I mean, if companies don’t have unionized workers in the company, why are they giving huge sums to it when it wouldn’t affect them anyway? Answer - because they know if the unions political campaign funds are cut off or dramatically reduced, there will be open season on worker protections in Califrania through the ballot box.

It only affects public employee unions - you know your local first responders - the ones you guys called heroes when it suited you after 9-11 and waived the flag to get Bush elected, but now demonize as “union bosses”. It is despicable.

Look, I’m not a union member and the princple of democratizing how your dues are spent is a valid one (which already exists by the way) - but that isn’t really what is behind this thing. It’s really about bleeding the unions dry now so they can’t fight Arnold next year and he knows it. He os just too much of a coward to say it.

Thanks for offering your perspective. If you’ve seen her before (and we presume that you participate in union gatherings), then it only makes our point stronger: Given that she was a “recognized” Arnold supporter, why would the the mob go after her? Better to ignore than to highlight.

No one is arguing that she’s a “wide eyed innocent girl,” as you say. She could be a professional protester. Doesn’t matter. The union has plenty, too.

But the issue is that the assembled union members did not allow her voice to be heard - albeit dissenting - which underscores the hypocrisy of their position. It’s not about freedom of speech, it’s about political activism for the union agenda and stifling any who disagree.

Very well. Just as long as union dues to pay for it are given with permission by their members. That’s what Prop. 75 achieves.

The lefties are very much more violent, not just in the US but anywhere. Few people dare to have conservative stickers on their cars, while lefties usually don’t have to worry.

In any event, this is an issue that always arises whenever demonstration mobs are mustered. Of course there will always be conflicting opinions for any issue that large numbers of people take interest. Of course it shouldn’t devolve to beating up your opponents. Of course free speech should be tolerated, regardless of the point of view.

But to Bret’s point above, we’re all adults here (or if you’re not, I think you’ll still get the point :-)

If you show up at the Our Friends Social Club in Queens wearing an FBI jacket, don’t expect to receive a warm handshake. If you show up to an ACT UP rally denying the link between HIV and AIDS, don’t expect to receive hugs and kisses. If you show up as Coretta Scott King at the next White Aryan Resistance rally, don’t expect a friendly ear.

Of course I’m exaggerating to make my point. Group action can become dangerous–but mostly when antagonized. And antagonization takes place when a small group of counterprotesters faces a large group deliberately to oppose their message. If they were equal in size, this would have been an old-fashioned rumble instead of a one-person beatdown.

Teddy
Ozone Park, Queens

Yes, Bret, it must be a horrendous experience for the hundreds of poor union workers to have been oppressed by the girl.

/sarcasm off

What will be next? Authorcratic rule by a few select people in the union? What will be the consequences of dissent? The lead pipe to the back of the head or a drive by shooting?

As a worker, I am disgusted with these actions. Higher wages are good - until the number of union members suddenly declines (due to unexplained actions).

Work well and live free.

Political Teen:

Two Los Angeles television stations caught on tape a hyped up mob of union activists intimidating and roughing up a woman who had the courage to speak out in favor of the four reform initiatives.
Whipping the crowd into a frenzy w…

Unions, those strongholds of tolerance and rational discussion of ideas…

…well, if you call “rational discussion” attempting to attack people that happen to disagree with their ideas.

Yes. Those unions.

I’m voting for Arnolds initiatives, but I think the unions have a right to rally in peace without being harrassed by the other side.

*Their “reality” is much akin to the “reality” that people on LSD perceive to be “real”.

Jim Jones’ story is as phony as his name.

Also reminds me of that young male Republican caught on tape during the GOP convention last year acutally kicking a protesting woman after she had been knocked to the ground. Now that’s outrage! Kicking a woman while she’s down.

Sounds kinda’ like the script for a movie. Suffice it to say, things are getting heated out in the Golden State. The Union crowd has spent an estimated 115 million so far in opposition to proposition 75 which would require…

According to an AP article, Govenor Schwarzenegger is promoting a special election ballot, which has raised the ire of Democrats, who see this as a means to weaken the political clout of public employee unions.
The initiative would require the un…