Former Pennsylvania coal miner Arthur Trunzo, 92, straightens the pants cuff of national AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka before the leader takes the podium at a statehouse rally. Photo courtesy of the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail.
Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe:
... public employees generally make more in salary and benefits than employees in the private economy:
For Americans working in state and local government jobs, total compensation last year averaged $39.66 per hour -- 45 percent more than the private sector average of $27.42. (For federal employees, the advantage is even greater.)
... AFSCME and the other public-sector unions are using $172 million that came from taxpayers to elect politicians who will take even more money from taxpayers, in order to further expand the public sector, multiply the number of government employees, and increase their pay and perks....

"We elect our bosses, so we've got to elect politicians who support us and hold those politicians accountable," AFSCME's website proclaims. "Our jobs, wages, and working conditions are directly linked to politics."
That is exactly the problem.
Public-sector unionism has been unhealthy for American democracy. The power to "elect our bosses" has turned government employment into a rigged game -- rigged in favor of ravenous government growth and against the private-sector taxpayers who pay for it.
AFSCME may be "damn happy" at the impact it has on US elections. But the rest of us ought to be alarmed.
So much to be alarmed about, so little time. Todah to Stef for bringing the Jacoby piece to our attention. Keep 'em coming.