Sirotablog

David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • August 10, 2007 11:58 AM

    Big Business Group: We Have "No Desire" For So-Called "Right to Work" Laws

    Conservatives just love to claim that so-called "Right to Work" laws (aka. Right to Get Abused By Your Employer laws) are good for business. Yes, the Grover Norquists and right-wing pundits of the world tell us, businesses are desperate for these laws which undermine unions because such laws supposedly create a great economic climate. Except there's one hitch, as Colorado Confidential reports: Real-life, actual business leaders in local communities don't necessarily agree with the conservative ideologues who purport to speak on their behalf.

    Pushing a "Right to Work" ballot initiative here in Colorado, State Rep. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch) was quoted in the Coloradoan as saying that the top two questions he hears from businesses are "Does Colorado have a business property tax and is Colorado a right-to-work state?" Strange, then, that Bill Ray of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce - the group whose whole job is lobbying on behalf of businesses in the legislature - says that, "There's so many more factors that determine if a company is going to succeed, or move, or expand here in Colorado." He says, that sure, "a call center or a hotel might be concerned with labor law, but a high-tech company that employes primarily engineers, that's really not going to be on their radar screen."

    Ray goes on to call Harvey's B.S., saying "Where we are [without Right to Work laws] works great for us. We have no desire to swing the pendulum in either direction. It's not impediment to growing a business here in the state of Colorado."

    Couple Ray's comments with a recent statewide poll showing that the majority of the public in Colorado opposes so-called Right to Work laws, and we have yet more proof that the Right's tired script of treating the public like we're stupid when it comes to economic issues is no longer working out here in the Rocky Mountain region.

    Posted by David Sirota
    Permalink | Comments (5) | del.icio.us | digg
    Tags: Great American West, war on the middle class

Discussion

  • maxpayne [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    Bill Clinton did a hell of a job signing that terrorizing RTW legislation thereby killing the labor force. In Virginia, any time someone tries to tell the benefits of a labor union, a blue collar worker will hold up two things, a bible and a gun. From there, he or she will say "You have the right to work or get the fuck out of here !" Mind you, most of these fundie voters are so hostile to the idea of labor unions despite the fact that they would benefit tremendously from them. For example, I'd hear a plumber brag about gleefully turning in and getting fired from work a pro-union co-worker of his. Worse, he calls her "Satan's welfare queen" ! Do I expect these voters to understand their own plight? Not so fast, however, if the Democrats would stay more pro-labor union and improve on it rather than falling into the trap of caving in to corporate greed as a "shortcut", the fundie voters wouldn't be so hostile. Same thing on universal healthcare, worker rights and safety, trade, etc ...

    Posted on August 10, 2007 12:53 PM
  • waltc [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    If the Dems get in Edwards there is a good chance the party can get back its pro-labor reputation. And if Edwards gets in he ought to hire Kucinich as his labor secretary.

    But if Hillary gets in, she'll run the party into the ground and sour whats left of the working class on the Democrats.

    That said, I wonder what is Hillary's real level of popularity. I know on most Democratic blogs she's not popular but how does that translate in pro-Democratic regions across the country. I can't use my area since its strongly republican so its hard for me to judge what is her true level of popularity.

    Posted on August 10, 2007 2:08 PM
  • ACD [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    "And if Edwards gets in he ought to hire Kucinich as his labor secretary."

    I agree 100%.
    I'm an Edwards supporter. I like Kucinich, but he's unelectable unfortunately. So yes, if Edwards won the nomination and the presidency, Kucinich would be my first choice for labor secretary.

    Posted on August 10, 2007 4:40 PM
  • maxpayne [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I suppose Edwards deserves a second chance to get it correct this time especially since Kucinich often sounds too "canned" in his responses instead of convincing enough in tone. I just hope Edwards doesn't turn out to be just like Bill "populist before election corporate elitist sellout once in office" Clinton if he makes it to the White House.

    Posted on August 10, 2007 8:30 PM
  • TJ Colatrella [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    The thing is the corporate fascist media is all but boycotting Edwards and his message..!

    They fear him most of all the Democratic candidates..

    I agree Dennis Kucinich would be a great Labor secretary and or Commerce Secretary..!

    Posted on August 13, 2007 8:45 AM

Join the Discussion

Post a comment