It looks likely that the Michigan legislature will pass and Governor Whitmer will sign a repeal of the 2012 law that made us a right-to-work state. It can be kind of confusing, not least because "right-to-work" is really more of a PR victory than an actual description. (Props to the evil geniuses who not only developed it but somehow made it stick.)
At this point, I really only have two thoughts on the situation. The first is expressed in the cartoon. Basically, I would imagine the very "business leaders" responsible for the abjectly stupid decisions that destroyed Silicon Valley Bank are the same folks who would vehemently oppose a union workforce.
The other may seem unrelated, but it isn't. Earlier this month, the state of Arkansas passed a legislation to reduce oversight of child labor laws. One of the arguments: Less regulation makes them more competitive. But apparently it wasn't in time to fill their meatpacking industry with enough low-cost 14-year-old migrant children because this week Tyson Foods announced it will close a poultry plant in Arkansas with close to 1,000 employees.
Arkansas is a right-to-work state. In general, I think we should be aiming for less Arkansas.
John Auchter is a freelance political cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Radio, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.
