I stand with the unions

I used to think that the day of unions - that is, their usefulness - had passed. But with the current Republican attacks on the middle class, my mind has been changed.

The conservatives and tea partiers cut taxes on those most able to pay, and cut benefits for those in need. Why? How is this in any way a Christian thing to do? They claim to be fighting for Christian values, but I'm pretty damn sure that Jesus would be on the side of the workers and the lower classes. I doubt that he would support the wealthiest in their fight against the least of us.

Not all of the wealthy are guilty. Bill Gates lost his crown as "wealthiest man in the world" by giving away billions to charity. Warren Buffett has repeatedly called for higher taxes on rich folks like himself. There are others, but the conservatives just don't see reality. Cutting taxes on the wealthy and cutting services for the poor will just create a third-world state.

It is true that, in some sectors, unions have driven wages to ridiculous heights; notably in the automotive industry. However, most individuals who belong to unions do not get that kind of overcompensation. And seeing state governments attack these people, public sector people, makes my blood boil.

Unions came about for good reasons. Most companies would not be treating non-union people as well as they do if unions hadn't driven workplace policy toward fairness. Eight-hour days, forty-hour weeks, overtime pay; all the result of unions.

Given the antagonistic attitudes of Republicans toward the working class, unions may be our last chance to fight back. And so, I stand with the unions.