Nader’s consumer protectionists strike out

As the University of Hawaii’s faculty prepares for an all-out labor strike, Ralph Nader and his consumer-activist crusader bunch are nowhere to be found.

Their hypocrisy is all too apparent. When it comes to labor union monopolies, strikes are fine and dandy, even noble. But when it comes to so-called capital or business “monopolies,” which are not backed by the government, “forced” price increases are bad, evil, corrupt, and contemptible.

Imagine the consumer outrage that would ensue if Exxon, Mobil and other oil companies suddenly joined forces and declared: “We will not sell oil for less than $50 a barrel.” The political firestorm would be enormous. The oil companies would be absolutely vilified.

But when it comes to these “poor educators,” almost every ounce of common sense, market economics and consumer protection is callously discarded. The labor union monopolists can get away with it. They can unite and say: “We collectively refuse to perform our serivices until we are paid X amount of dollars across the board, regardless of individual merit.” In fact, they are celebrated and hailed for their extortion.

When it comes to labor, particularly as it pertains to public education, even the consumers are happy to become victims in the service of a so-called “noble cause” or “public good.”

In the case of the University of Hawaii’s possible faculty strike, many students have been bamboozled, duped and just plain suckered into foregoing their own rational self-interests. Through various forms of liberal political indoctrination, UH students have accepted the rather bizarre notion that the faculty’s economic interests take precedence over their own personal goals and objectives.

In other words, the students have forgotten that they are the paying customers in the equation. They have forgotten that the faculty exists to serve them, not the other way around.

Why should students willingly sacrifice their interests for the faculty? Is the faculty more important than the student body?

Indeed, why should a customer–why should a consumer–sacrifice his interests for the benefit of a service provider?

When an airline union goes on strike, should the traveling consumer, the customer, say: “I don’t care if my flight is delayed. These exploited airline pilots (who earn $100,000 or more) sure deserve a raise and I am only too damn happy to support their noble strike.”?

What’s so damn special about education?

Sure it is important. But it is a business just like everything else.

And as with any business, the free market–the natural laws of supply and demand–should determine the fair price. Voluntary market economics should determine the price of labor–any labor. Coercive labor union politics should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Student consumers of the world unite!

Strictly a personal view. Charles Reyes Jr. is a regular columnist of Saipan Tribune. Mr. Reyes may be reached at charlesraves@hotmail.com