I recently caught an interview given by Senator Chuck Schumer this morning and it was really telling. While most of the focus today is naturally on the election, most of that is just filler until after we get some exit polls and even those are suspect.

The focus of Schumer that I noticed was two-fold. First, he was speaking on the issue of secret union ballots, in a bill called the "Employee Free Choice Act" even though it is nothing of the sort. What the employee free choice act does, in a nutshell, takes away the secret ballot for joining a union, removing anominimity and allowing intimidation from union organizers. Schumer's argument was that union membership was at an extremely low level of six percent of the private sector and that by passing this act, it would place things on an even playing field.

The problem is that Schumer's logic involves a belief that union membership is a positive thing. Unfortunately, as the automotive companies will attest, the unions are at least partly responsible for the problems that are present. Playing games to force workers to join a union doesn't offer the choice Americans want or need. Unions have served their purpose in the past, but like many parts of government, have become corrupt and top heavy. The only positive thing about the bill is that sixty votes are required for it to pass, which is not impossible, but is looking unlikely unless the Democrats have a trick up their sleeve. Obama was an original co-sponsor of the bill, so barring an act of God, a veto would not occur.

The second issue Schumer touched on was that of the fairness doctrine. On the surface, it sounds fair - holders of broadcast licenses (network TV and terrestrial radio) are required to present opposing viewpoints to arguments to maintain a balance. The focus however is finely tuned to look at conservative talk radio. Most people know that the media presents a left leaning bias - only those on the far reaches will disagree. However, the only opposing viewpoints that will occur will not be on the network TV, but the talk radio circuit, in a move to crush dissenting arguments. Fox News, and the other cable networks are safe - for now - because they are on pay cable TV. Presumably, shows on XM or Sirius would be exempt as well.

Once again, the Schumer logic isn't that logical. Both sides of the issue have arguments which can be made for or against the fairness doctrine. Chuck Schumer's argument was that the same people opposing the fairness doctrine are those who oppose pornography on TV, and therefore should have a uniform block on things, as he claims to have. Huh? Dissenting political speech is nothing like pornography and is comparing apples to oranges.