People blame unions for outsourcing but love NAFTA annoy me

[benevolent dictator]

Ever run into these dumbasses? You know, the ones who think that if we didn't have unions that we'd still have our jobs, but they love Wal-Mart and NAFTA and hate buying American made stuff, then they complain about the unemployment level (no doubt because all those lazy bums who can't hold down a job are taking their hard earned tax dollars.)

How do you all deal with these people?

I try to explain that without the unions we'd be like those poor kids in Honduras who make 9 cents an hour, work 80 hour weeks in unsafe conditions, and still only make 53% of the cost of survival, but hey, we'd have jobs, right?

[TheFarseer]

1. My dad always says this

He says that unions started making too much money for jobs that any dumbass could do and made corporations look elsewhere for labor. According to him, labor unions were obviously a good thing at first but went too far. I can see the argument, but I'd hate to have seen the labor market at the turn of the last century and besides, unions are practically non-existent anymore and jobs are still leaving.

[DireStrike]

2. Blame the victim.

Unions are a battered woman fighting back. Nobody likes that.

[Radical Activist]

3. I usually take a tire iron and

explain my point of view to them Teamster style. That usually gets the point through their thick heads.

Ok, just kidding, but those people do annoy me. Factories are moving overseas whether they have a Union or not. The main difference is that if you had a union when the factory shuts down you at least have some rights and half a chance to negotiate for continued retirement benefits and a good severance package. If you don't have a union they can toss you out with nothing just like a slave and move on to Mexico.

If people want to know what the world would be like without unions they should just look at what American owned companies do overseas when they aren't restricted by unions and the federal laws they have won. US companies aren't doing workers any favors out of the good of their hearts. It amazes me that the free traders can rationalize behavior in other nations that they would never stand for in the US if it were done to American workers. They have sold their soul to the dollar.

[benevolent dictator]

4. they HAVE sold their soul to the dollar

it's like they would rather get something for $3 cheaper because it comes from china than you know, have a living wage and health care.

[SoCalDem]

5. If even ONE union sponsors outsourcing, they become complicit

in the eyes of the rightwingers.. They OWN the microphones, so of course they are the only ones with the message.... They use a thread of truth to weave a carpet of lies.. People are not able to discern the difference these days..:(

This is precisely WHy democrats must NEVER EVER EVER "provide cover" for the devious republican spinmeisters..