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2009-01-01 - 11:12 a.m.
In the United States there's a certain type of conservative mindset whose adherents strongly dislike labor unions and paying taxes, amongst other issues.
Let me just say first, that labor unions were created to protect workers from the kind of people who hate paying taxes.
Basically, if you don't want to pay taxes, either at all, or at some extremely reduced rate (on account of you're rich, so naturally you should be exempted from any fucking hardship whatsoever), then you really don't want to participate in the society. You're un-American. Unpatriotic. And a just plain selfish fuck.
Because if you're not actively serving a direct role in our government or military, then your contribution to society is paying taxes and voting.
Taxes pay for the infrastructure of society. Roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, military, fire/rescue and police. Taxes pay for the NIH, the CDC, NASA, the EPA, DHS, FBI, TSA, FDA, NOAA, ATF, OSHA, and the FDIC.
Everything that makes the United States the country it is, is the product of government and taxes. Everything that makes the U.S. a good place to live is the result of a portion of the community's resources being pooled, and then administered in the best interests of the majority of the community. This, of course, on a grand scale, given the size of our country.
You may quibble at how your share of the pot is spent. That's why you have the right to vote. And anyway, you're supposed to contribute in good faith and expect that your elected government will conduct the country's business with good judgement.
And if you think you'd be better off buying all your infrastructure services on your own ala carte, then you're a fucking idiot.
Not only do you get a better deal for your money by having the government buy (in bulk) and administer your infrastructure services, but you don't have to hire your own accounting firm to manage all the niggly fees and accounts.
If you find your government is continually out of line with your wishes you have a couple of options. One is become political. Gain power and try to work the changes you want directly. The other is to get the fuck out.
What it comes down to with taxes is, either pay your fucking taxes and be part of the society, or leave the country.
What do unions have to do with all this? Well, if the individual business owners, or corporate board members are more interested in profit than being part of the society they operate in, then they are selfish cunts, and they're willing to do anything in order to make more and more... and even more huge profits. Anything. Including endangering their employees, or cheating their employees, or just plain being unreasonable in their demands. Unions protect workers from exploitation.
Look it up. Before labor unions in the United States, workers in nearly any commercial field were being exploited and abused. Hell, in non-union shops are being exploited and abused right now.
This is not to say that contemporary labor unions are beacons of justice. No. Far from it. They are well in need of some reorganization. Nevertheless, it is the notion. It is the reason that unions were created that matters. It's what they stand for, and the very real danger that without them businesses will revert to their natural stance of fucking everyone over for a fucking dime.
It's all about avarice. If you can't part with a percentage of your income, either individually, or as a corporate entity, to support society, civilization, really, then you're really just too greedy to be allowed to run loose.
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So, how do you like them apples?