David Vitter and other Republicans are hypocrites on unions!
Several blogs have already mentioned David Vitter and his comments about how the auto industry problems are caused by the UAW.
Personally, I have never understood the hatred that Republicans have towards unions and the labor movement. Sure, some of them are backed by big business interests who might be able to add some more into their bottom line if those pesky unions didn’t fight for worker safety laws and other laws that make it harder for companies to mistreat their employees.
The hypocrisy comes in because Republicans always bring up two things in many of their political arguments. The Constitution (as if they are the only people who follow it) and the Free Market.
When it comes to the Constitution, the right to form a union would fall under the 1st amendment protection of the freedom of assembly. So if you are against unions then obviously you don’t support the 1st amendment right of workers to assemble. So there is one point of hypocrisy.
And of course, if you believe in a “free market” you would support the ability of people, either individually or in groups, to negotiate labor contracts. If you think that unions coming together as a group and negotiating employment terms for every worker in that group, then you oppose a truly free market…. well either that your you only support a free market when it is convenient for you but not when it is beneficial to others. Again, it is sheer hypocrisy.
And Vitter is just plain stupid if he thinks that bringing labor costs to match Toyota and Honda is an answer. I guess he doesn’t realize that Japan considers healthcare to be a “right” and that American automobile companies have the extra burden of providing healthcare to their employees. Well, he either doesn’t realize it or just doesn’t care about American workers getting healthcare for themselves and their families. I will let you decide which one is more likely.
And, as always, when it comes to Vitter we must ask ourselves “W.W.V.D.“.