UNION has two meanings. ONE the bureaucracy... those who do NOT one productive thing but cost money, both for the company and for their union members. The other meaning is the literal on the job worker, producing the product.
THE GOP would NOT take on the UNION hierarchy directly, but conceived the idea that ‘free trade’ would take the control from UNION bosses that restricted profits and growth.
Reagan was NOT afraid of the UNIONS, he knew who and what the ‘bosses’ that control the money and the freedom of its members were all about.
Liberals were also for ‘free trade’ which President was it that herded NAFTA through the Congress?
The GOP became ‘open borders’ globalists using laborers as a commodity. But the UNION bosses really can't complain because the too use ‘labors’ as their commodities.
Liberals and GOP ‘open borders’ crowd ought to be open and start selling their commodities laborers on a legal exchange.
The union members of the 80’s respected Reagan who was fair in his dealing with him...many voted for him aka Reagan Democrats...as for unions, the biggest one is the government unions...so?
We are talking about the destruction of an entire region of the country (Mid West). Billions of lost wages, taxes etc. It’s being blamed on the GOP...although I believe Clinton is also culpable (NAFTA). The GOP can not just keep throwing away entire regions of the country and expect to have a meaningful role in American politics. I am a military brat (navy).
My Mom is from Virginia (Albermarle Country). I lived in Virginia and spent 10 years as an adult in Georgia. The sort of conservatism practiced in the South will not work in Ohio or many other Northern States...it just won’t. Thus there is a choice...become more of a big tent party and get some things done...or cede everything to the Dems.