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Ok. I'll say it. Why didn't this pass, and why are people happy that it didn't pass???? Sure, the unions like it, but do the members really understand and really like that their dues can be indiscriminately used by the union leadership to support a political stance without their approval? Somehow, I don't think so. Payroll deducted funds are for running the union- nothing else. Individuals are free to donate as they see fit, but I have a real problem with someone else choosing to use money for political purposes rather than explaining to members how they can individually support causes that benefit the union.
I agree with Brian that I would not appreciate that my dues were being used for political purposes without my approval. Sure, the unions are only supposed to support political candidates/initiatives that would affect their members are workers, but I doubt those are the only contributions that are made by these unions. The positive side of this act not passing, though, is that the unions are not being treated differently from corporations. Another article I read about Prop 32 made it seem as though the language and terms of the proposed law would have made it so that corporations could still contribute to political initiatives because they could use non-payroll-deducted funds for donations. While I don't entirely agree with unions being able to participate so much in politics, I don't like the idea of corporations having such a say in politics at all. As such, I'm glad that the unions are at least retaining equal rights with corporations in this case.
WHAT?? Unions are the primary fighting force behind liberal politics. Sure individuals can contribute but it is not nearly as much money and it doesn't mean as much as if a giant union has donated thousands of dollars. This is how basic lobbying works and if this proposition had passed the left side of politics and the labor force of America would not get a voice in California. Besides this is it really fare that companies (corporations whose only prerogative is to make money) should have more of a say in our politics than our workers and the normal people (the 99%) of people that work for the US. Unions are not giving money to propositions that their members don't like because then they will lose all of their members.
3 comments:
Ok. I'll say it. Why didn't this pass, and why are people happy that it didn't pass???? Sure, the unions like it, but do the members really understand and really like that their dues can be indiscriminately used by the union leadership to support a political stance without their approval? Somehow, I don't think so. Payroll deducted funds are for running the union- nothing else. Individuals are free to donate as they see fit, but I have a real problem with someone else choosing to use money for political purposes rather than explaining to members how they can individually support causes that benefit the union.
I agree with Brian that I would not appreciate that my dues were being used for political purposes without my approval. Sure, the unions are only supposed to support political candidates/initiatives that would affect their members are workers, but I doubt those are the only contributions that are made by these unions. The positive side of this act not passing, though, is that the unions are not being treated differently from corporations. Another article I read about Prop 32 made it seem as though the language and terms of the proposed law would have made it so that corporations could still contribute to political initiatives because they could use non-payroll-deducted funds for donations. While I don't entirely agree with unions being able to participate so much in politics, I don't like the idea of corporations having such a say in politics at all. As such, I'm glad that the unions are at least retaining equal rights with corporations in this case.
WHAT?? Unions are the primary fighting force behind liberal politics. Sure individuals can contribute but it is not nearly as much money and it doesn't mean as much as if a giant union has donated thousands of dollars. This is how basic lobbying works and if this proposition had passed the left side of politics and the labor force of America would not get a voice in California. Besides this is it really fare that companies (corporations whose only prerogative is to make money) should have more of a say in our politics than our workers and the normal people (the 99%) of people that work for the US. Unions are not giving money to propositions that their members don't like because then they will lose all of their members.
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