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The modern reality of greed won't be overcome by notions of "free" markets, simply for the fact that there never has been any free market in America. People say unions are not needed any longer, that they're outdated, what they fail to understand is that unions were, and still are, a response to greed, and greed is certainly still in vogue among the corporations of the world. Corporations aren't evil, and neither are unions, but both have a history of greedy and self centered people being part of those entities. Unions, like our political functions, are best served by a large measure of democratic inclusion, and this is where government should be present, to insure the workers are getting fair treatment from labor leadership. Or, from corporate excess.
As long as self interest and greed remain, then all parties should have equal power and the ability to organize. Right now, Big Business has all the power because they OWN the politicians.
Actually, most of those who don't want unions in the workplace are ignorant of the facts of union representation and labor history in general, and most, at some juncture in their career will be getting a real wake up call when they attempt to deal with HR on their own terms.
Unions never made people wealthy, but they have given rise to the idea of serving your own self interest, the same anti union types also never question why the business owner's interest is the only one deemed to be of benefit to the community or nation.
Conservatives usually whine about "handouts" to the poor, then turn around and support all that which creates a poverty stricken work force, including low wages, high profit margins, unequal educational opportunity, and a ton of other views which serve to impoverish people. most of America's poor are working, sometimes as many as three jobs. These people need representation beyond what the dept of labor can offer.
Yep.
It is hilarious to watch.
Then when these people become the WORKING homeless because wages are so low, they again blame them.
If they followed through with their survival of the fittest mantra in capitalism, they would leave them alone in the streets to live.
But NO, now they want to get the evil government involved to clean the homeless up because they are an eye sore and costing me money in my business.
Employees don't make business owners wealthy, customers do.
Oh, and employees are business owners - our 401(k)s, IRAs, and pension funds are all invested in the stock market, which means that the employees are co-owners in all of the companies whose shares are held in the funds.
Then what do they need the workers for then?
The business owners are a charity organization?
How come I need to explain basic capitalism?
In Capitalism, you have buyers and sellers.
Workers are selling their labor.
Business owners are buying that labor.
Business owners are selling widgets.
Customers are buying the widgets.
All people in that ring should have equal power and equal say under capitalism, which is not the case today, where business owners, own Washington DC to have the markets work for them.
Now they're all working for McDonald's and Wal-Mart.
Zenith and its union workers couldn't compete against South Korean LG Corporation and their union workers.
LG Corporation amassed $Billions in profits globally, while Zenith could barely break even.
It is a lot cheaper to use labor under Communism where workers have no rights than it is under Capitalism where workers have rights and allowed to negotiate and organize.
I thought we were talking about today. Unions certainly did a lot for workers in the past. For a time, I think they even cared more about their members well being than about their own power and compensation. But while history can be important, it does not justify the condition/actions of the Unions today, unless you are saying they should be able to take advantage of the workers today because they helped them in the past. Is that your position?
You could also replace that with small business mom and pop stores that cared more for their community and workers and many times started the business with their own savings.
When the business failed, they did not get a golden parachute, or pass the risk onto the employers below them by laying off thousands while getting a bonus at the same time like we have today.
In the past, most risk was held by the business owners.
With big corporations today, most risk is held by the workers while the MBA CEO that did not start the business runs off with millions after driving the company into the ground.
As long as self interest and greed remain, then all parties should have equal power and the ability to organize. Right now, Big Business has all the power because they OWN the politicians.
I'm somewhat baffled by the vitriolic posts regarding labor and the uniquely American right to organize, a huge step forward for working class people, high or low. The fact that the legislation supporting that right was fought by all big businesses should suffice as proof of their drive to extinguish unions. Their main tool is to call attention to the fact of union corruption, as though business and government are squeaky clean elements of society. Unions often do become corrupt when nobody is minding the store, as does most human endeavors including churches, police, business, government, schools, etc. I guess we'll just scrap all those enterprises because they have some failings among their good work.
Most of the negative propaganda regarding unions is the work of business unions otherwise known as "trade associations," but they are unions, nonetheless. So, unions are a good idea if they support the smashing of worker rights--And, they are a "bad" idea if they serve the workers interest. I can't think of too many instances in which big business advanced the cause of workers rights, civil rights, job safety, unemployment insurance, pensions, any labor laws that serve workers, it's too long a list to complete, but it is a list of things which changed the face of this country, unions deserve the credit for achieving those things for workers.
Are these advancements for workers subject to change? Yes, they most certainly are, so, who's going to be around to fend off the greedy class when they come for your piece of the pie? The Democratic party, no, not until we force them to include their historic base, the worker. Can we look to the Republican party for any assistance? take a long look at their usual constituency and tell me they will stop the assault on workers rights. We will need some representation in order to maintain the rights we have at present--Or, you could always call your Congressman...
I'm somewhat baffled by the vitriolic posts regarding labor and the uniquely American right to organize, a huge step forward for working class people, high or low.
I remember during the cold war, when there was propaganda flying between the US and the Communist Soviet Union.
One of the major propaganda campaigns was comparing workers in the Communist Soviet Union and Capitalist America.
We were told, see how Americans have working rights and unions, while Communist have 0 rights and are dirt poor.
Amazing how everything turns full circle when there is cheap money to be made when they all hopped in bed with Communist China.
This is the direction we are headed with Corporations controlling our government and economic policies.
They love the Communism for the cheap slave labor, bail outs and favoritism and Capitalism for the profits.
They have 0 risk when the government has their back and 0 risk when workers always take the pain.
It is a nightmare made in Hell is what it is.
It is a lot cheaper to use labor under Communism where workers have no rights than it is under Capitalism where workers have rights and allowed to negotiate and organize.
Chinese workers are paid exactly what they should be paid, given the level of economic development in China.
When the US was at that same level of economic development, US workers were paid the exact same wages the Chinese are now getting.
The average Romanian earns $320/month, but then Romania's economic development is on a par with the US in 1948, and in 1948, US workers made $320/month.
Chinese workers are paid exactly what they should be paid, given the level of economic development in China.
When the US was at that same level of economic development, US workers were paid the exact same wages the Chinese are now getting.
The average Romanian earns $320/month, but then Romania's economic development is on a par with the US in 1948, and in 1948, US workers made $320/month.
BS
They are paid what they are paid because they are not allowed to organize for higher wages nor are they able to negotiate for higher wages.
Also, 250 Million Chinese Farmers had their farm lands bull dozed and were forced to go make widgets in the cities.
They also live in company quarters like sardines.
That is Communism in action!
Big Business in China has all the power and none for the workers and that is how it works under Communism.
When we were at the same level as the Chinese, we were also the consumers of said products.
Our exports made up only 15% of the market at that point in time.
How many Chinese can afford to buy everything they make, making 5 dollars a day?
Do you think they can afford to buy an 800 dollar iphone making 5 bucks a day?
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