Being a consistent hater of The Man, you’d think I’d be pro-union. I’m not entirely sure how I feel on that issue. I think a union has every right to fight for its members. If they want to band together and strike as one, that’s their choice. But I also believe that employers should be allowed to run their business how they see fit…including firing all those striking employees. I guess you can say I’m on the fence of this issue.But what I’m not undecided on it is the mob mentality of the unions. I hate the way unions feel everyone should fight for their cause. I remember the grocery worker’s strike of a few years ago. It went on for months. Union members picketed stores because they felt they were getting a raw deal. And like I said, I believe a union has every right to strike if it wants to. But what really bothers me is the way unions expect everyone to join in their labor war.Whenever I patronized one of the striking stores, the picketing employees shouted names at me and tried to discourage me from shopping at that establishment. They made it seem like I was the enemy because I was “crossing the picket line.” I think that perspective is completely off-base–this wasn’t my battle; wasn’t my picket line. A guy’s gotta eat.With the writer’s strike going on, the same lines are being drawn. Leno and Kimmel can’t get any guest because big-name actors don’t wanna cross the picket line. I don’t understand that. The actors aren’t on strike. Why should they get criticized for something they’re not directly a part of? I suppose you can argue that the actors support the writers because they’ll soon have the same battles with the studio. But that doesn’t explain the criticism Mike Huckabee faced for “crossing the picket line.” His spin doctors had to come up with a lame excuse for even appearing the show–claiming he was unaware Leno’s people were on strike (yeah, that’s what I want of a presidential candidate–one who is completely clueless to current events). Huckabee isn’t an actor. He’s not involved in Hollywood and really has no reason to pick sides. Yet he was viewed as a traitor and criticized for crossing a picket line that wasn’t his line in the first place.Employees should be allowed to fight for what they think is right–but they can’t expect everyone else to fight their battle for them. If Huckabee wants to campaign or I want a gallon of milk, I don’t see why we should be inconvenienced by their fight. I understand the point of a union is to fight as one. But if I’m not part of your union, I have nothing to gain–why should I fight for you?
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