So, as Republicans get more conservative, they get more conservative and, as the economy goes into the crapper, independents support labor less. I have a feeling that such folks know little or nothing about unions, their history and what they ought to - rather than often do - stand for... not that unions have done a great job making their case of late... The UAW's representation of state and auto workers in Michigan has been weak, mostly behind the scenes and presented - without rebuttal - by Repugs as obstructionist. (I'm not putting the majority of the blame on unions but, from here in mid-Michigan, its hard to see that they've helped their case much in the Rust Belt.)
Hoping to be shown that I'm wrong...
A
On Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:47 AM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
> [The whole thing is worth reading, though immensely depressing amidst an
> economic crisis. Of course, what have the unions done lately to deserve
> better?]
>
> <
> http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1505/labor-unions-support-falls-public-now-evenly-split-on-purpose-power
> >
>
> Favorability Ratings of Labor Unions Fall Sharply
> February 23, 2010
>
> Overview
>
> Favorable views of labor unions have plummeted since 2007, amid growing
> public skepticism about unions' purpose and power. Currently, 41% say they
> have a favorable opinion of labor unions while about as many (42%) express
> an unfavorable opinion. In January 2007, a clear majority (58%) had a
> favorable view of unions while just 31% had an unfavorable impression.
>
> ...
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>
-- ********************************************************* Alan P. Rudy Dept. Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Central Michigan University 124 Anspach Hall Mt Pleasant, MI 48858 517-881-6319