Wisconsin schools call off classes as budget protests continue

I belong to the Unite Here! union, which contributs money to Democratic campaigns. Problem is I haven't voted for a democrat since..................... yea, so my union dues are being funneled to politicians that I don't even vote for. This is what I hate about unions (thanks for wasting my money!).

There are many good things that my union does for me and the other workers at my workplace, but I feel that in no circumstances should union member dues be used to help fund a political campaign for any politician. If a union supports a candidate, then the union should encourage its members to voluntarily contribute funds from their own pockets. That way if a member does not support that candidate, then that member's money is not wasted on that candidate.

 

and the same rules should apply to corporations.

 

You are absolutely right. CEO's should not waste their stockholders' money on political candiates.

If CEO or stockholder supports a candidate, then they should contribute funds to that campaign from their own pockets.

 

This quote is from an AFL-CIO publication, forgive me if I'm a little skeptical

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/states/upload/Paycheck_Deception_Overview_1-cmo.pdf

 

"Business interests as a whole contribute far more money to candidates and political parties than do labor unions or ideological groups. Of course, business is a much bigger category than the others. However, business contributions tend to be overstated. Because CRP uses employer/occupation information to categorize donors, and because just about everyone works for a business, contributions from members of labor unions and ideological groups are often classified under business." Center for responsive politics

The number are skewed because of the way CRP categorizes business donations. That being said the money donated from corporations are typically split 50/50 between Dems and Repubs. As where unions give 100% to the Democrats.

 

i dont know a lot about unions, but this is no wildcat strike. it is the "business" that wants to break the contract. i dont see how you can be pissed at someone for fighting for their side of the deal.

 

I don't live in Wisconsin and never will so let the union dig a deeper hole than they're already in but DON'T come looking for another Democrat-led bailout to pay for your ignorance and greed.

I don't live in Michigan either (...and won't!) but I think we saw how out of control unions (UAW) can really screw things up. I don't vote in MI but I also don't have to buy a GM product and didn't last year when I bought a new vehicle. Chevrolet lost out on $35-40K when I bought a different vehicle.

If you want collective bargaining to determine seniority, shift, days off, medical options, health & safety, etc...good for you. The workers on "the line" should have a voice in those matters. When you get involved in politics, making demands, getting paid when not working, etc...then I hope the union gets busted as they would deserve it.

 

Not true, in the last election cycle, corps gave more to dems than usual, hedgeing their bets for influence, since after the Bush debacle, a dem winning was most likely.

But by and large, corps give way more money to republicans, even the Heritage Foundation admits that.

And the reason the firefighters and police unions aren't being targeted by the Wisconson governor is because they backed him in the last election.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Xm-obWeUI]YouTube - Scott Walker Ad: "Seconds"[/ame]

 

Then you must disagree with the Wisconson governor, because he will eliminate collective bargaining for everything you just said.

And the workers "on the line" vote on whether or not to accept the contract, so the do have a voice.

 

In principle, every American citizen has an equal say in our political process. In practice, of course, some of us are more equal than others. Billionaires can field armies of lobbyists; they can finance think tanks that put the desired spin on policy issues; they can funnel cash to politicians with sympathetic views. On paper, we’re a one-person-one-vote nation; in reality a handful of wealthy people dominate.

So yeah, I want the unions to keep what little voice and infuence they have left.

Somebody needs to speak for the hard working, middle class too.