tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post115828789191497895..comments2024-03-15T03:16:46.386-04:00Comments on Objectivist v. Constructivist v. Theist: Down With UnionsThe Constructivisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159729528900300522006-10-01T15:05:00.000-04:002006-10-01T15:05:00.000-04:00Oh, and O, if you believe teacher unions drag down...Oh, and O, if you believe teacher unions drag down academic standards, why do you defend the teaching of intelligent design as if it were a science when <A HREF="http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_10_01-2006_10_07.shtml#1159711488" REL="nofollow">evidence shows doing so contributes to students' scientific illiteracy</A>? By the way, ths link is to the conservative blog The Volokh Conspiracy, for what that's worthThe Constructivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159727156977368602006-10-01T14:25:00.000-04:002006-10-01T14:25:00.000-04:00In case you thought I was making up the productivi...In case you thought I was making up the <A HREF="http://maxspeak.org/mt/archives/002556.html" REL="nofollow">productivity/wage thing</A>--this one's just on the past 5 years, however.The Constructivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159650689747428062006-09-30T17:11:00.000-04:002006-09-30T17:11:00.000-04:00O, in lieu of a long response, here's a link to Fi...O, in lieu of a long response, here's a link to <A HREF="http://www.firedoglake.com/category/labor/" REL="nofollow">Firedoglake</A>'s labor archive. <BR/><BR/>On #1, what is your criterion for too much corporate power? Are any checks on corporate power legitimate, in your view?<BR/><BR/>On #2, blaming unions is a standard practice of bad managers. US car companies have themselves to blame for riding the SUV boom and not trying to compete with other automakers on good fuel-efficient vehicles. This was and remains a managerial decision. You can't blame the UAW for that one. What is your evidence that unions hurt the overall economym cause productivity to be lost rather than gained, and thus hurt working people more than they help them?<BR/><BR/>You'll note US workers' productivity has been rising dramatically along with hours worked over the past generation yet wages are not rising accordingly. Why is that? Cold it be the decline in unionzation levels?The Constructivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159492208368208012006-09-28T21:10:00.000-04:002006-09-28T21:10:00.000-04:00Dear Anonymous and Constructivist:Two points.1. NO...Dear Anonymous and Constructivist:<BR/><BR/>Two points.<BR/><BR/>1. NO CRITERION FOR POWER: I don't see any union proponent explaining when unions have too little, too much, or the right amount of power. What backs up their claim for deciding when government thumbs on the scale benefit unions too much. <BR/><BR/>2. UNIONS HURT THE ECONOMY: Unions are present in the least efficient parts of the economy: government, car companies, steel companies, textile companies, etc. These areas are doing poorly and constantly seeking protectionist measures. This is evidence that unions are inefficient and a drag on others' well-being. <BR/><BR/>If you have time, I would like to hear your response to these points.The Objectivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00416501145750028695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159491697796841542006-09-28T21:01:00.000-04:002006-09-28T21:01:00.000-04:00Dear Anonymous and Constructivist:You make an exce...Dear Anonymous and Constructivist:<BR/><BR/>You make an excellent point. If unions were just private groupings of individuals who chose to negotiate together, then I would have no problem with them. It does not involve the use of force, fraud, or theft in ecnomic relations. <BR/><BR/>However, I wonder what evidence you have that unions actually improve workers' conditions. One might think that workers with jobs do better but there are more unemployed. So the net balance of utility is unclear and given the loss of productivity probably negative.<BR/><BR/>Here is my challenge to you. What evidence is there that unions improve the lives of the collection of working adults?The Objectivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00416501145750028695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1159091070402145032006-09-24T05:44:00.000-04:002006-09-24T05:44:00.000-04:00O, as you know, the share of GDP going to labor in...O, as you know, the share of GDP going to labor in the US is at a historic low, while management salaries keep skyrocketing. Shareholders should see unions as a check and balance on management. If unions are doing what they should, workers in a unionized workforce will be better trained, more productive, with better morale than those in a nonunionized workforce. What's wrong with such workers being better compensated?The Constructivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1158612323495477242006-09-18T16:45:00.000-04:002006-09-18T16:45:00.000-04:00O, just a quick post-typhoon question for you. If...O, just a quick post-typhoon question for you. If unions were open shop rather than closed shop--if there were no "government-supported monopoly"--would you no longer be against them?The Constructivisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1158593659600588492006-09-18T11:34:00.000-04:002006-09-18T11:34:00.000-04:00It is not the job of the union to represent the cl...It is not the job of the union to represent the client. It is the job of the union to represent the employee so that (s)he can do a better job of helping the client without having to worry about things mentioned above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23061971.post-1158350733804782042006-09-15T16:05:00.000-04:002006-09-15T16:05:00.000-04:00I completely disagree with your premise. Without u...I completely disagree with your premise. Without unions people have no guarantees from their employer. No job security. No cost of living salary adjustments. Do you like weekends? Thank the unions. How about a 40 hour work week? Again, thank you unions. <BR/>You think you pay too much in taxes? Well tell the Republicans to stop giving tax breaks to the rich and to corporations. Rich people and corporations should be funding things more than they are. Right now the average American worker is being buried in taxes while the rich are allowed to dodge paying their fair share. This is not the fault of unions, this is the fault of those in power who wish to use unions as a scapegoat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com