Unions were the backs of Americans,standing together straight and tall, carrying the load, for the industrial giants to make thier fortunes. For a time the Unions helped Americans share in that wealth,

obviously you are not pro-union-- you're not old enough to rememberthe Guild System--again you see a narrow band of accomplishment, and only a few being entitled to it-- when we have( had) large manufacturing capacity the sum of the whole made the product, and union wages are tiered accordingly- people like you are the reason the Chinese have succened in destroying our internal economy- cheaper wages are all but a few are worth to to you- loose ends are all the trades,and labor involved in producing a product- not to say that Unions were perfect, read carefully I never stated as such-- and yes there were certainly corrupt bosses , business agents, etc,just like any governmental group... that is human nature-I do not advocateall workers be paid equally but that each trade find a dollar value for each service preformed- ie per value of trade, therin begins the incentive, to better oneself or move up ( if capable)to a better paying trade, the way you think is how the industrial fortunes of were made,I suppose you may see yourself as part of a tradition--life isn't fair , most of us that worked for a living know that, collective bargining only evened the playing field some= obviously you have never been in a Union or you would know you're talking thru your hat than you realize..--

Don't forget about NAFTA of The Pacific.

"thje unions were a larger extension of the guild system.."

Never was a fan of the guild system.

"you have to realize that everyone is not in the top 10% of the class, there are millions that were satisfyed with everyday jobs,"

Right, because the whole does not fit inside of the part. But, if you are advocating that all workers should be paid equally, then what incentive is there to improve anything if it all pays the same? We can only be equal to the lowest common denominator. If you are saying that anyone must lift the world up with him, then you are advocating slavery.

"and getting employers to pay them a living wage required collective bargining-"

False, one can work him/herself into a position where it is easier for the employer to raise the pay rather than endure the cost and disruption of training a new employee.

"yes the best got advancement, but the rest made a steady income... "

What is wrong with that? And the best served as an example and paved the way for the rest.

"The unions were as much a certainly contributing party by gathering the loose ends into one unifyed group, getting financal gains for all not just a few... "

Please define "loose ends" and why they should be compensated beyond what they are able or willing to contribute. Are you saying welfare belongs inside the business environment?

"Someone has to lead,where management thinks the employees were expendables,"

The unexpendables lead the way.

"the collective level protected all thier interests... not just a few... "

There is only one interest in employment. The one agreed on and paid for.

"unfirtunatly most all the gains of the past fopr labor are gone with the jobs they had, the municipal , teachers,government workers are all the large clout groups left, they too will be a thing of the past ."

Go figure?

"Taibbi: Occupy Wall Street Aimed at WS Corruption NOT Money or Banking"

The so-called Ameican "system" and similar systems in other countries are just thinly disguised shake-downs of the general public in order to extort their monies... Most people will never be able to separate the forest from the trees.

"The American Dream, you have to be asleep to believe it... " The late George Carlin, R.I.P.

Glad to see you reporting on this. But are you seeing the big picture??? North American Union. European Union. African Union (probably north/south). Russian Union. South American Union. Various Asia Unions. Hello??? Someone should report on all the unions! It's not difficult to see the trend from WWI to WWII and soon WWIII. After WWIII there will be "union" nations, not nation states as world wide cooperation will be seen as the only way for man kind... The problem with the EU is not too much union, it's not enough. Now I state all this interms of what the elite is up to. This is not good for the people, the Christian.

Unions contributed? They got financial gains for all? Where did they get these financial gains? From Mexico?

We had a stronger country and a stronger economy because people produced, period. And working themselves into a better position, finally workers did not have to tolerate poor working conditions. Workers bettering themselves are in a position to negotiate higher wages. Where is the free provisions of pensions, health coverage and holiday pay taking us? The purchase of pensions and health care were taken out of the hands of the earners which opened up a bonanza for the government cronies.

Unions rode on the back of Americans who were improving themselves, they did not contribute to their improvement, they sabotaged it.

agreed-- free markets, free trade agreements benifit the corporations,not the labor producing the goods... .Why the "miricle" in China was touted as a great innovation in the 80's, those on the ground floor got richer, but it has destroyed our internal economy- the last year we had a deficit from China was 1985-6 million, it is over 300 billion a year now at thier prices for goods...

Reply from The Daily Bell

No, free trade does NOT benefit corporations within the context of a free economy. In a free economy you would not HAVE corporations, or not as they are currently constituted. We've written about this before on several occasions Modern corporations are the result of a corrupt Anglosphere judiciary ...

thje unions were a larger extension of the guild system.. you have to realize that everyone is not in the top 10% of the class, there are millions that were satisfyed with everyday jobs, and getting employers to pay them a living wage required collective bargining- yes the best got advancement, but the rest made a steady income... . The unions were as much a certainly contributing party by gathering the loose ends into one unifyed group, getting financal gains for all not just a few... Someone has to lead,where management thinks the employees were expendables,the collective level protected all thier interests... not just a few... unfirtunatly most all the gains of the past fopr labor are gone with the jobs they had, the municipal , teachers,government workers are all the large clout groups left, they too will be a thing of the past ..

