[red-beard]

The early days of organized labor was more about keeping jobs in the hand of WASPs than trying to get better $/hr, etc. The early labor organizations were extremely racist against Blacks, Indians, Chinese, Irish and any other new ethnic group that was willing to work hard for whatever pay. And compared to the countries they came from, the pay rates and the job opportunites were vast!

Productivity went up with Automation. Many workers didn't want automation, since it cost jobs. The word "sabotage" comes from the word sabot, a french wooden shoe. Originally, the shoes were thrown into the workings of the machines, breaking or disabling them.

Trusts were groups of organized businesses, who were controlled by a single entity. The problem today is the anti-trust laws were designed when our ability to go to alternative sources, especially those outside the country, were weak. This is not the case today, except when we limit good from coming into the country. We actually have protectionist laws which prevent some goods (ethanol for one) from being imported economically.

Usually companies that combine together get advanatges from scale. And sometimes there is a natural tendancy to standardize which creates the appearence of a monopoly (Microsoft). Would anyone who has read what Standard Oil and the Sugar trusts used to do, think they are comparable to Microsoft?

Coming back around to what I think, I do believe a few things:

1. Every law should have a sunset provision (Say 10 years as a standard). This way if something doesn't apply to a newer present situation, it should be let to die. If it is worth continuing, 50% of each house plus the president shouldn't be too hard to get to agree.

2. Every 'regulation' put into effect in the country should have a corresponding law. Too many 'regulations' come out of groups like the EPA without any review in congress, or any authorization.

3. The Supreme Court should not make law. The justices should not interpret law. They should decide whether something is constitutional or not. And not 'provisions'. If even the tinyest part of a law is unconstitutional, the whole thing should get tossed and the congress forced to start over.

4. Any law which requires more than 1 page, should be broken up into several laws, each one consisting of...1 page.