unions:
I tend to agree with Santorum in this area. Where public sector unions have shown to have had a terribly adverse effect on our nations economy and it’s well being, many private sector unions deliver a net positive to the same.
I am no fan at all of union deals such as UAW who although involved with a private enterprise, were allowed to attain a position where they brought down the entire company. The real villains in that deal was our government’s meddling and the complete cowards who were the managers. Had GM been allowed to go into bankruptcy, the union deal would have expired.
Would you really want a nuclear power plant that was built by electricians that somebody found in the phone book whose expertise up until that point was wiring houses? Who built the forms for the concrete that was poured in that same structure, “Joe’s Construction”or maybe “ABC Carpentry”? Whoever is the lowest bidder, right?
Or, how about that new nuke powered aircraft carrier, do you really think that “Franks Discount Plumbing” is up to the task of fitting all of the steam piping that will be required? Would you want your kid being deployed on that thing?
I’ve been in the construction industry for over 40 years and in that time, there are a few things that I’ve learned about trade unions. First, and probably most important, the schools. Every new employee MUST not only attend the schools (sometimes for years) but they MUST pass the tests in order to remain and MUST be able to demonstrate what they have learned in their work in order to advance. Where else would we get electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, carpenters and other tradesmen?
My brother-in-law has been a union electrician for many years. His company is in the business of shutting down nuclear power plants, participating in the maintenance, and then restarting the plant. He learned how to do this while he was in the union.
The next time you are driving on an interstate highway and you cross over one of the many overpasses, think about who built that bridge. Was it Jose’ and his merry band of immigrants? Or was it guys from the Locals whose work has been scrutinized over and over again?
There are many things these guys aren’t suited for and are totally unneeded. Residential and light commercial don’t require that level of expertise or that level of wage scale to accomplish. That’s like having a MD fill your tooth.
I just hope my nightmare doesn’t come true. That is the socially conservative candidate who leans to the left on economic issues. A true 1930’s New Deal Democrat. So if Santorum gets the nod, we end up with a Democrat primary circa 1976 in November. The Democrats dominated for decades with leftist economic policies because both parties did not differ on the social issues up until the late 60’s, and even then the New Left did not gain politically until the mid 70’s. This primary season could be the death knell for the free market.