Just a Thought... - La Cueva

Listening to economist/writer Rick Wolff on Democracy Now! this morning a thought came to mind:

A company decides it wants to join an employers' advocacy group; the Business Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce, NAM, West Coast Wholesalers Coalition. There are a myriad of them out there. It could do so with no problems whatsoever. The company would not have to jump through any special hoops nor would anyone likely say anything or even notice. Now, take the case of a group of workers wanting to join a group to advocate for their interests, namely a union. What would happen? A lot.  A firestorm of controversy would ensue. There would be pompous scolds like the ones (US Senators) Richard Shelby and John Kyl gave during the bailout of the auto industry a couple years ago. WSJ's editorial staff and others of its ilk would forecast the end of the nation as we know it. All the blathermeisters in the electrnoic media would lose their scruples.

 One group wants to advocate for its interests and its smooth sailing. Another group wants to do exactly the same thing and all hell breaks loose. What is the reason for this difference? For one, it comes down to class. Second, no one has questioned this conventional wisdom. This is the same thing Wolff mentioned this morning in regards to the conventional wisdom of giving corporations money and/or rich people tax breaks and the jobs will follow. It hasn't worked (9.2% official unemployment). The idea that corporations have the right to join their appropriate advocacy group and workers don't is conventional wisdom, too--and needs to be challenged.