[Liz]

When faced with budgetary constraints, the govt PTB don't slash monstrous govt pensions, bennies, and bloated govt bureaucracies... they cut essential services to “teach” the insolent public a lesson.

Amen. That nails it but good.

From all we've read about unions, I conclude they have set up a separate, surreptitious govt that controls and sucks up monies from those who are not in the union---AKA Taxpayers.

All of these unions operate against the principles of democracy to the detriment of our republic.

Unions are truly the enemy within.

[Condor51]

*** From all we've read about unions, I conclude they have set up a separate, surreptitious govt that controls and sucks up monies from those who are not in the union---AKA Taxpayers. ***

For all gubmint Unions I agree. I could never quite get why our 'Public Servants' would need a union, or should be allowed to unionize in the first place. After all they: Work. For. Us.

However as to Construction Trade Unions, IMO we do need them. They go through a long apprenticeship and deliver an excellent (and safe) finished product. (I can't believe I just said that?)

*** All of these unions operate against the principles of democracy to the detriment of our republic. ***

Yep. Unions by their own charters are Socialistic -- they all have their, 'Minimum Wage Scale'. This means some moron makes the same wage as a person with brains and ability to advance, but he can't advance on his own. Per the union he is 'equal' to the moron, and the moron to him. Ergo, there's no incentive to put in a little more effort.

As being a detriment to our Republic just look at all the damage that unions like the UAW & USW (United Steelworkers Union) did to their own members, the Companies that employed them and the US Economy.

• The UAW: Once upon a time America had Car companies called Nash, Rambler, Studebaker and Packard. The UAW soon put an end to them. And an end to the economies of the cities where they were located. BUT! For a couple years the workers got what they and their Bosses demanded. (I won't even get into the CRAPPY CARS that the remaining US Automakers now put on the road, all thanks to the UAW).

• The USW: The Steelworkers Union KILLED US Steel and made Gary, Indiana a ghost town. US Steel also had plants (Mills) in Chicago. All those are gone plus smaller Steel Mill Companies on the SE Side of Chicago. And iirc Pittsburgh, PA also got it in the end thanks to the Steelworkers Union and they KILLED that city too. But again, the Steelworkers got what 'they wanted'. Worked out okay for a few years.

*** Unions are truly the enemy within. ***

Right again. That's why the 'AFL-CIO' wasn't always the 'AFL-CIO'. As the 'CIO' was started and Run by Communists and the 'AFL' wanted no part of them. It wasn't until the CIO purged itself of the Communists that they merged.