Tantrum Politics: The Detroit Edition

In another display of tantrum politics union representatives are descending upon the Michigan capital building in response to the possibility of Michigan becoming a dreaded right to work state. As though attempting to prove once and for all that when "the people" speak it just isn't as glamorous as it is portrayed in the brochures, the union mob gummed up the Rotunda shouting slogans of "No justice no peace!" and probably a round or two of "We shall overcome." (News story here) One can only wonder what would have happened to this motley crowd had it been a group clamoring for secession, but hey some animals are more equal than others.

With the childish antics and power to the people fist pumping, one would think that Michigan lawmakers were making a move to ban unionism. In reality, "right to work" simply means there would be a free market in labor, an employer is not forced by government edict to hire unionized workers, nor would workers be forced to pay union fees or be in a union if they don't want to. Sounds kind of, just a little, like...freedom. Ah but there is the rub, most unions could never survive on the free market. The only unions that could have success would be those made up of highly skilled workers in a narrow field whose talents were in demand. For example, a union made up of 12 men in an entire state who are the only ones who know how to work on industrial sized boilers. That boiler union would be strong, and successful. All other unions can only survive on force, either through the strikers physically bludgeoning so called "scabs" as they try to go to work, destroying private property, or through the state creating enactments forcing businesses and employees to use/deal with unions to their own hurt.

A perfect example of this in action can be seen here as a tent put up by supporters of the bill to create a free-market in labor is torn down by union thugs.

This destruction of private property is roundly cheered by the union bullies.

Never mind the fact that the average union auto worker (including benefits) makes roughly $40 per hour versus the non-union counterpart making $20 per hour. Never mind that because of this fact US manufacturing is steadily moving overseas. Never mind that even according to government statistics Detroit has 19% unemployment. Never mind the fact that there is grass growing in the streets, and packs of feral dogs, possibly 50,000 strong, are roaming like gangs in large parts of Detroit (Source). Forget all of that, because right now the unions enjoy a place of lucrative privilege, and they will scream and howl like beaten hound dogs every time they perceive their privilege is challenged by ideas like free-markets, balanced budgets, or any other form of sanity.

Support of unionism always strikes me a bit like the broken window fallacy, or the idea that if a man gets his window broken it is actually a boost for the economy because now he has to buy a window. The vandal is actually a hero, just like war and hurricanes are said to be good for the economy. What is seen is the new window, what isn't seen is what may have been had the man's window never been broken, perhaps a new rocking chair. Then the man would have a rocking chair and a window rather than just a window. Likewise with the unions, what is seen is the high pay and great benefits the workers are receiving, and that seems good. What is unseen are the numbers of people who don't have jobs because of the unions, and the lower cost of goods that consumers could have seen.

The best equivalent I can therefore imagine for the union behavior on display in reaction to the possibility of "Right to work" is like a toddler stomping and whining for his ba-ba and num-nums when his mother is trying to get him to eat solid food.

****UPDATE****

There is a page here with better video of the union thugs tearing down the tent and attacking Steven Crowder. Fists are flying.

Also, from what I understand the right to work bill has passed and been signed by the governor. Bear in mind that as far as union power Michigan is the belly of the beast, so this is huge.