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The Libertarian Podcast with Richard Epstein: “Public Sector Unions And The Supreme Court”
In this episode, Richard Epstein dissects Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, a case that could dramatically diminish the power of public-sector unions.
Listen in above or by subscribing to The Libertarian through iTunes.
Published in Domestic Policy
Richard & Troy,
I think about fundamentals also. I think the most important fundamental to realize is that unions private or public are conspiracies in restraint of trade. The extreme situation of the depression justified in everyone’s mind being lenient with unions. Whether this was OK in some ultimate sense I am not going to bother to answer. However, unions got completely out of hand because the fact of their existence as an exception to anti-trust law was forgotten entirely. The only way they were brought under control in the private sector was allowing the underlying industries to suffer. This was an extremely costly solution that a direct attempt at curtailing union power could have improved upon greatly. Even this nuclear option doesn’t work with the public employee unions as Richard points out. They are absurdly out of control. In many cases, their total package with benefits makes them the highest paid workers in America and that is idiotic.
Unfortunately, I have been rudely awakened to the present condition of the court. As Richard would probably attest, given the evidence of runaway public employee unions the old court of responsible adults would have stopped the “agency” shop dead at this point. However, the present court has proved itself to be an immense disappointment. Four justices are hysterical left-wing children. Two justices are spineless clowns whose vanity can be manipulated by the obvious left wing cabal.
We must wait for a tough President and the retirement of some of the lefties before the righties. (Prayer would be in order.) This issue is definitely on the list that needs immediate attention. The distortion of both the economy and the political discussion is immensely damaging.
Regards,
Jim