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Open Secrets top all time political donors shows that there is an overwhelming alliance between the left and the public sector unions these days. Four of the top six all time donors are public sector unions, and they donate on average 98.75% to Democrats.
FDR famously wrote that "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service." The obvious reason is that it sets up a huge conflict of interest. The main function of any union is to negotiate contracts for its members. In the case of public sector unions, this is done with the union on one side of the table, and the government, who is almost literally in the pocket of the union, on the other side. In the private sector, this would be considered a kickback scheme, and would be unethical and probably illegal.
Two of the most heavily unionized segments are teachers and police. It is no coincidence that both education and law enforcement are often dysfunctional and in the headlines for failures and misbehavior these days.
Another effect of the rise of public sector unions has been a weakening of private sector unions. In the 1950's, as much as 35% of private sector workers were unionized. Today the number is about 6.7% for the private sector, and 35.3% for the public sector. In the 1950's the public sector unions were almost non-existent. Because big unions now commonly represent workers in both sectors, the private sector worker is left as a red-headed step-child. Bernie Sanders says that he wants to revitalize the American union. I wonder if he's willing to rein in the public sector unions in order to do so.
I don't get it. Why would a liberal, a believer in big government as a force for good, support saddling it with a system of codified corruption that virtually guarantees dysfunction? Isn't it pretty obvious that public sector unionization has led to such laughing-stock scenarios such as the $9.50 microwaved Amtrak cheeseburger that costs $16 to produce? Or the NYC 'rubber room' where horribly incompetent school teachers are paid to read the paper and do crossword puzzles for years on end?
Is it about the money--the money that flows into Democrat candidate's coffers, and into the pockets of government workers, along with their union reps? That's the only plausible reason I can see for liberal support of public sector unionization.
Open Secrets top all time political donors shows that there is an overwhelming alliance between the left and the public sector unions these days. Four of the top six all time donors are public sector unions, and they donate on average 98.75% to Democrats.
FDR famously wrote that "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service." The obvious reason is that it sets up a huge conflict of interest. The main function of any union is to negotiate contracts for its members. In the case of public sector unions, this is done with the union on one side of the table, and the government, who is almost literally in the pocket of the union, on the other side. In the private sector, this would be considered a kickback scheme, and would be unethical and probably illegal.
Two of the most heavily unionized segments are teachers and police. It is no coincidence that both education and law enforcement are often dysfunctional and in the headlines for failures and misbehavior these days.
Another effect of the rise of public sector unions has been a weakening of private sector unions. In the 1950's, as much as 35% of private sector workers were unionized. Today the number is about 6.7% for the private sector, and 35.3% for the public sectors. In the 1950's the public sector unions were almost non-existent. Because big unions now commonly represent workers in both sectors, the private sector worker is left as a red-headed step-child. Bernie Sanders says that he wants to revitalize the American union. I wonder if he's willing to rein in the public sector unions in order to do so.
I don't get it. Why would a liberal, a believer in big government as a force for good, support saddling it with a system of codified corruption that virtually guarantees dysfunction? Isn't it pretty obvious that public sector unionization has led to such laughing-stock scenarios such as the $9.50 microwaved Amtrak cheeseburger that costs $16 to produce? Or the NYC 'rubber room' where horribly incompetent school teachers are paid to read the paper and do crossword puzzles for years on end?
Is it about the money--the money that flows into Democrat candidate's coffers, and into the pockets of government workers, along with their union reps? That's the only plausible reason I can see for liberal support of public sector unionization.
Ask people at the IRS what would happen to them were they not in a Union.
Open Secrets top all time political donors shows that there is an overwhelming alliance between the left and the public sector unions these days. Four of the top six all time donors are public sector unions, and they donate on average 98.75% to Democrats.
FDR famously wrote that "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service." The obvious reason is that it sets up a huge conflict of interest. The main function of any union is to negotiate contracts for its members. In the case of public sector unions, this is done with the union on one side of the table, and the government, who is almost literally in the pocket of the union, on the other side. In the private sector, this would be considered a kickback scheme, and would be unethical and probably illegal.
Two of the most heavily unionized segments are teachers and police. It is no coincidence that both education and law enforcement are often dysfunctional and in the headlines for failures and misbehavior these days.
Another effect of the rise of public sector unions has been a weakening of private sector unions. In the 1950's, as much as 35% of private sector workers were unionized. Today the number is about 6.7% for the private sector, and 35.3% for the public sector. In the 1950's the public sector unions were almost non-existent. Because big unions now commonly represent workers in both sectors, the private sector worker is left as a red-headed step-child. Bernie Sanders says that he wants to revitalize the American union. I wonder if he's willing to rein in the public sector unions in order to do so.
I don't get it. Why would a liberal, a believer in big government as a force for good, support saddling it with a system of codified corruption that virtually guarantees dysfunction? Isn't it pretty obvious that public sector unionization has led to such laughing-stock scenarios such as the $9.50 microwaved Amtrak cheeseburger that costs $16 to produce? Or the NYC 'rubber room' where horribly incompetent school teachers are paid to read the paper and do crossword puzzles for years on end?
