[badbass]

I'm not sure I buy into this entirely. There was a time in American history where the average "Joe" worker was treated pretty badly. During this time, the tycoons did pretty well for themselves, without much incentive to change. It IS possible for an employer to hold the livelihood of the worker over their heads (i.e. if you don't accept the current conditions, then leave). Granted, smart workers position themselves in life so that they don't have to accept intolerable conditions.

I believe there is a kernel of truth to what the Democrats say about Republicans being "all about profit". I also believe there is much more than a kernel of truth to what the Republicans say about Democrats being "a bunch of bleeding hearts"or basically commie in nature. There is a fine balance between the two parties' philosophies that makes for an optimum outcome. My opinion only, your mileage may vary.

[TChris]

I think you and I largely agree on this.

There is plenty of greed on both sides of the equation.

I do believe unions forced some good changes; workplace safety is one of those. I also disagree with the idea that businesses mostly made or would have made these changes on their own with only an economic motivation.

However, now that these things have been accomplished, I think the primary goals of labor unions are power, money and political influence. The economic effect of the labor union is the same as any other cartel/pseudo monopoly: higher costs.

The long-term net effect of modern labor unions is that prices are higher and quality is lower. Mediocrity is protected. Businesses are held hostage.

The day of the beneficial labor union is over.

[19th LA Inf]

I give unions credit for much improvement in industrial safety. I worked over 5 years, in my first real engineering job, in a large chemical plant which never had a lost time accident. Then I moved to a high-tech electronics company, and in the first couple of weeks there a plant janitor got himself killed trying to cut open a barrel with a torch. This could NEVER have happened where I was before, because the janitor would never have been allowed to pick up a torch, and a welder would not have attacked the barrel until a safety man checked it out.

I'm not generally a union defender, but I did want to point out this area where they have been of service, unintentionally or not.

[Marxbites]

The Tycoons broke laws that politicians refused to enforce or were complicit in, period.

It is no more possible for an employer to hold you over a barrel than what you allow and the very nature of free choice.

Less Govt equals more jobs, always has, always will.

Read my previous please.