Consensus Is Overrated
The Center for American Progress is a labor-friendly organization (NEA gave them money last year), and wants to know “Why Is the Public Suddenly Down on Unions?” Authors David Madland and Karla Walter examine this question at great length and, through the historical study of opinion surveys about unions, they find that the public likes unions when economic times are good and dislikes them when economic times are bad. They then conclude that support for unions will recover when the economy does.
This analysis is helpful, but buried inside is a point that is profound in its simplicity.
This analysis is helpful, but buried inside is a point that is profound in its simplicity.
Despite their skepticism of power, however, the American public realizes that the competing interests of government, labor, and business create a system of checks and balances between
