Unions: The Enemy Within Bankrupting America, Destroying Prosperity, and Subverting Our Future

For those who may wonder why Democrats support unions that have eliminated American industries, are bankrupting states and municipalities, and threaten the very existence of our nation due to the massive failure of public schools and an alien social agenda at war with Christian beliefs and values, here's the answer.

Leading Union Political Campaign Contributors 1990-2010
	Democrats	Republicans
American Fed. of State, County, & Municipal Employees	$40,281,900	$547,700
Intel Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	29,705,600	679,000
National Education Association	27,679,300	2,005,200
Service Employees International Union	26,368,470	98,700
Communication Workers of America	26,305,500	125,300
Service Employees International Union	26,252,000	1,086,200
Laborers Union	25,734,000	138,000
American Federation of Teachers	25,682,800	200,000
United Auto Workers	25,082,200	182,700
Teamsters Union	24,926,400	1,822,000
Carpenters and Joiners Union	24,094,100	658,000
Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union	23,875,600	226,300
United Food and Commercial Workers Union	23,182,000	334,200
AFL-CIO	17,124,300	713,500
Sheet Metal Workers Union	16,347,200	342,800
Plumbers & Pipefitters Union	14,790,000	818,500
Operating Engineers Union	13,840,000	2,309,500
Airline Pilots Association	12,806,600	2,398,300
International Association of Firefighters	12,421,700	2,685,400
United Transportation Workers	11,807,000	1,459,300
Ironworkers Union	11,638,900	936,000
American Postal Workers Union	11,633,100	544,300
Nat'l Active & Retired Fed. Employees Association	8,135,400	2,294,600
Seafarers International Union	6,726,800	1,281,300
Source: Center for Responsive Politics, Washington , D.C. http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/index.php

Striking a Blow for Good Governance

From CatholicVote.org

By Tom Crowe

The Wisconsin Senate has passed the measure stripping government unions of the ability to collude with willing partisans to increase their largesse in exchange for loads of political support and campaign contributions. The state Assembly is expected to take up the legislation today.

In other words, the Wisconsin Senate voted to end collective bargaining for government unions.

This is not about hatin’ on teachers. This is not about trying to destroy all unions. This is about ending a corrupt system.

Why Walker Won't Back Down

From Wisconsin State Journal

By Clay Barbour

Gov. Scott Walker announces his controversial budget repair bill last month. Despite daily protests and dwindling public support, Walker remains resolute in his push to curb collective bargaining rights for public employees to give government more flexibility in budgeting.

The crowds are angry, the polls unfavorable, but Gov. Scott Walker has so far refused to compromise on key pieces of his controversial budget repair bill.

Such resolve would be impressive in a politician with the resume of a Tommy Thompson or Russ Feingold, but it's a little shocking for a governor with just eight weeks under his belt.

Except, when it comes to Walker, it isn't.

"Anyone who thinks he will change his mind has another thing coming," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo, a Walker ally during his tenure as county executive. "He ignores the polls and the protests and does what he thinks is right. And I can tell you, he will not give in."

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Wisconsin Unions vs. Governor Walker is a Battle for the Soul of America

As even pro-union FDR understood, collective-bargaining rights for government workers is the ultimate conflict of interest. What is really at stake in the Wisconsin donnybrook is whether individual liberty or government power has the upper hand in our country.

From The Christian Science Monitor

By Mark Hendrickson

It is hard to overstate what is at stake in the dramatic showdown between Wisconsin’s teachers and their Republican governor and legislature. The political and economic course of our country hinges on how the issue of public sector unions is resolved, in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

For the sake of our country’s political and economic future, Gov. Scott Walker and his Republican colleagues need to prevail in the current contest with the Wisconsin teachers’ union and their allies.

That isn’t easy for me to say. As an educator, I have great respect for all those (and they are many) in my chosen profession who capably and even brilliantly serve our nation’s youth. The fact is, though, that the status quo is untenable.