Barbara Kestenbaum, retired union delegate and shop steward, writes for the Unions Matter! blog. She says:

I think unionists, economists, and everyone who cares about the well-being of our country should read “America—& What Unions Are About.” The commentary by Ellen Reiss in this issue of The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known is great–it made me cheer when I first read it! It was written in March 2011 when the massive pro-union rallies in Wisconsin began. Ms. Reiss explains what’s been behind the unrelenting attacks on unions—both public and private sector–in recent years. She describes, too, the real source of the economic turmoil that’s plaguing our country:

What the American people need to be told clearly is who, or what, is really to blame for America’s economic suffering, job losses, government deficits. They’re being told unions are to blame, because unions have been able to negotiate for their members some of what all people deserve, including pensions and health care. If unions thrive, all Americans can have these, and more. Unions stand for all of us. The cause of our economic trouble is 1) the persons who are using, and want to continue using, America and her workforce for their own private profits; and 2) governments’ funding those persons and their businesses, with the people’s money—through tax breaks, subsidies, and outsourcing public work to private companies. >>Read more