Left wing union irony: Collective greed vs Individual greed

[bucs90]

Seeing this attempted revolution in Wisconsin, I can't help but note the irony.

Last fall, the left was in an outrage that President Obama dared continue a tax cut for the rich. They wanted each rich individual to pay just a little bit more into the government, after all, "They can afford it".

But rich people, of course, pay a lot already, and do not want to pay more to a failed government. Left wingers called this "greed".

NOW we have left wing unions worldwide in revolt, right now in Wisconsin. The state of WI has a budget crisis. They can't sustain the union deals. Money simply IS NOT THERE.

But the union members won't budge. They wont accept paying half of what everyone else pay's for their insurance (12% average vs 6% the unions are being asked to pay). They demand this bill not be passed. They refuse to accept being asked to "give a little more".

The difference is rich people are being told "We are not going to TAKE more from you than we already are".
The union members are being told "We're no longer gonna GIVE you quite as much."

The similarity? Both are showing greed. The unions refuse to accept "accepting a little bit less" in the hopes of not having to layoff anyone. They're greed is too much to accept a little less, even if it means thousands will be fired as a result.

This greed they are showing is no different than the greed rich people show when they say they don't want any more taken from them.

Greed is greed folks. There aren't heirarchies of greed.

These union members aren't starving. I've seen them. Many are fat. ALL obviously can afford to take a day off from work, and burn the gas to drive down there (HEY aren't they contributing to global warming by driving there for no necessary cause?)

Anyway, just thought I'd point out a very interesting irony in the unions showing the same collective greed that the rich people they scolded showed as individuals. But the key difference is:

- Union greed could result in many losing their jobs (cutting jobs to make budget even)
- Rich people greed likely PREVENTED many from losing their jobs (employees who would've been laid off due to higher taxes on employer).

 

[WillowTree]

They be asshole.

 

[bucs90]

They be asshole.

I bet 99% of those union members in WI, back in November, were whining that rich people should have to "give a little more" for the collective cause of the country.f

Yet, when they, as individuals, are also asked to make a very small sacrifice in the name of the greater good (not firing teachers) they refuse to do it.

Ironic, huh?

 

[uscitizen]

It has always been and will always be a continuing battle between those who actually produce things and those with money.

 

[Truthmatters]

You do realize that this gov cut taxes for business at the same time he cut these teachers pay right?

Then to really insult American workers he tries to strip these workers of rights.


The first amendment contains freedom of assembily too and you can not take that away from Americans.

Some how he thought the only workers who deserved these rights are the unions that supported his campaign.

 

[Sallow]

Um..no.

This is an attempt to break a public Union. Wisconsin Republicans want to pass laws that make it impossible for Unions to make deals on anything other then salaries.

"Freemarket" conservatives want to take "Freemarket" bargaining away from Unions.

And this is the line in the sand.

 

[JBeukema]

http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/142896-unions-in-the-us.html

 

[California Girl]

It has always been and will always be a continuing battle between those who actually produce things and those with money.

People with money don't actually produce things? Srsly?

I'll tell my dad not to bother working anymore then. After all, those people he employs (and pays exceptionally well, and provides benefits for - even without being told to by some government), and treats like family..... well, they'll all be fine.... after all, the government will pay their mortgages, and bills, and healthcare, and pensions, and everything else that my dad does right now.

Your stupid whining about 'rich people' is sickening... and based on your own prejudices - not reality.

 

[California Girl]

Um..no.

This is an attempt to break a public Union. Wisconsin Republicans want to pass laws that make it impossible for Unions to make deals on anything other then salaries.

"Freemarket" conservatives want to take "Freemarket" bargaining away from Unions.

And this is the line in the sand.

It's an attempt to save the state. Which part of 'there is no money' is overly complicated?

 

[California Girl]

You do realize that this gov cut taxes for business at the same time he cut these teachers pay right?

Then to really insult American workers he tries to strip these workers of rights.


The first amendment contains freedom of assembily too and you can not take that away from Americans.

Some how he thought the only workers who deserved these rights are the unions that supported his campaign.

You do realize those businesses employ people, right?

Why do you hate hard working Americans?

 

[boedicca]

Correction to the OP. The average share of health insurance that employees in the private sector pay is 20%, not 12%.

 

[boedicca]

You do realize that this gov cut taxes for business at the same time he cut these teachers pay right?

Then to really insult American workers he tries to strip these workers of rights.


The first amendment contains freedom of assembily too and you can not take that away from Americans.

Some how he thought the only workers who deserved these rights are the unions that supported his campaign.

And you have a problem with businesses keeping more of their earnings so they are better able to invest and create jobs?

What a hater.

 

[JBeukema]

In summary: by bankrupting the State, they help to make the economy worse in the long run. This means they and the rest of the proletariat and intelligentsia will find less opportunities to earn the wages they need to survive.

Their personal greed and myopia is detrimental to the good of the society as a whole and the rest of the working class. By turning their back on the rest of their comrades in the name of today's profits, they have become no different than the exploiters they once pledged to fight against.


http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/142896-unions-in-the-us.html

 

[jgarden]

Left wing union irony: Collective greed vs Individual greed

The worst accusation that our "capitalist friends" can make about these "left wing union (s)" is that they've become just like them!

 

[Truthmatters]

Medicare fraud is about as greedy as it gets dont you think?

 

[boedicca]

What a non sequitur.

FDR and George Meany agreed that public employees should not be allowed to collectively bargain:


Even President Franklin Roosevelt, a friend of private-sector unionism, drew a line when it came to government workers: "Meticulous attention," the president insisted in 1937, "should be paid to the special relations and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the Government....The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service." The reason? F.D.R. believed that "[a] strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to obstruct the operations of government until their demands are satisfied. Such action looking toward the paralysis of government by those who have sworn to support it is unthinkable and intolerable." Roosevelt was hardly alone in holding these views, even among the champions of organized labor. Indeed, the first president of the AFL-CIO, George Meany, believed it was "impossible to bargain collectively with the government."

The case against public sector unionism - ProfessorBainbridge.com

 

[JBeukema]

Collective bargaining and the general strike are not the same thing

 

[Truthmatters]

This could all be solved by taking the money scott made on medicare fraud.

 

[boedicca]

Collective bargaining and the general strike are not the same thing

Collective bargaining always contains an implicit threat of a strike.

 

[Truthmatters]

Rick Scott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


and the threat to the people this guy presented was ignored.

He got away with a ton of money and no prosicution WHY?????