Look for the Union Libel

So, I won't get all political on you here, but I gotta tell you that I'm not a big fan of unions. That's no secret to folks who know me. It's not a popular stance among many. That's okay. This ain't no beauty contest.

Here's the conundrum: Many items that are still made in the USA are made by labor unions. Textiles, automobiles (do they still make cars in the US?), microwave ovens and work boots. All made by unions.

I don't want to put anyone out of a job. In fact, I'm trying to save our jobs.

I'm just pretty sure it can demonstrated to a satifactory level of convincing that part of the reason that our jobs are overseas, that our walkie-talkies are all made in China, is because they have sweat shops.

Unions stopped (most of) the sweat shops in the United States. That was a good thing. Our workers deserve a good living wage. They don't all deserve the SAME wage, of course, but they need to be able to put a decent dinner on the table after 8 or 9 hours of good honest work.

Now the guy who installs windshield wipers on Ford F-150's makes $70,000 / year. Probably more than the job merits. I'm not saying the guy's not worth 70 G's. I'm just saying that his JOB isn't worth 70 grand.

The Union Boss is making 10-times that. And he's collecting all the union dues from the happy employees who are making $70,000 per year.

The other part of the reason that all our computer monitors are made in China is because our employees just cost way too much. If I had to pay all my employees $70,000, plus bennies, my budget wouldn't support it, and I'd have to let some of them go. Simple economics. Simple math, even.

So, for those of us who don't want a socialist society, we believe that the bus-boy at the local diner is worth less than the Union Boss, or at least worth less than the owner of the diner who took the risk with his own capital to start the business.

The higher echelon at any organization should make a lot of money. They're taking a risk. They're employing millions of Americans making what should be a great product. They have to make tough decisions. They should make good money for moving our economy forward. I'd say a couple of million ought to be enough. Let's call it ten million. But hundreds of millions? At what point is it doing what's right for America, and when is it just plain greed?

At what point is a garment working in Ashville, NC who makes $60,000 to make blue jeans making a decent living, and at what point is the pay beyond the job description? I don't know the answer, but I have some opinions.

Anyone else wonder why everything sold at Stuff Mart is cheap?