Comments on: What Democrats Attack On Wal-Mart Says About Democrats http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:32:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: HispanicPundit http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109478 HispanicPundit Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:48:46 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109478 <blockquote>Are you implying that unions are to blame for the problems those industries are facing?</blockquote> Sure am. I am saying exactly that. Just to give one example, read <em>Where Would General Motors Be Without the United Automobile Workers Union</em> <a href="http://www.mises.org/story/2124" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Are you implying that unions are to blame for the problems those industries are facing?

Sure am. I am saying exactly that. Just to give one example, read Where Would General Motors Be Without the United Automobile Workers Union here.

]]> By: True_Liberal http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109463 True_Liberal Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:30:35 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109463 <blockquote>Are unions by default a threat to any industry? All of those industries did quite well for decades under union influence. </blockquote> Union contracts tend to institutionalize restrictive work practices ("That's not my job") which introduces great inefficiency. Having worked similar jobs in both union and nonunion shops, domestic and overseas, I feel well qualified to point this out. Couple this with unrealistic wage rates, and it's no wonder the rustbelt suffers by comparison.

Are unions by default a threat to any industry? All of those industries did quite well for decades under union influence.

Union contracts tend to institutionalize restrictive work practices (”That’s not my job”) which introduces great inefficiency. Having worked similar jobs in both union and nonunion shops, domestic and overseas, I feel well qualified to point this out.

Couple this with unrealistic wage rates, and it’s no wonder the rustbelt suffers by comparison.

]]> By: msondo http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109436 msondo Fri, 25 Aug 2006 23:07:46 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109436 Are you implying that unions are to blame for the problems those industries are facing? Are unions by default a threat to any industry? All of those industries did quite well for decades under union influence. Many of those industries do quite well out of the local context and with union influence. I don't think it is rational to blame an entire industry on a union. I think their continued existence points out issues that still need to be addressed (i.e., healthcare.) Are you implying that unions are to blame for the problems those industries are facing? Are unions by default a threat to any industry? All of those industries did quite well for decades under union influence. Many of those industries do quite well out of the local context and with union influence. I don’t think it is rational to blame an entire industry on a union. I think their continued existence points out issues that still need to be addressed (i.e., healthcare.)

]]> By: HispanicPundit http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109094 HispanicPundit Thu, 24 Aug 2006 06:33:27 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109094 Well, for one, it's illegal. Wal-Mart could only do so much in preventing employees from unionizing, but if the employees really wanted to, they have the right to. Oh and, I am not overgeneralizing, it's been a trend for years now, see <a href="http://www.econlib.org/library/ENC/LaborUnions.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>: <blockquote>The degree of union representation of workers has declined in all private industries in the United States in recent decades. A major reason is that employees do not like unions. According to a Louis Harris poll commissioned by the AFL-CIO in 1984, only one in three U.S. employees would vote for union representation in a secret ballot election. The Harris poll found, as have other surveys, that nonunion employees, relative to union workers, are more satisfied with job security, recognition of job performance, and participation in decisions that affect their jobs.</blockquote> More satisfied with job security is right, after all, look at all industries that are having serious problems in the United States, whether that is the auto industry, the airline industry, or the supermarket industry, and you will see unions not too far away. Well, for one, it’s illegal. Wal-Mart could only do so much in preventing employees from unionizing, but if the employees really wanted to, they have the right to.

Oh and, I am not overgeneralizing, it’s been a trend for years now, see here:

The degree of union representation of workers has declined in all private industries in the United States in recent decades. A major reason is that employees do not like unions. According to a Louis Harris poll commissioned by the AFL-CIO in 1984, only one in three U.S. employees would vote for union representation in a secret ballot election. The Harris poll found, as have other surveys, that nonunion employees, relative to union workers, are more satisfied with job security, recognition of job performance, and participation in decisions that affect their jobs.

More satisfied with job security is right, after all, look at all industries that are having serious problems in the United States, whether that is the auto industry, the airline industry, or the supermarket industry, and you will see unions not too far away.

]]> By: msondo http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109092 msondo Thu, 24 Aug 2006 06:18:49 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109092 <i>But that is the problem, Wal-Mart doesn’t prevent employees to organize as much as employees themselves don’t want to organize.</i> Any facts on this? I have only seen evidence of the contrary. <i>I guess having some corrupt organization that reduces employment, enriches only itself, and takes money out of your paychecks is no longer as enticing to employees as it once used to be. </i> You love to generalize, don't you? ;) That is precisely why it is so easy for me to not take conservative rhetoric seriously. But that is the problem, Wal-Mart doesn’t prevent employees to organize as much as employees themselves don’t want to organize.

Any facts on this? I have only seen evidence of the contrary.

I guess having some corrupt organization that reduces employment, enriches only itself, and takes money out of your paychecks is no longer as enticing to employees as it once used to be.

You love to generalize, don’t you? ;) That is precisely why it is so easy for me to not take conservative rhetoric seriously.

]]> By: True_Liberal http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109012 True_Liberal Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:34:22 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109012 Hmm - interesting point. Would a classical liberal (in the literal, etymological sense) be for a system in which an employee is FORCED to join a labor union, as a condition of employment? Hmm - interesting point. Would a classical liberal (in the literal, etymological sense) be for a system in which an employee is FORCED to join a labor union, as a condition of employment?

]]> By: HispanicPundit http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109011 HispanicPundit Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:21:20 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109011 Now your just being mean! No, I am not referring to you calling me 'full of shit', I am referring to you calling me a 'secret in the closet bleeding heart liberal', those are fighting words, Mr! ;-) Now your just being mean!

No, I am not referring to you calling me ‘full of shit’, I am referring to you calling me a ’secret in the closet bleeding heart liberal’, those are fighting words, Mr! ;-)

]]> By: myke http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109010 myke Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:13:18 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-109010 HP ... you're always so full of shit. But that's why we all love you. That and the fact that you're a secret in the closet bleeding heart liberal. I just know you are. HP … you’re always so full of shit. But that’s why we all love you. That and the fact that you’re a secret in the closet bleeding heart liberal. I just know you are.

]]> By: HispanicPundit http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-108950 HispanicPundit Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:10:14 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-108950 But that is the problem, Wal-Mart doesn't prevent employees to organize as much as employees themselves don't want to organize. I guess having some corrupt organization that reduces employment, enriches only itself, and takes money out of your paychecks is no longer as enticing to employees as it once used to be. But that is the problem, Wal-Mart doesn’t prevent employees to organize as much as employees themselves don’t want to organize.

I guess having some corrupt organization that reduces employment, enriches only itself, and takes money out of your paychecks is no longer as enticing to employees as it once used to be.

]]> By: msondo http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-108948 msondo Wed, 23 Aug 2006 19:53:35 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2006/08/23/what-democrats-attack-on-wal-mart-says-about-democrats/#comment-108948 I don't think it is about not liking competition but more about liking the ability to organize. Any business that prevents employees from organizing is a threat to workers rights. I don’t think it is about not liking competition but more about liking the ability to organize. Any business that prevents employees from organizing is a threat to workers rights.

]]>