@RF

Allowing the multitudes of starving illiterate flotsam (Corporate Description) manufacture your goods then ship them back home and selling them for almost the same price as if they were manufactured in the host country is the worlds new business model.

Using DB's definition of free trade:
"One takes a piece of paper and writes on it: "Private industry shall be responsible for any and all trade between others abroad without tariffs, taxes or other government tributes, laws or regulations."

Okaaayyy... ... ... ... ..

Today the wage arbitrage itself rakes in the billions. Then these persons (Corporate Sovereigns?) are allowed to park money offshore to avoid taxes the rest of us have to make up, avoid safety, environmental laws and regulations and do pretty much as they wish. If they happen to get caught they just pay a small fine,,, admit no guilt,,, and continue on.

I'll be darned if I can see much of a difference! And the question begs to be asked... ... .. Responsible to whom?

The results would be the same. Massive unemployment and economic problems for the more advanced nations and the continued shameless abuse of the third worlds poor.

One would think Americans could see through this free trade scam but unfortunately the brain washing has been too good. On another very popular financial site a poster actually made fun of the unemployed. Sad.

Now that the last three trade agreements have been approved with little or no comment from ANY media, congress will probably reduce/eliminate the extended unemployment which has been allowing people to survive. When that happens things may get dicey.

Until then,,, more lost jobs and a worsening economy.

I do not understand your huh??? If you could clarify - do you mean you are glad "Hilarious" is (through her body language) telling us that quite possibly she has psychopathic tendencies - and that is good now that she is being honest about that - that we are like a confident of a sort. I'm afraid (out of all due respect because I believe the DB is the most important website on the "Net right) - again could you clarify my huh??? back. Best intentions - T.

Perhaps there is a socialist tint to Unions,yet in the past , they brought a better quality of life to millions on American families, pensions, health coverage, holidays, safer working conditions , realistic hours,long before OSHA was formed,socialist or not we had a stronger country a stronger economy ,when we had strong unions to balance the equation with government, management and employees... .Now our manufacturing capicity has left along with all the steady incomes it provided-- the truckers move goods made elsewhere, not here--

I would argue that unions never protected American jobs. They helped kill them. Any noncontributing third party getting between a trade, in this case labor for wage, can only deteriorate the trade.

This truck agreement between USA and Mexico is a one sided deal and management of the trucking by the government. This is not equal for the American independent truck. Mexico can buy property anywhere in the USA with no restrictions but let an American try to by waterfront property in Mexico and it is a shut out. The same with this deal as cobbled up by Government and the Union and their socialist value system.

Huh???? truthfully I think more of Hillary now( I still don't like her) in being honest with her public emotions.. We orchestrated Gaddafi's death, she can take credit for it-- In Middle Eastern politics such a death was a relief to the families that Gaddafi tortured as well, why deny them the pleasure of watching???

From Bush Sr to Clinton to Bush Jr to Obama, it is the same hand with different stinky sock puppets.

Right now I am horrified and a little sickened looking at two photo's juxtaposed - "Hilarious" Clinton cackling at the bloody-death of Gaddafi - and "He's a real prince alright" Phillip (no doubt with that scowl imagining himself a particularly nasty little virus wiping out the 99 percenters in the world daring to protest he and his kind's brand of wisdom). If this is not a case in point proving David Icke's belief that the elites are an alien/reptile/human hybrid and the moon's really a balloon - then I don't what is. (The DB's earlier posting referring to D. Icke's "Conspiracy Theory" puts put it right into perspective when viewed as [a new?] myth). The DB's insight into the workings of the human mind is truly astonishing. And most important - freeing. A great and good ol' fashion brainwash. Here's a metaphor to ponder: The Daily Bell is the ultimate Loufa Sponge - T.

Reply from The Daily Bell

Ha, Loufa Sponge ... nice.

What those trucks unloading MEXICAN made steel, signifys there is no future for AMERICAN manufacturing... .Where steel was the backbone of our industry, Made in USA no longer matters to our government... That cheap labor in "treaty" countries is far more important than getting our own economy back on its feet... Buying goods , allowing goods manufactured thru the NAFTA treatys only deterioates the our ability to restructure ourselves... .Hoffa's father may have been a hard nosed gangster at times but he had the best interest of America at heart,Jim Hoffa's correct in trying to stop it, it's a shame the unions no longer can protect American jobs as they did in the past... .