Finances of Big Unions, Democrat Clash With Voters

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Unions served their purpose. They encouraged employers to treat employees properly, and after years of strikes and collisions with big business, the industry cried "Uncle." Influenced by the unions, the government passed laws to regulate companies so that the labor force remained protected. Mission accomplished, the purpose of the unions had been fulfilled.

The unions, however, remained in place, and shifted their position from being helpful to being destructive. Not happy with merely gaining worker's rights, they pushed and pushed until the "benefits" employers had to put out reached unsustainable levels.

Then, the unions became more political.

History watched as the Democrat Party became increasingly dependent on the unions, especially with the increasingly unpopular public sector unions.

Democrat supporters and donors, like Wall Street, have abandoned Democrat candidates. Why should they remain on board? The Democrat-led federal government have made these supporters and donors targets during the incredible seizure of powers by the federal government, and the unconstitutional regulations of the financial industry, automobile industry, and with the health care legislation. Meanwhile, as the private industry runs away from the Democrat Party, unions representing teachers and state and local employees have doubled down. The National Education Association has spent more than $3.4 million on ad buys and direct-mail campaigns for the key electioneering period from Sept. 1 to Oct. 14. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spent $2.1 million in that period. Union members and their families have become a key factor to the "ground game" for the Democrat Party.

While the populace becomes ever more angry over rising taxes, out of control government spending, and the perks of government employees, the public sector unions have been pushing for more money from leftist candidates so that they may continue to increase the public employee salaries and pensions.

The Democrats have more to worry about than the unpopularity of the hard left Democrats in Congress, and the failure of the Obama administration. By maintaining their relationship with the unions, the Democrats are finding that they are in a devastating clash with the voters.

Democrats now find themselves in a position where their unsustainable appetite for spending has caused them to face the fact that there is no money left, and one of the places where government must cut spending is from the huge public-sector health benefits and pension liabilities. If they do not cut the spending, the economy continues to tank and we become ever more likely to be the next collapsing financial system. If they do cut spending to union employees, the Democrats will put themselves at odds with the very people who are a large part of keeping them in elections, and in office.

Democrats are about power, and they believe that power is maintained through their continued support for their base, which largely includes the unions. Therefore, the Democrats will not cut spending to that sector, and as a result will see an even larger electoral landslide in 2012 than they experienced in 2010.

In a nutshell, the Democrats just don't get it, and they are doomed as a result.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary