Re: Our Right to work

[Mike Townes <TownesMD@earthlink.net>]

Del, I am no constitutional scholar, but your synopsis below
fits pretty well with my own interpretation developed over my lifetime of
living in our great country and under our wonderful, enduring Declaration
of Independence crafted so long ago.
"Right to Work; [RTW] laws seem built from a different
view:
- No one can force you to join a union, i.e., no "jclosed
shops"
- You have the right to quit at any time, without giving any 
reasons
- Your employer has the right to terminate you at any time, without
giving any reasons.

We could argue the relative merits of RTW vs not.  I prefer to just
point out that, under our constitution, we have a great deal of freedom,
much of it not available to many of the earth's citizens.  One of
those freedoms relates to the point of law in which all rights not
specifically granted to the Federal government are reserved for the
states.  RTW laws, if removed, would replaced by more Federal
control and I am not sure that is an improvement except for those
currently hurt by RTW.  


Our forefathers produced some magnificent work... not always to our
liking, but very difficult to change without substituting one problem for
another.  On these days agonize over RTW laws, it is useful to me to
remember that such problems do not exist in places like North Korea where
the state defines all rights.  Unfortunately, those rights also
include the right to starve and freeze to death.

I have no solutions, but  I would welcome the use of common vs.
special cause in politics.  I think one reason our Constitution
endures is that it may be weighted heavily in favor of common cause
whereas other legislation such as the "Right to Work" laws are
weighted more toward special causes.


Mike Townes