I’m not for unions or against them. I have seen both the good and the bad unions have to offer to areas but we really need to leave the political out of the game when the environment is in danger or worst, people’s lives. I will give you some examples.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was a tragedy but do you know what worsen the environmental impact? The French, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain had ships for skimming the oil ready and willing to help to prevent massively damage to the environment but our current administration turned them down cold sighting the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 more commonly known as the “Jones Act”. The Jones Act prevents non-union, non-American merchant mariners from any operations within American claimed waters. It could have been waivered by our elected officials to protect the environment and people’s livelihood but unions mean more to our government than protection of the environment or the nation’s peoples. Another side effect of the Jones Act was the cost of building container ships rose so high in America due to required union labor, now none are built here; good job saving move.
Now today we have Superstorm Sandy hit the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut on 25 Oct 2012 leaving over 20 million people without power. The normal person would think that with all the other states sending crews to help, we will have the power fixed before winter; unfortunately once again the unions stepped in and our government has done nothing. All non-union electricians were turned away by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Now it is February and New York by itself still has 50,000 without power and the temperatures are below freezing. The saddest part I don’t hear the outcry like I did (rightfully so) during Katrina; just shows are news agencies are political, not professional. When the south was hammered by Katrina (or any other hurricane) they welcomed anyone who could help the people with open arms. This should have happened here.
As I have said before there are good and bad unions; this union should have been for the people instead of the politicians. To the people in these effected areas; what political party and politician did this union support? Do you research and make sure you vote for the other side (which ever it may be) the next time you pull that lever. Your life should be worth more then this bad union.
