I never thought I’d find myself quoting the father of
communism, Karl Marx, in this fiercely capitalistic column but there’s a
first time for everything.
"Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose
but your chains."
Of course, the late, not-so-great Mr. Marx never could have
foreseen who would be holding those chains at the start of the 21st
century.
Recent union history is replete with horror stories of
rigged elections, criminal connections and financial protection schemes tied
to Democratic machine politics.
This month’s Reader’s Digest Magazine features a probe
into corruption in the New York City municipal workers union that showed how
millions of dollars in union dues was diverted into the pockets of corrupt
union officials. Ballots to replace the corrupt incumbents were replaced
with counterfeits supporting them for another three-year term.
An honest member of the union rank and file who opposed the
crooked leaders received telephone threats.
Of course, this is not entirely new to those who have
followed the soap-opera shenanigans of the Teamsters Union. Links to the
Mafia are legendary in the leadership of our nation’s organized
18-wheelers.
And if you need a testimony, don’t bother issuing a
subpoena for Jimmy Hoffa. He’s not answering his e-mail.
The sad part is…for every amoral union official that’s
caught, there may be any number still operating under the table…and behind
the scenes.
Now, we’ve discovered the next link in the chain that’s
being forged by union leaders to capture Congress.
According to the Adam Smith Institute, union bosses are
plotting a permanent campaign strategy aimed at placing 100 full-time
political organizers into each of the most hotly contested Congressional
districts. If just five of those districts vote Democratic in the next
election, control of the lower house will switch parties.
It’s a free country…right? So why should we be concerned
about this exercise of "democratic" principles?
Follow the money trail.
The funds being used to underwrite this partisan activity
come from union members. Let’s say I’m a conservative Democrat, a
Libertarian or a Republican. Why should union leaders be allowed to pick my
pocket and elect someone opposed to everything I believe in?
The answer is…they have the legal right to do it.
The only way to restore financial and political choice to
the union rank and file is to end compulsory unionism and abolish the
misspending of union dues taken at gunpoint.
We encourage you to contact your representatives and
senators and insist they support a national "right to work" law.
"Workers of the United States, unite. You have nothing
to lose but your evil union leadership."
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