Socialism smacked down ... Collectivist economic systems have clearly proven to be dismal failures in industrialized societies. Capitalism is the more successful economic model because it works with the natural human tendency for self-interest. Conversely, collectivist models rely on human attributes that are less dependable—altruism and sharing. While these may be morally higher expressions of humanity, when applied to economic systems they fail to produce communal prosperity because they are contradictory to, and dependent upon individual prosperity. Forced altruism typically requires government coercion via mandatory distribution schemes that eventually cripple productivity, creativity, and freedom. Furthermore, collectivist systems are no less immune to greed and corruption than are capitalist systems. (thedailysound.com)
The Real Free Choice: Secret Ballots ... The decision to check a union card — in the presence of union representatives — would effectively become a not very secret and not very free vote about collective bargaining. Advocates say the card check would level the playing field between union organizers and management. But abolishing the secret ballot goes too far. Consider it this way: Would anyone think it fair for management to have the ability to block union organizing simply by pushing employees to sign a right-to-work card — and perhaps threatening their job security if they decline to initial? After decades of declining membership and with the unionized U.S. automakers on the ropes, labor unions are trying to find a strategy for growth and relevancy. Card check is the wrong way. (mysanantonio.com)
Here come the Progs! ... Look for the return of the "Yellow Peril" and the revival of a half-forgotten "progressive" tradition of left-wing anti-Chinese and anti-Japanese feeling. On the West coast, starting in the 19th century, the labor unions agitated against the importation of "coolie" labor, and anti-Japanese sentiment was also rife. This anti-Asian movement found political expression in the Asiatic Exclusion League and the Workingman's Party. The movement had enough clout in 1906 to pressure the San Francisco-based California state Board of Education to exclude students of Japanese descent from public schools white children attended. We hear echoes of this in Rachel Maddow's rants against that Republican congressman from a southern state who has a Toyota factory in his district, which Rachel referred to as if it were an invading army instead of a source of income for thousands of Americans. How dare he oppose the bailout of our sclerotic auto industry, which long ago deserved to go belly-up! What I want to know is where-oh-where do these people learn economics? In short, it's going to get increasingly ugly out there, as the Democrats take control and this kind of talk becomes more commonplace. Call it bread-and-butter imperialism – the War Party's appeal to the common working man. Full employment through global interventionism – yeah, that's the ticket! (antiwar.com)Path to Collectivism, part 2
