Well, well, well: George McGovern believes in secret ballots too!!

McGovern is pro-union (0.00 / 0)

are you, pro-union, Mr. Schinella?  

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by: susanthe @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 07:53:25 AM CDT

Umm, yeah (4.00 / 1)

and always have been.

Politizine.com

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by: Tony Schinella @ Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 10:32:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I have no questions about McGovern's intentions in this. (0.00 / 0)

But when the vast majority of the pro-union party are for something and the vast majority of the anti-union party are against it, and even using it in attack ads against members of the pro-union party, one has to wonder who's looking out for labor.

I'm not saying we should all blindly accept that whatever Democrats do is good for labor, but I tend to be wary of any issue that Republicans use as a wedge issue, particularly in TV ads.  Giving people pro-Republican gut feelings by saying things that don't mean anything is their specialty.  (on a side note, anybody else notice how those Republican ads against this bill have the big bad union bosses as stereotypical Italian mobsters?  How big-tent of them.  Also, welcome to New Hampshire, no mafia.)

While I haven't given enough thought to this particular bill to pass judgment, I think it's worth noting that the big objections to it seem to be based around the premise that evil, corrupt union bosses are around before a union is formed, which is a stretch in my book.  And of course, one must remember that while every person in every situation, even a union head, has some self-interest, not every labor union is being formed in Five Families territory.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go put up some of my union-shop, Made in New Hampshire lawn signs.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 08:36:17 AM CDT

As far as no mafia in New Hampshire (0.00 / 0)

I've heard of there being a mafia connection to an infamous murder  that took place in Nashua in the late 1950s.

On page 57 of former House Speaker Marshall Cobleigh's memoir, We Ain't Making Sausage Here, he writes,

After the murder, Martineau and Nelson couldn't drive the blood-stained car back to Rhode Island. They left it, with the body in it, in Nashua, my town at the time. They called their Mafia friends in Rhode Island to come up and pick them up. They were hanging around the back alleys of the main street of Nashua waiting for their ride when the Nashua police found them.

You can read more about it here: http://www.1959cadillac.com/ga...

Also, there was also an episode of the Sopranos that was supposed to take place here. So, maybe not totally mafia free!

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by: Alex Gallichon @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 11:52:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

A great book too! (0.00 / 0)

Politizine.com

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by: Tony Schinella @ Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 10:33:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I guess the points of this diary are: (4.00 / 3)

1. So there! Liberals aren't unanimous, so they must be confused and wrong
2. George McGovern is the banner-carrier for all progressives
3. It's in the Wall Street Journal, so that makes it especially important

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by: elwood @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 21:18:28 PM CDT

That made me laugh (0.00 / 0)

No offense, Tony. But I also found it curious that McGovern's piece was in the Wall Street Journal. To Elwood's second point, it's as if McGovern is the MOST liberal guy in America, so if HE opposes this, all liberals must oppose it.

To McGovern's point about coercion: what about coercion from management if the vote goes against the union? I was waiting for him to say that.

My general feeling on this bill is ... ambiguous. I think I'm more comfortable with the secret ballot, but a signature drive has some merit. Generally I'm uncomfortable with regulation of how a union gets formed, but I guess that ship has sailed.

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by: JimC @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 21:25:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not saying that at all (4.00 / 1)

I don't agree with everything McGovern agrees with. I was just saying that there were others who believe that workers should be able to have a secret ballot and not be pressured into supporting unions if they don't want to.

I've been reading the WSJ for a number of years now and I'm glad I do. I wouldn't know half the crap I know, especially when looking at economic trends. I knew the housing crisis was coming a year before it actually started.

That said, their editorials are pretty bad.

Politizine.com

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by: Tony Schinella @ Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 10:37:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The points was ... (4.00 / 1)

that not everyone is unanimous on this and my point previously on this issue is echoed by McGovern.  

Politizine.com

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by: Tony Schinella @ Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 10:34:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]