Sunday, June 7, 2009

Where's 'Interest" in Right to Work?

Headlines are supposed to reflect the content of the story, but one of those in the Livingston Press and Argus for Sunday (June 7, 2009) is only half right.

That would be the one that says "Right to work pitch raises interest, ire."

The article is a rehash of the business community's goal to weaken the right of people to collectively bargain the terms and conditions of their jobs by making Michigan a "right-to-work" (or a "right-to-work-for-less") state.

This is an old idea that even Gov. John Engler didn't bother with as governor, but which the ultra right-wing Mackinac Center, which looks down on every Michigan residents who doesn't happen to own their own business, dredges up every now and then.

But despite the headline claiming "interest" in this old idea, the Livingston Press and Argus really did not find anybody expressing interest in it, even among Livingston County's all-Republican legislative delegation. Sen. Valde Garcia wasn't interested. Rep. Cindy Denby didn't bother to even return the newspaper's phone call about the matter, which indicates a pretty low level of interest. And Rep. Bill Rogers said even if Michigan were a right-to-work (for less) state, it probably wouldn't be the economic panacea that the Mackinac Center claims.

So exactly where is the "interest"? Apparently in the mind of the newspaper editor.

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