Missouri Voters Overturn Right-To-Work

[IMPress Polly]

In my view a balanced bench is the best possible court, so that politics cannot subsume the law. You will never really have a balanced bench under an electoral system - you will have a political system of jurisprudence and one with no consistency. SCOTUS would be reduced to a popularity contest.

We don't have a balanced bench at present either, or even the structural possibility of one, given that we currently use an odd number of justices by law! What's your point?

If Supreme Court justices were elected, there's no way that things like the Citizens United verdict, for example, would stand. Those justices would be voted out and replaced by ones who would overturn those types of highly unpopular verdicts.

[Chris]

We don't have a balanced bench at present either, or even the structural possibility of one, given that we currently use an odd number of justices by law! What's your point?

If Supreme Court justices were elected, there's no way that things like the Citizens United verdict, for example, would stand. Those justices would be voted out and replaced by ones who would overturn those types of highly unpopular verdicts.

I very much doubt a majority of the people agree with your views on things, Polly. Popular election guarantees only popular election, not judges siding with your views. Consider Trump.

[Dr. Who]

We don't have a balanced bench at present either, or even the structural possibility of one, given that we currently use an odd number of justices by law! What's your point?

If Supreme Court justices were elected, there's no way that things like the Citizens United verdict, for example, would stand. Those justices would be voted out and replaced by ones who would overturn those types of highly unpopular verdicts.

Why wouldn't it? Why wouldn't you end up with even worse rulings? They would just see-saw every few years depending on whether the right or left were the flavor of the day. Furthermore, on what basis would the general public be qualified to determine the qualifications of anyone running for the position? There is only one country in the world that allows a popular vote to elect judges to their highest court (Bolivia) and even there, the candidates are pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. They are however one of many countries that mandate term limits for justices in their highest courts. http://www.nationmaster.com/country-...term-of-office

[Peter1469]

I'm not sure American conservatives understand just how rapidly and dramatically pro-labor public attitudes have shifted in recent years since the last recession. Consider the Occupy movement, the Fight for 15 movement, the strikingly prominent Bernie Sanders presidential campaign of 2016, the wave of wildcat teacher strikes earlier this year (which mostly took place in politically conservatives states that voted for Trump, incidentally). In that context, is it really surprising that the voters of Missouri voted 2 to 1 to overturn a major restriction on unions? The Supreme Court can rule what they want, but the more they rule against labor in this social environment, the more they will only prove their institution undemocratic in nature and themselves to be what they are: corrupt cronies of the rather unpopular corporate world who deserve to be replaced and to have their institution democratized (i.e. rendered elected, not appointed) and to have their "right" of judicial review abolished until such time.

The Bernie and Cortez wing of the democratic party is not strong enough (yet) to make much real difference. But at least they are anti-establishment. I like that.

[Peter1469]

That decision only applies to public unions I believe.

Yes, but I can see SCOTUS expanding on their previous ruling.

[Peter1469]

"Right to work" laws are not about the right to jobs or else the conservatives who support them would support public works programs. They are about de-funding unions by promoting the atomization of the workforce at the expense of the collective well-being thereof.

Incorrect. They are about not forcing employees to support the democratic party- which the Unions have long supported. If they had stayed out of politics they may be relevant today. Alas, they have not.

[Captdon]

If that is what the people of Missouri want that is on them. But considering that SCOTUS has ruled that people who don't want to join a union can't be forced to pay union dues, this ruling may not last long.

In the meantime companies will be relocating out of Missouri.

SCOTUS only ruled on public employees unions. Private unions weren't covered.

[Captdon]

I'm not sure American conservatives understand just how rapidly and dramatically pro-labor public attitudes have shifted in recent years since the last recession. Consider the Occupy movement, the Fight for 15 movement, the strikingly prominent Bernie Sanders presidential campaign of 2016, the wave of wildcat teacher strikes earlier this year (which mostly took place in politically conservatives states that voted for Trump, incidentally). In that context, is it really surprising that the voters of Missouri voted 2 to 1 to overturn a major restriction on unions? The Supreme Court can rule what they want, but the more they rule against labor in this social environment, the more they will only prove their institution undemocratic in nature and themselves to be what they are: corrupt cronies of the rather unpopular corporate world who deserve to be replaced and to have their institution democratized (i.e. rendered elected, not appointed) and to have their "right" of judicial review abolished until such time.

Total nonsense that really went all over the place with hardly a touch on the thread.

[Captdon]

You certainly believe in forced labor for no return of value.

That is patently untrue.

[Captdon]

Right to Work Frequently-Asked Questions




SO the left is against the individual right to choose and for compulsory joining union or paying dues.

As long as the law requires unions to represent all employees then your argument doesn't hold water. Right to work states are allowing some employees to be blood suckers.