My father-in-law was a union meat packer back in the 50s when working conditions were truly deplorable and wages were far below what we would consider “liveable.”  From his stories I came to understand that unions could serve a vital need for laborers. But today’s headlines involving unions – whether it’s the “Right to Work” [...]

“We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it.”[1] These words were uttered by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House in March 2009, in reference to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), more commonly known as “Obamacare.”  Have you had a chance to read all 2074 pages [...]

Qantas Airlines, the 10th largest airline in the world, shut down 100% of their operations on October 29, 2011.  This was in response to a long labor dispute.  Rolling strikes in recent months had forced cancellations of 600 flights, disrupting 70,000 passengers at a cost of 70 million Australian dollars ($75 million U.S.).[1]  The unions [...]

When I was a high school senior I was blessed to have an economics teacher that made us read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.  The book is set in the 1700’s and through reading it I learned the basics of the free market, capitalism, and the concept that self-interest drove the rancher to [...]