...Archie is, they make horrible models to base even a fraction of workforce mentality in a 21st century economy seated in a capitalistic system. The union dinosaur might still function just fine in a system seated in socialism, but it is outdated and unnecessary here in America today.

"The fact is, many of those large corporations you mentioned HAD TO offer those wonderful benefits and incentives, because in many cases unions had gotten similar gains for their members in other corporations where there was a strong union presence."

Years ago, true, but not today. Companies like Rolm offer premium benefits to attract and keep quality employees. The competition in today's job market isn't being fueled by union shops, it's being fueled by non-union businesses competing for much of the same limited workforce. This goes full circle back to my original note in this thread, people being rewarded based on individual merits. To claim that to this day, unions are responsible for such practices is at best, wishful thinking, and at worst delusional.

"The fact is, virtually every business in the country has Help Wanted signs posted.... at significantly higher wages than the minimums that the anti-labor crowd traditionally decries."

....and that is not the result of anything that the unions do! It is strictly the result of an economy that has put people to work, limiting the number of available employees. I'm opposed to a set minimum wage mainly because I see it as an ever increasing unfunded federal mandate.

"You still have not explained why you insist on dragging your anti-union venom into posts I've made that have had no reference to unions or unionism."

I did, two posts ago. ...and since it was you that wrote "Nobody is right, nobody is wrong on this issue", I wonder why my anti-union opinions are classified as venom by you. My opinions are rooted in personal experiences, as are yours. I know what it is like to try to own and run more than one business at a time, working a scheduled 110 hours a week. I know what it is like to write every company employee except myself a paycheck in order to help the business grow. When a union strike hurts my business, I view the labor action as an assault on me. I can't view it any other way.

I'm not one to back away from a good debate. I don't care for outright fighting, territory that we've ventured into in the past Archie. However, I will occasionally comment when I see you post something about treating people (like choosing a candidate to vote for) in a manner that is inconsistant with your well known beliefs on how people should be treated on the job. I don't want my buddy Archie looking like a hypocrite!

Bob :-)