Fascists push work-for-less measure in Michigan

A large chunk of America - especially in the South and West - is forced to live under so-called "right-to-work" laws. More accurately, these are work-for-less laws. These laws - which I believe to be unconstitutional - bust unions and depress wages, and they make it harder for workers to fight for good wages and on-the-job safety.

But now a group of right-wing extremists in Michigan is pushing for a work-for-less law in that state. The Detroit News even ran an editorial backing the proposal. To add insult to injury, this editorial appeared on Labor Day.

In Michigan, of all places!

The Wolverine State has relatively strong organized labor membership, but the Bushists think they can pull this shit there???

Work-for-less backers are trying to collect almost 500,000 signatures to put this measure on the November ballot. The misnamed National Right to Work Committee, which supports the effort, is made up of right-wing stink tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation.

In 2006, the most recent year for which data is available, 8 of the 10 states with the best rankings for health of their workers had no work-for-less law. But 9 of the 10 states with the worst rankings did. Average annual income in work-for-less states is almost $6,000 lower.

Several years ago, a similar drive in Oklahoma led to that state adopting a work-for-less law. It was an act of naked political extortion and fraud. Few would expect Michigan to follow that route, but the anti-worker greed machine is powerful.