Monday, March 07, 2011

Steve Berryman - The Tentacle: Absent a "Balance of Power"

Steve Berryman's latest column, (originally for and declined by The Frederick News-Post) ...... is on TheTentacle today: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4267

March 7, 2011

Absent A “Balance of Power”

Steven R. Berryman

Is the Middle East on fire with revolution simply as a domino effect born of circumstances? Are public labor unions suddenly at odds with their government simply because of some newly empowering force? There are greater, overarching factors in play in both cases, not fully recognized.

Just as nature abhors a vacuum, the world misses the yin and yang of a past-polarized world with two recognized “superpowers.” The sides were fairly matched, a polarized world largely kept peace with itself, known as détente, as nations were all on one side – and beholden to – or the other.

At the same time, big-labor unrest was kept in check as money flowed as freely as promises to future generations; unions were awarded raises, adjustments, and pensions without examination on spreadsheet, or in any other way for that matter. Current dollars flowed, and satisfaction was maintained between union bosses getting what they wanted and a government maintaining its constituency by mortgaging future office holders.

The phrase “kicking the can down the road” works.

Balance of power concerning labor relations was easily kept harmonious for years until the money ran out. In Wisconsin, it has been often reported that public workers now easily out-earn their private sector counterparts; this circumstance will surely not be allowed to endure in the current declining economy as forces balance out with reality... http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4267

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