[preptarra]

Couldn't one argue, Richard, that higher wages in certain sectors of the United States opened up opportunities for companies here to take advantage of lower wages in other countries to produce goods, thus creating a loss of jobs here (and the the resulting loss of those union members) that has continued, particularly in manufacturing and assembly? Moreover, free trade agreements and rising demand in other countries has made it more profitable in many instances for certain industries to move entire operations to those countries. After all, the objective of a corporation is to return a profit for its shareholders. Today's market is global. Our workforce is either financially competitive in certain markets or it isn't.