[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

[quote=HM2Viking;2807547]

Professionalism is not incompatible with union membership. (See AMA, ABA etc. for examples of professional unions.)

quote]


Those are Associations, not Unions..

[HM2Viking]

The Bush taxcuts offered virtually no help to the middle class. (And when you factor in cuts to middle class programs such as college financial aid a case can be made that in fact his policies have harmed the middle class.)

http://www.cbpp.org/9-27-06tax-f4.jpg

The President’s tax policies, however, have widened the differences in take-home pay between high- and low- and middle-income households, according to Tax Policy Center estimates. When the tax cuts are fully in effect, households with incomes above $1 million will receive tax cuts equivalent to an increase of 7.5 percent in their after-tax income. Households in the middle of the income spectrum will receive tax cuts equal to only 2.3 percent of their income. And households in the bottom quintile will gain by less than one percent.
Put another way, households with incomes over $1 million will hold a larger fraction of total U.S. after-tax income than they would have received without the tax cuts, while households in the middle and bottom quintiles will hold a smaller share. The tax cuts thus have widened, rather than narrowed, income gaps, making them regressive. (http://www.cbpp.org/3-11-08tax.htm)
While comparisons of percent changes in after-tax earnings measure the tax cuts’ effect on the distribution of income, the dollar values of the tax cuts received by different income groups are also relevant to evaluating these tax cuts’ overall fairness. For example, over the next ten years (assuming the tax cuts are extended), more than $800 billion will be spent on tax cuts for the 0.3 percent of households with incomes above $1 million, with these tax cuts averaging over $150,000 per-household annually. At issue is whether this represents an appropriate use of scarce public resources. (http://www.cbpp.org/2-4-08tax.htm)
The skewed distribution of the tax cuts is of particular concern given that, since 2001, gaps in before-tax income have widened. As of 2006, the highest-income 1 percent of households held a larger share of total pre-tax income that in any year since 1928. (http://www.cbpp.org/3-27-08tax2.htm).


http://www.cbpp.org/9-27-06tax.htm

When given the choice between abolition of the AMT (which would benefit the middle class) and tax cuts for the top 1% and above the Republican congress chose the latter.

[HM2Viking]

[quote=BlueRidgeHomeRN;2834906]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

Professionalism is not incompatible with union membership. (See AMA, ABA etc. for examples of professional unions.)

quote]


Those are Associations, not Unions..

A union by any other name is still a union. A group of people who voluntarily associate to improve their economic/professional conditions through advocacy is a union by another name. Sinclair Lewis famously made this point in Babbitt when Babbit snorted about unions as he was thinking about his membership in his local chamber of commerce.

Other "Associations" that could be viewed as unions include:

National Association of Professional Engineers
The Reserve Officers Association
Air Force Association
Navy League

Anyone who is eligible to join these organizations is exercising their right to freedom of association as guaranteed by the First Amendment for the purpose of advancing their interests as a group.

Employers have no right to deny or interfere with their employees the right to associate for the purpose of collective bargaining.

[slb53]

Very interesting reading these posts. I worked in a nonunion hospital for 10 years and am currently working in homecare with a union. I'll take the union any day. The thing that both places have in common is the whining about working conditions but few people willing to stand up for themselves. Myself and one other coworker were pretty much the only ones to speak up. There were multiple issues. We were thanked for our opinions and management made an attempt to work with us. The problem was the lack of interest by most of our coworkers. Very frustrating. Nothing changed. Benefits continued to decrease, raises were minimal and staffing usually poor. Even when they were hiring no one was applying. There was always money to remodel and they even built a new hospital. I never understood how they could find that money but not for staffing.
When I found myself in homecare I just took the union for granted. After working there for 4 years I found myself union secretary. I volunteered. More apathy from my coworkers except to complain. Seeing how my union works has been a real eye opener. I participated in contract negotiations. I represent my coworkers who I wish took more interest. Money was not an issue. Salaries are fair for everyone. Seniority does not determine who gets the job. The nursing shortage takes care of that. We're just glad nurses apply. The union protects you from being fired unfairly but it does not protect you from being fired if you merit such a course of action. The union gives me a voice. Management listens. There are always issues. When examining those issues the financial impact on the company is important. We don't want to put them out of business. Some issues include weekend assignments. The policy is we work till all the work is completed. This can mean 12+ hours. During the week being given an assignment that will exceed an 8 hour work day. You aren't asked just given the assignment. We are expected to meet productivity and can be disciplined if we don't. These are just some of the issues. At labor management meetings both sides present their issues and we all give input and work towards mutual solutions. Everything is a compromise. My personal goal has been to bring a coworker to each meeting so they can see what is happening and hopefully take an interest. I think if everyone took an interest in improving their working conditions we would all have an increased feeling of professional satisfaction. Do I need a union to do that ? I think so.

