The Power Struggle: Big Government, Big Labor, Big Business

"THE WEEKLY WRAP" with Diane W. Collins

The Power Struggle: Big Government, Big Labor, Big Business

Sunday, February 27, 2011 - no video this week

Archive: Publications, Weekly Wrap

Diane W. Collins

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap. I’m Diane Collins.

Congress went home on vacation for Presidents Day. The House having completed business deserved some rest, however, one might conclude otherwise regarding the Senate. Needless to say, the world did not stand still.

At the state level Wisconsin proved to be the stage from which was launched an intense battle, a power struggle. It is an old story with a new episode. It concerns the consequence of an imbalance of power between Big Government, Big Labor and Big Business. The only way to get to the truth and how it affects the common man is to look at the crux of the issue, collective bargaining in the public sector.

As many states face budget deficits that threaten insolvency strong reforms necessarily have been brought forward. One cannot argue with the fact that a major issue regarding state solvency is the public pensions collective bargaining has been able to achieve. As governors have said, "Broke means broke" and we have reached a situation where there is nothing to bargain over. The call is for concessions. But, the common man understands the need for the ability to bargain on a collective basis in some cases. This can be true in the area of wages, hours, and conditions of the workplace. However, the collective ability to hold the electorate captive over unrealistic pension and health benefits is not something that can continue.

"Broke is broke."

Clarity on the issue comes when one understands that in Big Labor dues are used to elect state and national representatives. Many of these representatives are the very people who have voted to establish the unrealistic public pension programs under which many states now suffer. How has this served the workers? Unrealistic expectations in any matter never lead to happy endings. Instead this has served the ambitions of union bosses and politicians, both of whom seek re-election and power to establish their own agendas. Don't believe me? Look at their alliances. Then ask yourself... are these the people you want as friends?

In the private sector, workers don't elect the boss. In the private sector unions can have a place helping ensure fair treatment of workers. But, the public sector is a different animal. The rules must be written to protect workers but also the electorate from this new version of the "tyranny of the masses." Hopefully, those Democrat state legislators who have chosen to deny the political process of our Republic will return to their assemblies and conduct the business of state as they were elected to do. If not, every legal means should be used to remove them as delinquent of their authority; and the call for new elections in their districts should go out. As I wrote on our Twitter account this week, what in the world do you think would have happened if Republicans had walked out of the House when health care reform was being debated? ... more