Since workers in the service sector benefit as much from unions as manufacturing workers do (according to Mr. Schmitt), it might be wise to note that unions have directly contributed to the steady loss of US manufacturing jobs. Certainly the idea of union membership is also predictated upon the idea that the worker will stay in the same industry for his or her entire career, making union jobs by design “dead-end” jobs.
Personally I have never understood the modern penchant for unions. Educational opportunities are available to people now that didn’t exist when unions florished. Smart individuals look at the ways they can adapt to changes in the economy, whereas union membership assumes — even depends upon — people being, not individuals with changing knowledge and talents, but “workers,” mere drones in a machine.
Left the comment above at the “Hope for the Rest of Us” post on Courtney’s Blog. I said further, that:
The very notion of unionizing subtly lowers peoples’ self-esteem, persuading them that they have no choices, no particular talents, no unseen chances around the bend.
I wouldn’t be a member of a union under any circumstances. I value my abilities far too much. Even the term “worker” is demeaning. We are human beings not insects.
It amazes me the way that unions are clamorized today when they are least relevant to anyone’s life. Perhaps we should go all the way back to the medieval guild. If you want your choices removed, want to be a mere cog in the machine, step right up. But it’s not for me.
I’m taking a wild guess that “Courtney” is an Obama Democrat.
