Make sure labor stakeholders have equal voice at table

Regarding “Open up labor talks” (Editorial, Nov. 19): I couldn’t agree more. But there is additional context that makes this opinion even more compelling. Progressives such as Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have many valid points they make about corrupt political money going to Republican politicians from huge corporations and billionaires. But very little is mentioned by anyone of the similar corrupt political money going to Democratic politicians from government labor unions, especially in places such as California and the Bay Area. Here, Democrats have complete political dominance.

And almost every one of these state and local politicians has been given a blessing and campaign funding from these unions, and as a result, these politicians and our government as a whole are utterly beholden to these union bosses.

Some of this is useful in counterbalancing the corporate and billionaire influence. But all too often the losers are other users of government services — often much more needy — and the general public good. Whether it is a corporation or a labor union, when political influence gets this dominant, other mechanisms such as open labor talks need to be created to give other stakeholders an equal voice at the table. and climate change ignored, the coming generations, our children and grandchildren, are being gravely harmed. Reduced poverty? When the chasm between rich and poor is greater than ever before? And regardless of any shortcomings in the Iran treaty or the Paris accord, there is more danger to the world when we reject them than when we join them.

What we’re seeing the past few weeks is that a vote for Trump is a vote for someone who will go to any lengths in attempting to overturn the legitimate results of the presidential election, an unconscionable act straight out of the totalitarian rule book. Trump is and has been a true danger to this country, far outweighing the few positive impacts of his administration.