Pat, these are becoming old hackneyed talking points that get regurgitated in every debate on the subject: I can listen to Rush or Sean anytime I want to hear these again and again.
The problem with many, and you may be one of them, is the viewing of all incidents/issues through but one perspective, instead of analyzing each specific issue, separate from all others..
There are situations where unions have been and continue to be beneficial, but there are also situations where the opposite is true.
It would seem that one of the critical, almost universal questions, is:
Who pays for it, and IS IT SUSTAINABLE ?
On your first point, I can and have proven to be a person that can look at the issues separately, and not just in a monolithic "unionism" sense where no other system is acceptable or valid. While I hesitate to get too personal about my own motives and past history, I will say that I was one who started a movement in my own municipality to promote a complimentary system of 'labor-management' relations based on Japanese Quality Circles, using that worker participatory management model and Deming Principles as a solution to what had become intractable labor-management gridlock, that I experienced in my 'tenure' as a President and chief labor negotiator of my local poice union. That evolved into a nationally recognized and award winning program called The Madison Quality and Productivity Program. It didn't replace the process of collective bargaining, but it complimented it and helped foster understandings up and down the chain of command to break some counterproductive gridlock. It was then applied to other depts as well.
Secondly, I recognize that union leaders can become arrogant and that leads to lawless, rule bending and breaking. Not unlike the world of high financial fiduciary trust, malfeasance can and does occur. I, in fact observed a situation in our State Association union leadership and from my BOD and then business agent position, called out what was apparent illegal activity, that resulted in a prosecution and conviction of a union executive gone bad. I took a lot of guff for calling out the issue, as in some wanting to shoot the messenger. But, all worked out after time, and that organization is now run by one of the most honest and competent individuals I have ever met in that field.
So please, follow your own advise and don't ascribe a one size fits all scenario on me. I don't see myself as any paragon of virtue, but I do and will always advocate for ethics and fidelity in how we do business, unlike what seems to me to be a complete breakdown of such in corporate America, particularly Wall Street and the financial movers and shakers of the world. It wasn't labor that almost crashed the world my friend. And, if you do take the narratives on "some" corrupt union activity, the total sum of that graft and corruption, it doesn't amount to one day or one shady deal or malfeasance in the financial and banking and international financial world, as we see play out day after day.
The narrative on teachers is soooooooo very trite. Please Pat, you are a smart guy, I'll bet you can get a substitute teacher license in your State. I did and sub'ed for several years, as my wife still does. I would give anything for a fellow like you to go into the class room and actually present a competent lesson plan to in a H.S. setting, about 100-120 kids a day spread out in 4-5 classes. Hell, even Tony Danza put his money where his mouth was and did this and now has a great book about it. Or you can read Frank McCort's book, "Teacher Man" for more insight. Or, better yet, I'd like to see you develop nightly lesson plans, then present them, then correct them, and continue that day in and day out for a month, let alone a school year. This constant drum beat against teachers by the right wing cry babies that have to pay property taxes to fund schools makes me sick. No one likes to pay taxes. But, if you don't want to pay any more taxes for such, find a country with all our benefits of life that has less taxes, and live there for a while and tell me how great life is. Private education and privatized education is a sham and a scam when argued as a panacea like most ppublic school teacher bashers do. Sure, it works at Notre Dame or my wife's former elementary school, "Notre Dame". But, they don't have to meet the mandate of our national interest which is to educate 'all' of the kids, not just the financially able or the advantaged, stable family, and not intellectually or emotionally disabled.
Why don't you and others find a little more passion to pick apart the corporate unlawful and unethical, and find what they have cost this country rather than pick on a public servant and their audacity to desire to bargain over their health care ins., retirement income security pensions, and on-going wage and benefit structure? Maybe you'll find the effect of rooting out the real evil and greed in this country will allow our society to go further than bog us down with false and incendiary narratives against school teachers and working people who desire to bargain their worth within a fair structure. I think a new ethic in the board rooms, on Wall Street, and in the international financial behaviors will create a more sustainable future than further impoverishing those public servants that live modest lives that none of your Long Island golf associates and society acquaintances could imagine.
And before someone brings up the other trite slogans about me advocating for rights for millionaire athletes, and refs with day jobs, I continue to remind you I'm talking about process, not who may be using the process that identifies collectively bargaining for compensation for the worth of your labor, whether it is digging that utility ditch in front of your house, or getting your bell rung by a 300lb lineman bearing down on your skinny behind. How much do you now think the juicy contracts and NFL player benefits negotiated for a guy like Jim McMahon enjoyed are worth that he may not be able to find his slippers or remember where he lives, in a few years, if the head trauma issue isn't cured?
We all have something... to validate our beliefs, and these are some of mine.
