Can someone 'splain' me this???

Here's something I just can't wrap my head around.

Why do the labor unions stand with the democrats??? It doesn't make any sense.

There used to be a time when republicans / conservatives were in opposition to organized labor...way back in the old days. Republicans were viewed as union busters because they opposed organized labor driving up wages and forcing employers to look out for employee welfare, because it reduced corporate profits, right? Right? But that was all back in the "old days".

Now, it's republicans who are trying to bring jobs back on-shore, trying to encourage investment in America.

The democrats are doing everything in their power to send business off-shore. Even worse, what businesses the democrats are encouraging, things like green initiatives (wind, solar, etc) involve about 80% imported materials, and employ almost exclusively non-union personnel. Individually, these projects aren't big enough, nor do they last long enough, for organized labor to get a foothold and demand their trades be used. The current democratic plans discourage jobs, not create them, they discourage investment in America. What with government incentives, and subsidies, who can or would try to compete?

One of the biggest organized labor industries who stand to gain from green energy initiatives of the democrats is the mining sector, but the democrats are regulating this industry into oblivion. They stand directly and openly opposed to it. Why the mining sector? Because you have to mine all the materials (rare metals, etc) to make solar panels, batteries, etc. People just don't realize how much either. For example, to make just a single solar panel you have to mine about 200 tons of material. But when the democrats regulate the mining industry into extinction, one of the only industries which is consistent with their agenda, they only drive this process off-shore.

So explain to me again why organized labor supports the democrats???

It makes absolutely zero sense!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
Because you can never support the republicans or the right no matter what.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
There used to be a time when republicans / conservatives were in opposition to organized labor...way back in the old days.

Way back in the old days, when Republicans started Progressivism, they were very much pro-union before they were anti-union.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Why do the labor unions stand with the democrats??? It doesn't make any sense.

cause democrat politicians will spread some of the money around that way they have sacrificial lambs to throw at the justice system , while republicans like to put all the money in their pockets and take a chance on not going to jail.

My wife's family is full of auto workers. They have always voted Democrat and will NEVER vote for Republicans because they don't represent the "little guy", they represent corporations.

(sigh)

So the unions got infiltrated by mobsters way back when and buffaloed the workers with promises of the highest wages and best benefits which they had for a while, but then corrupt politicians got their hands in it too and thus began the downfall of the union. When jobs started fleeing overseas in favor of low labor costs the union leaders kept saying "we'll strike if we don't get "fair" (higher) wages" while their jobs were disappearing.

Unfortunately these diehard Kennedy Dems won't budge, even when you show them proof that their gilded Democrats are stealing from them left and right.

A few ways to answer.

1) Corruption is drawn to corruption.
2) Bad habits are hard to break.
3) Useful Idiots, as in uneducated voters.
4) Useful Idiots, as in socialist subjects/slaves to the collective cause.
5) But mostly Useful Idiots, people vote without thinking about what is best for themselves/just do as they are told.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Only thing I can say is the Dems 60's, 70's, 80's..were the "fat-cats"...big business owners..cigar chompers, war-hawks, back scratchers-ruling class-like.

When I marched in '68 at R.N.C....both parties were determined out for only themselves.

The Hippie-experiment worked. I was successful.

We taught you all how to b--ch. Don't stop...

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Teddy Roosevelt started it as a Republican. Ran again as the Bullmoose Party, then infected FDR with a Communist Complication.

originally posted by: Ahabstar
Teddy Roosevelt started it as a Republican.

It was begun prior to him, he was just a much better advocate and face for the movement than the people who came before him.

When I was driving Semi for CF the Union supported Bush for president. So it is not really a rule that they vote left.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

The last recognizable Republican platform (Eisenhower) supported Unions and labor.

Republican Party Platform 1958

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I've never understood the draw either.
I suppose it's like every other demographic that believe that a political party represents them when in reality they don't.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

You forgot how the Democrats have helped sell off rare earth mining in even the US to Chinese controlled interests which would be decidedly anti-Union.

No, the truth is that many of the rank and file in labor unions are turning more Republican for the reason you mention.

The big unions that are still Democrat are mostly government workers unions like SEIU and the Teachers' Unions, and if the Democrats socialize medicine, there will be new unions for those employees that will then be government employee unions too. Those will become Democrat constituencies.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
There used to be a time when republicans / conservatives were in opposition to organized labor...way back in the old days.

Way back in the old days, when Republicans started Progressivism, they were very much pro-union before they were anti-union.

Progressivism , as you call it , has absolutely nothing to do with Progressive Liberalism
False representation.

a reply to: ketsuko

Which rare-earth mining interests are you referring to?

Police unions support Republican candidates by and large ... the whole "law and order" thing.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Hmmm, Republicans used to be very pro union - as long as it jumped to their tune, which it usually did.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Because you can have someone else bake your cake and eat it yourself?

We don't heavily mine in western nations because it is simply dirty. You cannot compete with nations that have higher mineral content and/or relaxed regulations.

I personally think all governments are out of touch with working class people, from my American friends that might extend to the unions too. But at least they do work for them. I see good employment terms and protections.

Again rare earth elements are messy... Is there any US palm oil mono cultures? Asking questions is easy, having answers not so much.

originally posted by: Gothmog
Progressivism , as you call it , has absolutely nothing to do with Progressive Liberalism
False representation.

The social issues of Roosevelt's progressive platform:

• A national health service to include all existing government medical agencies
  
• Social insurance, to provide for the elderly, the unemployed, and the disabled
  
• Limiting the ability of judges to order injunctions to limit labor strikes
  
• A minimum wage law for women
  
• An eight-hour workday
  
• A federal securities commission
  
• Farm relief
  
• Workers' compensation for work-related injuries
  
• An inheritance tax

Looks like it could have been ripped from the current Democrat platform. Thanks Republicans for giving us modern Democrats.

a reply to: Gryphon66

That didn't happen until this last go 'round.

Maybe because they themselves are in on the screw and slap agenda 😃