Fiscal Fallacy: The Political Motives in the Current Union Assualt Essa

â€Å"Once again, Republicans are trying to erase the history of America’s working people† (Connel 1). It is happening in Maine where Republican governor Paul LePage has arranged for a 36 foot long mural depicting the state’s labor movement history to be removed from the Department of Labor. In addition, conference rooms in the Department of Labor named after prominent labor movement officials such as Frances Perkins (Connel 1). The actions of Maine’s Republicans and the similar actions of Republicans across the nation are only the superficial layer of the current attack on a weakened labor movement. The latest siege in the longstanding decline of American unions, conservatives are waging this assault under the guise of fiscal responsibility. In reality, it is nothing more than a political attack meant to undermine one of Democrat’s key supporters. American unions have been regressing since the 1970’s. With private sector unions firmly place d under the corporate heel conservative forces across the nation are now turning their attack on public unions, hoping to eliminate their collective bargaining rights and effectively crush them altogether. Governor Walker and his allies claim fiscal responsibility and balancing budgets as the reason for the long list of concessions they demand from unions. However, in going after the unions’ collective bargaining rights of the unions it shifts from an economic issue to a politically motivated assault that could have long-term economic consequences for the American public, the middle and working class especially. The Republicans currently assert that they have the best interest of the middle and working class in mind with their targeting of state unions. Federal stimulus money is ending; in 2012, ... ...ing their own party, specifically tailored to the needs of unions and the working class. By aligning themselves with Democrats by default, they have given up a large measure of their political power and bargaining ability. Democratic Party needs do not always much up with those of unions and the working class and often the Democrats will force unions to push their needs over the unions own. In establishing their own political party they could, on a state and local level, push forth the working people’s agenda unhindered. Another possible solution would be for unions to reorganize and reenergize their recruiting base, paying special attention in recruiting women, young adults and immigrants around common working class interests. By diversifying their membership, base unions could stand to regain some of the numbers and collective bulk of their negotiating power.