Is it about the money--the money that flows into Democrat candidate's coffers, and into the pockets of government workers, along with their union reps? That's the only plausible reason I can see for liberal support of public sector unionization.
This is one of the very few if not the only area on which I agree with FDR. Government CANNOT truly negotiate with public unions because those negotiating for the government have absolutely no vested interest in the outcome. Increased wages and cost of benefits do not come out of the government negotiators pockets...that's the same old crap of government spending tax payers money without any responsibility.
Ask people at the IRS what would happen to them were they not in a Union.
I'd be delighted to see IRS go away.
If we would go to a consumption tax that would eliminate the IRS's power of confiscation of property, attaching wages, blackmailing, etc.
Think about it! Pay consumption tax as part of the cost of any purchase you make, the business or seller collects same and files monthly (or incrementally...whatever fits their business) reports along with forwarding taxes collected. No one has their income threatened and there is absolutely no government IRS that can come back at any individual.
In addition, getting the tax off income of business that has been run out of America by horrible taxation will open the door for them to return which opens up jobs...now, we also have to get rid of oppressive regulations in the case of business in order to also encourage returning to America and re-establish our free economy, but that's another subject.
Bottom line, public-sector unions are absolutely a conflict of interest and should have never been allowed in the first place.
The conflict of interest is how we end up w/ public sector contracts where it is nearly impossible to terminate an employee. There was a case in my state where the Dept of social and health services (DSHS) was trying to get rid of a sex predator and felon. He eventually was fired, I think about a year later, but it was never a sure thing. The DSHS head at the time, a guy named Dennis Braddock, explained that to discharge an employee was a 'hellacious process."
However, should the agency choose to fire a worker, it generally takes a lot of time and effort, Braddock said. "It's a hellacious process. The system isn't as easy as one would imagine to take these actions," he said.
The DSHS head also commented that if the sex predator was fired, he would expect a lawsuit. I don't know if that in fact happen, but in all likelihood the taxpayer had to come up with a hefty settlement to get rid of this sex predator.
We've had cops submitting fake diplomas to qualify for raises, and still on the job. We've had cops caught on tape using racial slurs and threats, and still on the job. We had a trooper convicted of sexually molesting female motorists who was eventually terminated, but only after collecting 17 months of 'paid administrative leave.' We have not one but two deputy sheriffs serving life in prison for murder, and still collecting their taxpayer-funded pensions.
Again, if you're a liberal, and believe in the efficacy of government to improve peoples' lives, why would you want this sort of thing?
If we would go to a consumption tax that would eliminate the IRS's power of confiscation of property, attaching wages, blackmailing, etc.
Think about it! Pay consumption tax as part of the cost of any purchase you make, the business or seller collects same and files monthly (or incrementally...whatever fits their business) reports along with forwarding taxes collected. No one has their income threatened and there is absolutely no government IRS that can come back at any individual.
In addition, get the tax off income and business that has been run out of America by horrible taxation will return which opens up jobs...now, we also have to get rid of oppressive regulations in the case of business in order to re-establish our free economy, but that's another subject.
Bottom line, public-sector unions are absolutely a conflict of interest and should have never been allowed in the first place.
I knew someone would have a tangent if i used those 3 letters. The IRS itself is not the subject. I don't work at thee IRS but have talked to many and heard what the govt try's to pull and without the union the little guy will take it in the shorts.
Ask people at the IRS what would happen to them were they not in a Union.
They might be forced to learn and understand the laws so they'd know what the heck they were talking about when you called to ask a question.
If you record a conversation with an IRS agent giving you the wrong advise, and you file wrong following that advise, even with the evidence you were told the wrong thing, you'd still be liable for the taxes (no issue there IMHO) and you'd also be liable for any penalties (that is the issue).
I support both civil service and public sector unions because the civil service laws prevent politicians from replacing the existing workers with their cronies when the administrations change. I suppoer public service unions because they protect individuals employees form vindictive supervisors and help the employees receive decent wages and good pensions.
The alternative is short term employees without the skills and experience to do the work being paid barely above starvation. Do you really want an inexperienced short timer regulating the amount of chlorine in your water supply? Or borderline idiots teaching you children? Remember you get what you pay for and poor wages results in poor work.
I support both civil service and public sector unions because the civil service laws prevent politicians from replacing the existing workers with their cronies when the administrations change. I suppoer public service unions because they protect individuals employees form vindictive supervisors and help the employees receive decent wages and good pensions.
The alternative is short term employees without the skills and experience to do the work being paid barely above starvation. Do you really want an inexperienced short timer regulating the amount of chlorine in your water supply? Or borderline idiots teaching you children? Remember you get what you pay for and poor wages results in poor work.
Do you consider the $16 Amtrack microwaved cheeseburger, the sex molester on the public payroll, and the cop who gets away with racial slurs an acceptable price to pay for protecting employees from vindictive supervisors? Most private sector union employees have a 'just cause' provision in their contracts that offers pretty good protection from vindictive supervisors.
Open Secrets top all time political donors shows that there is an overwhelming alliance between the left and the public sector unions these days. Four of the top six all time donors are public sector unions, and they donate on average 98.75% to Democrats.
You answered your own question.
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