[diveRN]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

The Bush taxcuts offered virtually no help to the middle class. (And when you factor in cuts to middle class programs such as college financial aid a case can be made that in fact his policies have harmed the middle class.)

When given the choice between abolition of the AMT (which would benefit the middle class) and tax cuts for the top 1% and above the Republican congress chose the latter.

Your first sentence is that Bush 43's tax cuts have offered no help to the middle class, but the article you link to doesn't talk about anything other than the "fairness" of the taxes. If you'd posted a link to some article that shows REAL numbers as they apply to working stiffs like you and me, I might even listen to your argument.

This is one major problem that I have with the liberal mindset (and union mentality for that matter - since this is what the thread is about)... whenever I hear negative grumblings about tax cuts, it's always in the context of fairness. "The rich aren't paying their fair share" or "they can afford to pay more, so they should" or something of that ilk. It's always about fairness. Life isn't fair, get used to it.

So somebody else makes more ... lots more ... than you or I, they are also generally the folks that invest into our economy the most. Their dollars create jobs. Since you're into biased articles, here's one for you.

[Spidey's mom]

That is a great article - complete with 4 charts!!!!

. . . . . ."What make this tax nightmare scenario particularly scary are the economic benefits that will never be realized if the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts disappear. . . . "


I love The Heritage Foundation. Thanks DiveRN.


steph

[herring_RN]

No one contributes more than nurses.
Let's not think rich people are better contributors than people who care for others.

[diveRN]

Originally Posted by herring_RN

No one contributes more than nurses.
Let's not think rich people are better contributors than people who care for others.

How many jobs have you created this year? In your lifetime?

[HM2Viking]

The tax cuts are being paid for with borrowed money which reduces money available for productive investment......................

http://www.cbpp.org/2-4-08tax-f1.jpg




http://www.cbpp.org/2-4-08tax.htm

The key point was that tax relief was not dedicated proportionately across the economy. I have no problem with tax cuts when they are fairly apportioned. Somehow I think Bush's base would do just fine with a 2.3% tax cut vs. the 7.5% they are scheduled to receive. There are a few pressing needs out there that we need to address that can only be handled through some public spending. (For example, rotting bridges, deficient roads, financial aids for students, public health etc.) The historical record which Paul Krugman and Larry Bartels have addressed at length shows that the US economy has performed better under broad prosperity models over the last 60 years than under so called "progrowth" policies.

Trying to bring this back on thread. Between 1945-73 when collective bargaining was an accepted right of workers workers achieved wage growth that matched the overall growth in economic productivity per worker. Since 1973 workers wages have stagnated and failed to keep pace with productivity growth. The net effect for the middle class has been downward pressure on wages and decreased economic mobility.

If you need a concrete example take your annual wage and add 12%. The average worker has lost 12% in earnings since 1973 under policies espoused by the heritage foundation.

Labor as a movement stands for economic opportunity regardless of the uterine lottery. Good policy asks how can we help people achive to the best of their ability. Good health and good education are a key component of closing the barriers to achievement. This does not guarantee equal results but closing the barriers helps to set the stage for people to follow their muse.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by diveRN

How many jobs have you created this year? In your lifetime?

How many jobs are outsourced overseas, when even the poor in America can no longer afford Walmart, we ALL suffer. High tide does NOT float ALL boats.