Governor Snyder ran as a conservative leaning technocrat, not a hard right ideologue. He had previously said that the issue was divisive and that he had no plans to sign a "right to work" bill.

This bill can't be repealed thru referendum because the Republicans were smart enough to attach an appropriations to it. Our constitution does not allow appropriations bills to be repealed via referendum. The only way to change this is to get rid of Snyder and a rather sizable number of Republicans in the 2014 election. But The North Remembers and I think people will be angry enough to do just that.

Ironically the proximate cause for all this may not have been anything in Michigan at all. Wisconsin Governor's Scott Walker's successful trimming of collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin worried Michigan union people so much so that they tried to amend the Constitution to place collective bargaining in it and not just take Snyder's word that he wouldn't do what Walker did.

Well Proposal 2 failed. So this right to work legislation, is by Snyder's own words something of a payback. Snyder evidently felt personally betrayed. And Republicans were emboldened by the failure of Prop 2.

BTW Scott Walker doesn't support right to work legislation...

And to add to Lilo's comments, don't forget Unions are one of the biggest groups that basically supports Demos. IF the Republicans can succeed in eliminating them, at least financially, the Dems lose their financial support. That's their bottom line.

I believe Synder did this so quickly (and sneakily) NOW because he, like all the Republicans, seemed so shocked that they lost the election, that this is a panic payback.

Btw Lilo, does this law apply to ALL unions (nurses, police, etc) or just the auto workers? I assume it's all of them.



TIS

TIS, the only unions exempted were first responders (police, fire and emergency personnel). Everyone else is impacted.
Coincidentally the exempted unions tend to be more conservative than the teacher's and auto unions. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Wow, that was rather thorough explanation of Unions, and Organized Labor does sounds pretty great principally, ideally anyone would like to join a Union if possible.

The problem is that while the philosophical debate on this will continue, people who can do a job cheaper and better will simply always put others out of work. Blacks who were willing to accept a lower wage have been putting white Southerners out of work since the days of sharecropping. Hispanics in the Southwest are virtually the only people you'll ever see at urban construction sites.

Businesses (and populations) from the North have been flocking to the South and West since the 1950's (at the advent of the air conditioner) and before, for its lower taxes, less regulation, cheaper work supply, etc. Northern industries have to find a way to keep up.

These Mid West states have historically been somewhat isolated in terms of demographics, especially compared to the South, where major Unions are virtually implausible given the size and diversity of the population.

This was exactly the case in Wisconsin a few years ago, and reveals the true intent of the law. Out of one side of the mouth they argue that unions are bad, ruin professions, slow economic progress, but somehow unions for police, prison guards and fire personnel are good.

Yeah, because cops fireman and prison guards vote Republican. And prison guards shouldn't get a vote. They're far too stupid .

Ehhh, prior to 1865 most Black Americans had zero control over their labor and didn't work for wages. But even before the end of slavery and in the five to six decades following its end you can find tons of black leaders and intellectuals inveighing bitterly against the importation of cheap White and Asian immigrant labor that was crowding out black workers. WEB DuBois had quite a lot to say about this in the 1920s.

I do agree that the ultimate issue is that capital wants cheap powerless labor period. At first that's slavery; later it's immigrants. The faces change and the legal structures improve but the demand is the same.

The reason imo that unions never took off in the South was that the South had a particular history of violence and racism that made interracial unions very unlikely if not down right illegal. Even when white workers formed unions, racism meant that they excluded blacks, who could then be used as reserve labor by white captialists. A love of cheap labor, greater agrarian nature and legal (and extra legal) restrictions made organizing in the South very difficult, not that organizing in the North was any bed of roses.

The way I see it there are two competing polarities of thought. One states that the free market will create the best results for the most people with minimal interference. The other states that the free market has limits.

Obviously I'm closer to the second than the first. I don't think that unions are perfect or make sense in every situation. But a) unions b) torts and c) government regulation are three important bulwarks to the safety, health and welfare of American workers and citizens. From my perspective, it seems like Republicans in general and conservatives in particular are extremely opposed to all three. I don't think that's good for most people.

Was that the tape Fox News showed?

Just asking.

Another ex-POTUS weighs in:

Jimmy Carter: ‘I’m In Favor Of’ Decriminalizing Marijuana

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/jimmy-carter-im-in-favor-of-decriminalizing-marijuana

Seems losing ones head was trending today

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO.
Video: Syrian Rebels Make Child Behead Prisoner

The clip shows a child hacking away at the head of a bound prisoner with a machete. The video then cuts to militants displaying the man’s severed head while chanting “Allahu Akbar”. Other beheaded prisoners can also be seen in the footage.

Haley to appoint Scott to fill S.C. Senate seat

By NBC's Luke Russert and Frank Thorp

Updated 11:23 a.m. - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) will appoint U.S. Rep. Tim Scott (R) to fill Jim DeMint's Senate seat, multiple Republican sources have confirmed to NBC News.

I heard about it this afternoon and am really worried about it. I love Richard Engel. He is one brave "on the scene" reporter.

I know in his line of work, he/we must realize he takes chances and something like this is always possible, but still I hope he's ok. I remember him reporting from the battlefield somewhere in the Middle East (can't remember exactly where)a year or two ago. There was gunfire right by him, as he's ducking & reporting.

Thing is, I've only seen very short stories that he's missing and nothing else. I haven't even seen it reported on tv which surprises me. Even on MSNBC where he reports from time to time, they haven't said a word. Anyway, if anyone hears anything, please post. I pray he's ok.


TIS

Senate Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D-HI) has died of respiratory ailments. He was 88, been representing Hawaii for 50 years short a month. Previously he was that state's first Congressman as the at-large district.

Two hours after the announcement of his passing, the Senate voted Patrick Leahy (D-VT) as the the new SPT as the now longest serving member of the Senate majority party. And now of course 4th in the Presidential succession line.

From a UK perspective, the Lib Dems have been replaced as the third biggest party here by the UKIP. I hope Clegg and his moronic cronies are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame as Tory stooges because come the next election they will be lucky to get a single seat. It could be the biggest political cull ever seen in this country.

Good riddance to the middle of the road, namby pamby, smarmy bullshitters as well i say

I am happy to hear that Foreign correspondent report, Richard Engel IS safe.

Evidently, they were not physically tortured but their captors did use psychological torture.


Engel said that they were traveling with Syrian rebels when a group of about 15 gunmen “jumped out of the trees and bushes” and captured them.

Full story:


http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/...s-in-syria?lite


TIS

Wtf. Ben Affleck to run for Senate ?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/20/ben-affleck-senate-run_n_2340787.html

Pipe, meet dream.

Also rumor that actress Ashley Judd will go for Mitch McConnell's senate seat.




TIS

If she wins it would be worth watching CSPAN!

LOL CSPAN is far from exciting tv, BUT it does usually give live (tho be it boring), accurate political goings-on without leaning either way IMHO.


TIS

Will you use lube instead of a remote?

Ronnie your a complete cry baby! Anytime you disagree with someone you attack them! That's a sign of weakness my friend. You sound like a real jerkoff with your responses.

"Complete"? You mean there are incomplete cry babies? Like they only cry out of one eye/tear duct?

Like I said your a Jerkoff!

Ignore him if he bothers you that much but stop the name calling.

10-4

Don't drink and vote.

Idaho Senator busted for DUI



http://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeedpolitics/senator-mike-crapo-arrested-for-drunk-driving

Seriously, Senator "Crapo?" Holy Crapo What a heck of a name to get suck with.



TIS