Rage FOR the Machine

There are upwards of 20+ states which operate under the law "Right to Work", which in part prevents forced membership into labor unions. Basically, this isn't a concept that is exactly revolutionary.

But in a state as union intensive as the Wolverine state?

Over the chants of thousands of angry protesters, Republican lawmakers made Michigan a right-to-work state Tuesday, dealing a devastating and once-unthinkable defeat to organized labor in a place that has been a bastion of the movement for generations.

The GOP-dominated House ignored Democrats' pleas to delay the final passage and instead approved two bills with the same ruthless efficiency that the Senate showed last week. One measure dealt with private-sector workers, the other with government employees. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed them both within hours, calling them "pro-worker and pro-Michigan."

Not to mention "pro-America." After all, the freedom of association is included in the Bill of Rights. Being forced to join a labor union in order work a specific job would seem to fly in the face of that particular freedom.

Unfortunately, the passage of this legislation lead to violent demonstrations, including the physical assault of Fox News contributor Steven Crowder.





Michelle Malkin also posted several video clips yesterday which highlighted more union violence. One clip included audio footage of a Michigan legislator declaring "there will be blood" if indeed Right-to-Work is passed. 

If some of these union members would cease with the frothing-at-the-mouth rage for just a few minutes, perhaps they could extol the virtues of being involved in a labor union. After all, unions aren't being erased from existence (contrary to to the rhetoric of some media members who disingenuously refer to it as "curtailing workers' rights"). If unions still provide such a valuable service, then why wouldn't many workers jump at the chance to join?

Union membership outside the public sector in Michigan has dropped from above 30% in 1983 to below 20%, but still stands at double the national rate. Republicans who back the right-to-work legislation can claim, with some justification, that it is at least partly intended to slow the outflow of jobs to states where unions don’t have as much clout. That’s not good for union officials in Michigan — the UAW’s latest filing with the Department of Labor lists more than 250 employees earning more than $100,000 a year — but it might be good, over the long term, for the greatest number of employees.

One other major factor? The less union members, the less dues collected to fund leftist causes. That alone was likely a major factor in sending those Michigan union members into fits of uncontrollable rage.

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