Great Post. I'm afraid that unions think so highly of themselves that it doesn't even occur to them that there's another way to negotiate working conditions.

My husband owns a small business not quite 4 years old and has done all kinds of perks for his employees as profits have allowed, including paying heating bills this winter for those who couldn't afford it. Sadly, a few still complain about things at work and those are the type he fears unions would manipulate and then prop up. What it ultimately might lead to for us and a lot of business owners in order to protect themselves is firing everyone except friends, family, and people we know through the church or through referrals. If people thought things through they'd realize this type of legislation ultimately will hurt workers.

This is a very interesting and informative blog. I'll be sure to check the link out, as well as give a comment but in PM form.

A blog - wow!! You know, the one things that amazes me is that many Americans look at Canada as a bad place because were "socialist." I don't know if folks down realize that some of the legislation and actions of the US Federal Government are planks in the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada's platform. I'm not kidding. One example is nationalizing banks.

I am a union member and take pride in it, but I don't agree with everything the union does or stands for. This bill is a travesty, and it looks like it will probably pass, though I could be wrong. Many people who voted on November 4 seemed to think they were voting for the next American Idol, not considering the simple fact that elections have consequences, and that their votes may produce results they didn't seem to to want to consider. Now we all must reap the bitter harvest of the seeds they have sown.

One of the radio talk show hosts I listen to has dubbed the card check bill "The Abolish Democracy Act." That's because it does away with the private ballot. Good blog. Good to see you writing again. By the way, what business is your husband in?

Good blog, thanks for speaking up about it. Things like this can get pushed through because most people aren't paying any attention. This particular one is similar to some sort of "People Power" ruse that typically takes place in Third-World countries because of dysfunctional governments, and it has no business taking place here and now...at least, I hope not.

thanks, historyseeker. And thank you for spotting and alerting me to my 15 minutes of fame yesterday!

Karl, we've been heading that direction for a long time as the Democratic Party has become its own fringe group, with moderates such as Liebermann and now-retired John Breaux being pretty much shut down or ousted by their own party. By the way, what's your opinion on Canadian health care? (I'm asking because that's our next socialist move by B.O.'s administration - I am hoping it's nothing like Europe's, which unfortunately I experienced first-hand when I lived in Germany).

tvking, the problem I have with (some) unions that I've seen today is that they've gotten away from serving the proletariat as is their supposed mission and have gotten into the business of self-service. In the long run, they often hurt the people they claim to be advocating, all the while lining their own pockets. I saw that firsthand here at Hershey, when a few years back they whipped up workers into a frenzy over better benefits. It was an ugly mess, with the CEO's wife and little girl being physically threatened and salary and hourly workers who'd formerly been friends now pitted against one another. The end result of the strike was a compromise that left neither party happy, but the far-reaching consequences ended up being deadly for the union workers. One by one, Hershey has been closing down the plants and opening them in Puerto Rico and Monterey. The local news has been featuring theses union workers literally crying on tv over unemployment, but the sad thing is, they brought it on themselves eight years ago when they whined about only making $18/hour to wrap chocolate bars. I actually declined a high-paying summer job one year because I would have been required to pay union dues, and there was no way I was going to fatten an organization that had ideals and political leanings totally against my own, plus one that tries to tell people how to vote.

hi sallenj, I'm glad it's at least getting radio time. The media around here sure haven't seen it as significant enough to give it much time (well, that might defeat their agenda if people actually knew what the bill contained). My husband has a wholesale foods business: part of it entails fundraising with local schools and organizations and the other part is wholesale to convenience store chains in the Commonwealth.

jokipper, absolutely, and like they say, "Socialism is communism without guns." That's where our illustrious POTUS intends to take us. His instant power grabs - or attempts at them - just since he's come to office frighten me. He and many other of our leaders want the death of democracy if it stands in the way of their agenda. Do you remember after Gore lost the election and Hillary proposed doing away with the electoral college (solely because it was convenient for her at the time)? I would like to see organized protests on the White House - I would be down there in a flash. Unfortunately, they would probably get less attention than Obama's latest gaffe about being qualified for the Special Olympics would receive. (Oh, and my step-son has Down Syndrome, and while I don't know if he could take him in bowling, he has much more common sense than the president).

That requires an essay and I don't have for that right now. i wont' forget your question though. And yes, I clearly remember Mrs. Clinton's desire to do away with the Electoral College. Whatever anyone else thinks, I am grateful to God that she is not President.

Tvking: once again we find each other diametrically opposed. First the Cardinals, now on Unions.

I come from a long line of butchers. There have been butchers in my family for nearly 200 years (sadly that tradition died when my father retired unless one of my sons takes it up.) this lead to my great grandfather opening a grocery store, and passing it down from father to son, till the ICBW took my BIRTHRIGHT. For those of you who don't know the ICBW is the cashiers/food workers union (they cover all the employees at your local grocery store, except the meat cutters union). My dad and uncle operated a small mom & pop store. with five employees (4 ICBW, 1 butcher union). The ICBW strong armed us, demanding an unreasonable contract. We told them that what they wanted would bancrupt us, they struck and we ended up having to sell the business.

