Many visitors to AmericanTusk.com have emailed me specifically about the Employee Free Choice Act or as many of us call it, the “Employee NO Choice Act”, which amongst many other detrimental features, would eliminate the secret ballot voting implemented today.  I am particularly interested in this topic due to my own personal experiences with Unions.  First, allow me to state that I am in a Union.  Second, believe me when I say that I am very much against Unions.  I was forced to join the Union because years ago when I got hired on a new job, it was already a Union position so my choice was to either join the Union or not accept the position.  I have worked many non-union jobs and in those positions I have expanded my talent base, was offered new opportunities, and was treated fairly to the extent of the law.  My Union position, after my bi-weekly dues, did not offer me much more money than when I held non-union jobs and completely restricted many opportunities and training.  Unions have become blackmailers of corporate America.  A good friend of mine entered a position that was non-union about two years ago.  The Union, which oversaw the majority of the jobs in his profession, wanted my friend’s position to become Union as well.  He was not opposed, however, the Union insisted that my friend not accept any work until Management unionized him.  Unfortunately, my friend was not in a financial position to turn down any work so while he supported the Union efforts, he continued to work.  The remaining weeks included Union thugs calling him and persistently threatening him.  They would also resort to attempting to sabotage his work whenever possible.  These are the people who were supposedly “looking out for him.”  Modern day Unions are, I believe, unnecessary.  In the past they were essential to the creation of safe and secure jobs in the workplace and they were instrumental in the creation of many of our labor laws.  These labor laws have become more than sufficient in ensuring the safety and security of employees.  The Unions now focus on obtaining more and more benefits for less and less work.  The auto industry is a perfect example of how Unions have crippled an entire industry.  Their greed and arrogance has caused an industry that was created in America to fall behind foreign competitors.  Now we are witnessing the fall of the American auto companies.  Employees know this and they understand it.  Given the choice, 74% of Union workers favor keeping the current system of secret ballots.  If workers were forced to publicly decide, they would be subject to harassment and intimidation, much like my friend was subjected to.  The Government knows this, so why do they support the EFCA?  Perhaps the Democrats want this passed because this Bill would expand the Government’s control over privately owned companies.  If Employees and Management cannot come to an agreement over a contract, the EFCA would allow the Government to step in and create a contract for all to abide by for 2 years which would be when the negotiations can be reopened.  The Government would dictate all facets of the company from benefits for workers to mergers, subcontracting, and general management.  This is a further example and a testament to the socialist state that we are turning into.  We were promised “Change”.  Boy, are we getting it!

by Thomas Craig

Earlier today, President Obama outlined the beginning steps to his "Green Agenda".  As a Republican, I believe that the Government's first priority is to protect Americans and weaning us off of foreign oil is a huge step towards protecting our citizens.  It is for this reason that I applaud the President taking the first steps in doing this.  That was my first thought.  As much as I care about the Polar Bears and the icecaps melting, etc, I am just not completely sold on man-made global warming yet- irregardless of Al Gore's nifty slideshows.  Freeing us from foreign oil though, thats a ship I'll get on. (Don't worry Al, a sailboat, not a diesel.) 

The next thought that went through my mind though was a relief that I don't work in the auto industry.  President Obama's agenda is of course a long-term goal.  He failed to mention the short-term effects this will create.  The struggling auto industry is ill-equipped to handle these new regulations right now.  They will make it happen, but the cost of doing so will be passed on to us in the form of higher prices and more bailout money.  These new requirements will be difficult enough for the car manufacturers.  The President will now push for the State's rights to increase their auto emission standards.  I understand and agree with the mentality of "if not now, when" but setting new Federal requirements for a beaten down industry is more than sufficient for the time being.  Let's not sweep the crutches out from under their arms now by insisting on too much too soon.