Comments (8)

• Mathieu Bédard

  Well, they're blogging, of course the world owes them a living...

  Published: August 6, 2007 8:59 AM

• George Gaskell

  They left out the key element: exclude potential competitors.

  That's what labor unions really are, and do -- force other people, who never agreed to your little arrangement, to live by its terms, and refrain from engaging in their chosen occupation.

  Even the U.S. Supreme Court (not always a bastion of freedom) came close to uttering the truth once, in the labor-law case of Lochner :

  "It is a question of which of two powers or rights shall prevail,-the power of the state to legislate or the right of the individual to liberty of person and freedom of contract. ...

  "It seems to us that the real object and purpose were simply to regulate the hours of labor between the master and his employees (all being men, Sui juris), in a private business, not dangerous in any degree to morals, or in any real and substantial degree to the health of the employees. Under such circumstances the freedom of master and employee to contract with each other in relation to their employment, and in defining the same, cannot be prohibited or interfered with, without violating the Federal Constitution."

  Published: August 6, 2007 9:51 AM

• Scott S

  They have the liberty to associate with whomever they want, and if they want to form a group in order to get group discounts or group coverage from another group (health insurer) in an agreement that has nothing to do with you, then who are you to say they are not allowed, or even that it is good or bad?

  @George:

  How will an independent group of bloggers keep people from blogging?

  Published: August 6, 2007 10:18 AM

• Reformed Republican

  So they think they should receive benefits for the time spent on a hobby? Who is supposed to pay for these benefits? The articles leaves out a lot of details, but it all sounds pretty silly.

  Published: August 6, 2007 10:48 AM

• George Gaskell

  Scott S,

  As long as their agreement has nothing to do with anyone who is not a party to that agreement, I have nothing to say about it at all.

  But that is not what a "labor union" is. A completely voluntary organization is what I would call a "club."

  If the union tries to raise its rates above the market, the market starts to select alternatives. The union quickly finds out that their efforts are undermined by competitors -- they call them "scabs."

  Typically, one of the more attractive alternatives is to be found among the erstwhile MEMBERS of the supposed union. This enterprising individual finds that it is to his advantage to under-bid the union, thereby getting a larger share of the business.

  In other words, these groups usually fall apart soon as they stop being a funhouse and start trying to obtain above-market income.

  Published: August 6, 2007 1:36 PM

• AJ

  "Few bloggers are paid for their posts, and even fewer are able to make a living doing the work. But many say they often devote as much energy and time to their online musings as they do to their salaried careers."

  Since when do you have a union for volunteer work? Nearly all of the top bloggers own their own blogs. They get to figure out how to pay their bills themselves.

  Published: August 6, 2007 4:24 PM

• Vich

  Who is going to be paying for these benefits?

  Are they sure that they are not really thinking of a cooperative rather than a labor union?

  Published: August 8, 2007 11:34 PM

• Naomie

  I think it is a great idea; except, I'm not sure how to find the correct weblink. Would they be registered with the america unions yet?

  Published: January 11, 2009 2:18 PM