Finally, I'm sure you're one of those that thinks public sector employees should not be protected by the establishment of a union. Well, I can tell you that if those employees couldn't band together to protect themselves, the public sector would suck. I know. I was an employee with no protections in public sector work, and subject to the whims of the department head. I was paid shit, and could have been fired at anytime and replaced with a person whose only qualification for the job was his or her "friendship" (read fucking) with the department head. Is that the kind of public sector you want in this country??? If so, you deserve what you get, and don't complain about it.
Originally Posted by charlestudor2005
Then I suppose you don't have a problem with giving public-sector unions everything they want, including defined-benefit pensions and lavish, heavily-subsidized (or free) health care plans generally not available to private sector workers?
I think the key point is this:
If you support such programs, then you must support the sort of tax structure needed to finance them. A few nibbling little business taxes ain't gonna do it. If you try to tax the hell out of businesses, a lot of them are going to set sail for friendlier climes. If you try to tax the hell out of individuals, you'll send them into open revolt.
Money sent to the states with no accountability over the last two years (as part of the $862 billion stimulus package of 2009) is running out. About all it did in most cases was to let states postpone tough budget decisions. Now there's little appetite for more federal bailouts of states, especially in light of the upcoming year's projected U.S. fiscal deficit of about 11% of GDP. Somebody, somewhere, is going to have to start making tough decisions regarding these matters. The can can't just be kicked down the road indefinitely. That will eventually lead to a destructive fiscal crisis and severe pain for just about everone, public-sector union members included.
Do you see willingness on the part of
either party to impose the kind of tax system required to pay for all the promises politicians have made?