Unions are an outdated form of worker protection. The reason the US auto companies are in such lousy shape, is that unions have forced the auto makers to keep using outdated production technics to protect union jobs. Wanna know why you only have four automated check out lanes at any business? Because the ICBW and their ilk will strike if there are any more than that. The ICBW is protecting jobs that chimps could be trained to do. Why can you get a korean car $8000 dorlars less than a comp. American Car. Because Hyundai, and Kia have 80% more automation than the big three.

I know the aurgument, why should the board of directors and other bigwigs make all the money while I bust my hump. I tell you why, the CEO, the BOD, and the stock holders are taking all the risk while Joe Spotwelder takes the easy track of an hourly job.

And to all the union members reading this, remember one thing. If the business that you work for goes under, your union will do as little as they can to get you another job, believe me I've seen it.

This bill is nothing but payback from the dems to the unions for their votes in Nov..

Ssimonds, where did you get this "diametrically opposed" business? If you had read my post, you would see that I am very much opposed to this bill. I am not going to apologize for being a union member (not IBEW), and we get some decent benefits because of their efforts, something else for which I will not apologize, but I know that some unions have a reputation for being aggressive, sometimes even bullying, and do not always have the best interests of the country, or even their own workers, at heart. And I seldom vote the way they urge me to vote.

Hi, I found your website from the help of a friend of ours. I have some ideas that could bless our nation but if Obama has his way , we may soon become a third world nation, or is there such a thing as a forth or fifth? There is a subject matter I believe really needs to be heard more in America to help provide more jobs and a better future! I am concerned with our nation's future with what Obama is doing with spending Trillions of dollars for ridiculous causes like $2,000,000 to study pig odor and millions spent for politicians to have their own personal expensive cars and Golf carts to use at tax payer's expense, for personal use. What ever happened to being patriotic? That seems to be "politically incorrect" these days. In other countries they defend their people by helping defend jobs. This is often done from what I've seen where a company in another country wants to import their products to another nation but the other nation taxes the imports to the point that it is no longer profitable to import the merchandise and instead they are lead to manufacture the products in the country they are trying to sell their products to, thus providing more jobs for the people of that nation. Seems like a good plan that works for them. Why aren't our politicians patriotic like this? Instead we mostly see every product made in China , Asia, etc for practicly slave labor! Maybe worse than that is what the factories are allowed to get away with in those other countries with poluting the Earth! They are not as strictly regulated if at all like they used to be in the U.S.. All this more recent concern about "global warming" if there is any truth to that theory may be related to how those factories pollute a lot more over there than they ever did when we had them here. All this just so the corporations can make an extra buck to say the least! That was one of the main reasons factories in America left the U.S. was to get away with more of that and have practicly slave labor. And yet we as Americans continue for decades now continue to suppot this by buying their products, ussually because there no longer is an "American made" choice to choose from and support unlike how it was decades ago. I heard recently that well a well paying job over there would pay only about $700 a year! Many make like only 70 cents a day! Meanwhile places like Communist China don't have any "national debt" like our country does. Instead they have an enormous surplus of money by taking advantage of their own people. Now we see even food imported into the U.S., thus putting more of our farmers out of work. And now I even hear there are plans to begin importing military equipment and so on from other countries too, instead of making it here in our own country! I really feel sorry for our soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Why should our own military be importing what it needs when it can be manufactured right here? Obama says he'll help create new jobs but instead it looks like we may see another Great Depression! How often do you see products sold in stores say "Made in the U.S.A. anymore? We used to be one of the world's leading exporters but instead now all we see is mostly imported items. That doesn't help provide needed good paying jobs for our country, ya know? Still sometimes I think another Great Depression could be a blessing in disguise. I mean after the last Great Depression , many turned to God in the Great Spiritual Revivals we once had. Will we see this happen again I wonder? Let's pray so. Aside from all the people who sacrificed their lives defending our nation I also really feel sorry for the dedicated Founding Fathers and all they contributed and sacrificed for our nation. It's really sad. I can't help but think that if not for our or recent generations sake , that if for any good reason that this nation should continue to be blessed for their work and sacrifices. It would really be sad to see the demise of this country after all the Founding Fathers and others did for it, as well as all the sacrifices that have been made. Somethings certainly need to change in our country and Obama's plan doesn't seem to be the way other successful countries have handled related matters in the past. We really need to put a stop to importing so much merchandise and start having it made right here again to provide more jobs for the future. Sadly many of politicians seem more interested in making money than ever being patriotic. That needs to change. If terrorists nuked Washington D.C. tomorrow, that may very well be a blessing in disguise sort to speak. I'd hate to ever see it happen but the politicians hearts don't appear to be directed towards our nation's best interest. They don't appear to be even half as Christian as our Founding Fathers were. They appear to be the types the Bible mentions that God would rather spew out of His mouth. Now we have Ms. Clinton among others going over to Israel to try to help divide God's land! Something the Bibles clearly warns us about ever doing. I have to ask , if you seperate all the Palestinians from the Jews, how is that not like segregation? Something our country is supposed to be against, although in the case with Israel I can definetely sympathize with Israel, but for anyone in our government to suggest this is like hipocracy , ya know? And now even though Iran's leader announces he will nuke Israel , our politicians act like they never heard it! Please pray about these matters for our nation's and Israel's future.
Thanks and "God Bless America"! ... Um are we still allowed to say that? Or is that now "politically incorrect" too?