Unions and Walker

Governor Scott Walker did not "destroy" public unions in Wisconsin.

Public workers still have the right to join unions - now they cannot hold the public hostage with the threat of a strike if they don't instantly get their unreasonable demands for raises and benefits.

A video of Walker talking to several local business people reveals that his goal is to make Wisconsin a "right to work" state - in other words, he wants to make it possible for people to get jobs in a union shop without paying union dues if they do not wish to join the union.

Anyone who wishes to join a union is free to do so. Any workplace that decides to become unionized is free to vote to do so. All that changes is that now the unions cannot demand dues from every worker regardless of their desire to participate. Freedom from coercion. Isn't that an American ideal?

Twenty-three states are currently "right to work". It is no coincidence that the states with the highest unemployment and worst finances are union-controlled - like Illinois, California, and New Jersey.

Unions support Democratic politicians because Democratic politicians cater to unions to the detriment of the public. Some Republican politicians, like Walker, would rather see their states freed from the tyranny of union blackmail, particularly in the public sector.

There was a good reason that FDR refused to allow public unions while he was saddling the United States with his National Labor Relations Board and other socialist bureaucracies - he knew that allowing public workers to unionize would create a de-facto fourth branch of government with no checks and balances over their power.

It's long past time that America shed the yoke of that fourth branch of government. Walker's efforts are a good first step. After his affirmation of office in the upcoming "recall", I hope he will stick with his idea of Wisconsin as a "right to work" state. We can use all the help we can get in this depression.