by Ron Paul
Many observers were surprised when Michigan, historically a stronghold of union power, became the nation’s 24th “Right to Work” state. The backlash from November’s unsuccessful attempt to pass a referendum forbidding the state from adopting a right to work law was a major factor in Michigan’s rejection of compulsory unionism. The need for drastic action to improve Michigan’s economy, which is suffering from years of big government policies, also influenced many Michigan legislators to support right to work.
Let us be clear: right to work laws simply prohibit coercion. They prevent states from forcing employers to operate as closed union shops, and thus they prevent unions from forcing individuals to join. In many cases right to work laws are the only remedy to federal laws which empower union bosses to impose union dues as a condition of employment.
Right to work laws do not prevent unions from bargaining collectively with employers, and they do not prevent individuals from forming or joining unions if they believe it will benefit them. Despite all the hype, right to work laws merely enforce the fundamental right to control one’s own labor.
States with right to work laws enjoy greater economic growth and a higher standard of living than states without such laws. According to the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, from 2001-2011 employment in right to work states grew by 2.4%, while employment in union states fell by 3.4%! During the same period wages rose by 12.5% in right to work states, while rising by a mere 3.1% in union states. Clearly, “Right to Work” is good for business and labor.
Workers are best served when union leaders have to earn their membership and dues by demonstrating the benefits they provide. Instead, unions use government influence and political patronage. The result is bad laws that force workers to subsidize unions and well-paid union bosses.
Of course government should not regulate internal union affairs, or interfere in labor disputes for the benefit of employers. Government should never forbid private-sector workers from striking. Employees should be free to join unions or not, and employers should be able to bargain with unions or not. Labor, like all goods and services, is best allocated by market forces rather than the heavy, restrictive hand of government. Voluntarism works.
Federal laws forcing employees to pay union dues as a condition of getting or keeping a job are blatantly unconstitutional. Furthermore, Congress does not have the moral authority to grant a private third party the right to interfere in private employment arrangements. No wonder polls report that 80 percent of the American people believe compulsory union laws need to be changed.
Unions’ dirty little secret is that real wages cannot rise unless productivity rises. American workers cannot improve their standard of living simply by bullying employers with union tactics. Instead, employers, employees, and unions must recognize that only market mechanisms can signal employment needs and wage levels in any industry. Profits or losses from capital investment are not illusions that can be overcome by laws or regulations; they are real-world signals that directly affect wages and employment opportunities. Union advocates can choose to ignore reality, but they cannot overcome the basic laws of economics.
As always, the principle of liberty will provide the most prosperous society possible. Right to work laws are a positive step toward economic liberty.
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Sure we all have the right to work by creating our own business, not controlling others who have had the guts to do it.
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I hear George Washington was also a revolutionary who used guns. And his revolution created one of the greatest countries in the WORLD up until the 21st century.
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Exactly, which is why Ron Paul supports right to work.
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Hahahahaahahaah……..the Republicans are promising “wealth from the treasury” while cutting taxes. Look up the double Santa Claus.
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You wasted your vote dumb ass.
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Every dictatorship was established in a society that had guns dumb ass. The leader who becomes the dictator is the one who has the fucking guns. Castro, Lenin, Mao, etc. They were leaders of a revolution.
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Hahaahahaaha…….so right to work drives up labor expense and reduces profits? You are such a dumb fucking schmuck it’s laughable. Right to work means workers get the benefits of collective bargaining but do not have to chip in to pay for the administrative costs of collective bargaining. It means they get to free load. This typically kills the union and drives down wages and benefits while increasing corporate profits.
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Ron Paul would only be president if the nation was full of idiots such as yourself.
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Its’ good for destroying Unions and lowering wages. It’s a good way to fight inflation since it lowers wages. Ron Paul likes low wages.
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Libertarians are better then conservatives and liberals. Libertarians support the constitution and limited government. We believe the power belongs to state and the people. The federal government role is very limited one. It does not have the right to kill it citizens! It role it to protect Americans from foreign and abroad enemies. If your not for Libertarians your for big government and for endless wars that never end!
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Unions are nothing but bullies and that all they are. The fact is that Right to work would cause competition of pay. One employer wants to pay their employee 9.00. The other one wants to offer that other person employee 10.50. The One employer offers their current employee 11.00 and that employee stays there at their current job.
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Unions are nothing but bullies and that all they are. The fact is that Right to work would cause competition of pay. One employer wants to pay their employee 9.00. The other one wants to offer that other person employee 10.50. The One employer offers their current employee 11.00 and that employee stays there at their current job.
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right..even though he criticizes obama like 20 times every day..okay yeah..sure
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Ron Paul now more than ever has been pluggign Voluntaryism. Get your Voluntaryism bracelet today and help support the philosophy everyday! facebook/ voluntaryismbracelets
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Yeah, guns totally killed all of those people. Don’t forget about the person who used them irresponsibly. Secession is a part of American history, and if you’re capable, remember that this country began its life seceding from Britain. If anyone is “terrorist scum:, it would be you.
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lol the south would win if there was succession
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You call yourself a liberal a democrat or a republican i don’t parties are all bull if being a true libertarian is what a brain washed person would believe then why isn’t that the nation we live in as most people are brainwashed
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People do support it. Guns are essential for the long-term sustainability of the republic because dictatorship cannot be established in a society with guns.
Our constitution does not state “government shall allow guns.” It states: “right to bare arms shall NOT be infringed upon” meaning it’s a NATURAL RIGHT Americans had before the government was established!
Making the gun-control argument and shooting correlation even more silly is the fact it is a state which already has strict gun control!
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i voted for ron paul !!!
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No, we are a Constitutional Republic numbnuts!! Well, at least we used to be until the liberals found out they can win votes by lying, cheating, and stealing to earn votes. Oooo, not to mention promising wealth from the treasury in exchange for a vote.
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Right to Work = More LOW PAYING Jobs…..PEROID.
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Except Cenk didn’t want to have to vote for him. Only thing worse than conservatives are libertarians. Bunch of working class idiots
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We are supposed to be democratic republic, but were not and we’re not a true democracy either.
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Lady “What have a given us?”
Benjamin Franklin “A Republic Maam, if you can keep it.”
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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands…
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According to my understanding the “Right to Work” Bill that is purposed is actually supposed to be against workers interest. Like how the Patriot Act was against Citizens of the US, and the FREEDOM act, and other poorly named bills that are against your interests.
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According to my understanding the “Right to Work” Bill that is purposed is actually supposed to be against workers interest. Like how the Patriot Act was against Citizens of the US, and the FREEDOM act, and other poorly named bills that are against your interests.
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we are a democratic nation, not a republic nation
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agreed.
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Thank you Ron Paul for all that you have done for the cause of liberty.
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You’re ignorant, and have absolutely no idea what liberty is.
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everyone ignore ju88ff and other tories scums
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When the money stops flowing down to the man on the streets – then the blood will start flowing in the streets.
Its that simple !
Boycott corporations – work for small business – and Coops – employee owned company’s.
Right to work is a right to work for anyone – if they dont pay – move on !
Too much at the top and not enough at the bottom thats the problem with the US.
I made 10 dollars an hour in 1980 and gas was 85 cents a gallon –
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the brainwashed calling the brainwashed brainwashed. Ironic isn’t it.
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Soviet UNION, Does that ring a bell?
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