As IF Times

link 2nd UPDATE: UK Hit By Nationwide Public Sector Strike – WSJ.com.

As sure as the shrimp is the first to disappear at a buffet table, public sector unions in western nations are up in arms over the changes being imposed on their entitlements by governments pressed to address horrendous budget shortfalls.  Of course, that’s only unions in western countries since it is only in western countries that there is the notion of entitlement.

The roots of the labour movement arguably began in Europe during the Industrial Revolution as economies moved from being historically agrarian to adjust to the new era of machines and systematized processes.  Labor became more of a commodity and the early industrialists were as likely as not to exploit the new labor dynamic.  Abuses of workers were likely common and eventually, trade unions were established to protect workers from abusive policies.  A more detailed discussion can be had at,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_movement

With the passage of time however, the labour movement evolved into a distinct component of most western governments but has morphed to become more of a home for leftists than they are defenders of the individual.  It’s no coincidence that labour parties have always been closely aligned with socialist/marxist and communist movements since these philosophies all pushed the notion of the oppressed, non ruling masses.  Whether or not one agrees with the philosophy or aims of the labour movement, one common flaw is glaringly common to all iterations of leftist political thinking.

They have no grasp of math.

Every little kid in every Asian country, from a very early age is competent in basic arithmetic.  The concept of the equals sign, “=” elegantly represented by two parallel lines of exactly equal length means that the values assigned on either side of the sign are the same in value.  Logically, this means that any change to one side requires a change on the other side otherwise the equation is no longer valid.  Somehow, this very fundamental and logical concept is lost on most leftist ideologues and union reps when it comes to socialized payout benefits.  To them, balancing input and outgo is an abstract exercise similar to calculating the value of pi.   This gap in reasoning must be attributable to a deficient education.

It makes sense then, that in order to restore reasonableness to much of society’s woes, that an emphasis should be placed on math from the very early ages.  In fact, when anyone runs for or is appointed to any position of political influence, they should first be required to take a math proficiency exam to ensure that there is a grasp of the concept of the equals sign.  We’re not talking differential calculus math, we’re talking, if Suzy had 3 apples and gave Johnny 1 apple math.  Not only would this eliminate math illiterates from attaining office, it will eliminate them being able to con the large segment of the population who are also math challenged, those that would believe blantantly false utterances and promises.

Only very coddled children, very naive individuals or simply wilfully ignorant demagogues can believe that an infinite amount of anything is available from a very limited pot.  Public service unions can march all they want, but the simple math says that for them to receive an ever escalating stream of entitlements erroneously pledged  by disingenuous leaders means that someone has to pay for them, especially if they themselves don’t.  It just doesn’t add up.  At some point, they really do run out of shrimp at the buffet table.

link Wisconsin unions threaten to boycott businesses that dont display their signs | Philip Klein | Beltway Confidential | Washington Examiner.

Observing the antics of the public sector unions in Wisconsin has gone from amusing to sublime.  A little over a month ago, the new incoming governor of that state, Scott Walker,  embarked on a necessary program to rescue that state’s dire financial condition.  The state was over 3 billion dollars short of funds and drastic action was needed to stem the red ink.  At the behest of the voting public, who put Walker in office specifically to address  the fiscal malaise, he proposed cutting back the power and influence of public sector unions in the wage bargaining process.

What resulted was the comical abdication of duty of  the Democratic members of their legislature who en masse fled the state to avoid voting on the contentious bill as if they were 4 year olds avoiding cough medicine.  They became a group mug shot on milk cartons in the Midwest.  Shame and ridicule did not bring them back to do their jobs, but the threat of legally compelling them to return,  did.  Consequently, they were forced to participate in the voting process and predictably, they lost.  The curtailing of public union powers was enacted, at least by vote.

The rescission of public union rights drew condemnation from the usual and expected entitlement groupies; organized labor, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, the delusional Michael Moore and of course, the President himself.  From the bleating and wailing eminating from these champions of the people, you would think Walker was trying to impose modern slavery upon oppressed and unwashed factory workers.  In fact, one of the key proposals by Walker was that public sector unions be compelled to contribute as much to their pension funds as anyone else in the private sector.   Was there no reasoning with this man?   What next, make teachers work 6 hour days?

Unhappy with the legally enacted legislation that neutered the public unions’ longtime extravagances, the most recent union tactic is the default reversion to thuggery.  Ah back to union roots.   As the article describes, non supporters of the union position will be ostracized as far as business patronage.  Apart from the obviously  juvenile tantrum this type of extortion represents, the tactic makes no sense in real life.  The biggest effect will be of creating very obvious divisions within their own community.  It’s pretty hard to depict this in any other way than as selfish and puerile pouting.

It’ll be amusing to see how long this campaign lasts.   It’ll be fun to have them try to buy milk and cheese that is sourced only from non-union cows.  This  is no small issue if you’ve ever seen a resident of Wisconsin.  Will they make their own bread instead of frequenting non union bakeries?  Will all restaurants go out of business because of lack of union patronage?  Will they give up their likely non union gardeners?  Obviously shopping at Wal Mart is out because that’s a non union operation.  In a very short time, it’ll be obvious that what they propose is the equivalent of holding their breath until they get their way.  I think the public will wait them out.  It’ll become obvious that the people they seek to distance themselves from are the ones that pay their wages through taxes.  At the very least, the unions should change their description from serving the public, to doing the public.