As for union members fleeing the collective bargaining unit, that has always been and always will be a problem. It’s just human nature. Some people are quite content to reap the benefits but equally reluctant to pay the dues. You have a point in that some unions have overstepped their boundaries. But that doesn’t reflect the majarity of unions. The argument that there are “union bosses” making $300K + per year — probably true in some of the larger unions. But why is that any more out of line than a CEO making $300K + per year. They both have executive level positions and responsibilities. I frankly don’t know if there are, in fact, union bosses making that kind of money, but I would surmise that they would represent a very small minority. Maybe I will do some research on Union executive’s salaries. It will give me something to do. But your point that union members are leaving the unions is valid. They are. Times have been too good for them. Now they are feeling empowered. Now you hear that age-old chant, “I don’t need no stinkin’ union to hold my job!” As I have said, I have been employed in union shops and non-union shops. I know how it works. I was just ornery enough to be able to hold my own in negotiating working conditions for myself, but not everyone can. And as the unions are weakened, those who can’t will find out just how well they can do on their own. I will be laying around the “Active Adult Community” pool, taking my dog to the dog park and planning my getaway for a few weeks from the summer Arizona heat. And I don’t feel one damn bit guilty about it. Who says I don’t deserve it.

Have a great day, OMG!

P.S. My son managed a restaurant. He actually didn’t like the job. His real interest is in being an artist/writer, but it paid the bills. I have advised him that since his son will graduate from high school in a year, he should put more effort into his art and writing. So now he is getting a Class A CDL and hopes to be an over-the-road trucker. How is that for an artistic career? But, it’s a noble profession and the pay is good.

I am sorry to hear about your son. That sucks. What does your son do?

Regarding Walker, I have a different perspective. Big Labor’s national crusade to crucify Governor Scott Walker was really payback for taking away their right to force government employees to accept their “representation” and to pay union dues whether they like it or not. 40% of union members even voted for Walker!!!

What really pissed off union officials was that Walker dared to give public servants the right to decide for themselves whether or not to join or pay dues to government unions. So-called “collective bargaining rights” and bloated public pensions and were just red herrings. That’s why when given the choice, workers fled from AFSME like Japanese people fled from the Fukashima Nuke. When given the freedom, public servants have rushed for the exits. In Indiana, 91% of workers fled the union when given the chance.

That is what enraged Big Labor’s chieftains and prompted one of the biggest political crusades in history. Altogether, Organized Labor poured an estimated $20 million (all subsidized of course with forced union dues receipts) into their latest attack.

The long and the short of it is, people should be free to choose to be in the union or not. The union bosses are losing their free rides on the gravy train their workers have been financing for decades. THAT is what pisses them off.

While I worry about family jobs as much as you do, clearly the way to NOT accomplish objectives of strong employment is to put the burden of public employees’ lavish pay and benefit packages on the backs of regular working people in the private sector. People who are struggling already. What about them? Until Walker, no one was looking out for them.

The best way to insure jobs for families is to insure that there are enough employers that compete for the services of workers. Labor is another input to business like materials or capital. The greater the demand for the input, the higher the price. I know you guys on the left dont like to admit this, but you only have to look at North Dakota to see what happens when you have near 100% employment. There are laborers with NO skill there making $50k – $70K while they become skilled. Skilled guys that work on trucks and diesel equipment are making north of $100K. The number one advertisement in ND is “Help Wanted”. Wages are very high in these environments. This is the goal for the country.

Now, I get it. I understand where this desire to control everything for the benefit of the “little guy” comes from, but reality and facts, when examined fairly, reveal a very different picture. The vast majority of indivuals DONT need government help. They need opportunity. They can take care of themselves just fine and they are not that stupid as the left thinks they are. And opportunity does NOT come from government programs or politicians or bureaucrats. It comes from the private sector. That’s where the economy grows. The private sector.

If we want more people working, we have to agree that the government is just an impartial referee of the game, not a participant that picks winners and losers and throws his weight around to influence the play. That’s what we have today. Rather, all the government needs to do is to create an environment where risk taking and success are rewarded without fear of confiscation through taxation or excessive regulation. Create an environment that invites the flow of capital from all over the world to a low cost, lower risk, high return opporunity country and you will see the job market explode. This is what will create opportunities for your son and others and will result in rising wages for families in real terms, not inflated.

I have to run. Have a great day, my friend!

I hope you had a good weekend, my friend.

Now get back to work! Heh, heh, heh.

Have a great weekend, my friend!

Have a nice day!

Hope you have a great weekend! I’ll be looking for you Monday.

You were an old linotype guy?????? OMG… [no, not my name]… Were you a Mergenthaler guy? Or a Heidelberger guy? My wife’s uncle worked at a Mergenthaler location in Brooklyn for a lot of years doing whatever it was they did on those machines. He’s close to 90 now, but still proud of his days there. It’s sort of cute to hear him still talk of it. And it’s great to see you’re sense of pride in your work, as well.

Being a pressman used to be a great job. But digitization of everything has changed all that. And I’m not so sure we have even begun to scratch the surface of this “progress” yet.

Have a great weekend, my friend!

My best wishes for your husband’s continued run in the senate.

Have a great day!