Why Are You Afraid of Collective Bargaining?

The Missing Link between Unions and the State Budget?
by Max Johnson

I have not been able to figure out in any of the right wing media where the link between collective bargaining rights of workers and the budget problems in various states. We all know how hard it is to figure out health care coverage, deductibles, retirement accounts, weighing salary increases versus benefit reductions. It takes a great deal of time and thought to figure out the best deal from an employer. Every employee could use a union representative to explain the benefit package being offered, and attempt to negotiate a better deal. A single individual is often bargaining with a great disadvantage in the relationship with the boss. Collective bargaining just provides some balance to the relationship.

The state does not have to give wage increases in a time of strained budgets. The state does not have to expand benefits when expenses outpace revenue, but ending collective bargaining is extreme. It is like ending all legal services to poor people in response to one serial killer being found not guilty as a way to protect citizens for future serial killers. The state government needs to admit their starring role in destabilizing state government. Never ever raising taxes and underfunding retirement benefits lead to this problem of state budget woes. It is a sure way to win an election, but it is a short trip to bankruptcy to promise that government will not bring in enough revenue. The elected officials in power in Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey and Florida who have approved generous retirement packages, but then raided those funds to balance the budget are responsible. These state officials just need discipline and leadership to pass a balanced budget that is honest and real. Maybe we need to do away with state legislators and change to direct democracy within the states. We could also do away with corporations demanding lower taxes and forcing states to compete with each other for the lowest corporate taxes by instituting campaign finance reform.

Fire the state legislatures! Every night you would go home and vote on state legislation. The executive branch would host hearings on various items, which citizens could view anytime. You would log onto your computer every night and cast a vote on state business, and there would be links to hearings or more information for voters to make an informed decision. If you did not have computer access, you could stop at the library or City Hall to vote. This would make universal wireless in your state a high priority item. If you did not vote for an extended period, you would have your taxes raised as an incentive to participate. Television and radio companies would pay for all this. For too many years, television and commercial radio has used our spectrum space for little or no payment. They would have to turn over 10% of their total time to public service programming or 10% of their total revenue to government. Some of these legislators are only in session for a couple of weeks a year, so who needs them. Get rid of the state legislators and bring in direct democracy to the states.