Transport strikes paralyse France and Germany

Dutch (NOS) television news reported this morning that German and France transport unions are currently demonstrating the key features of left-wing unions: irresponsible and thuggish use of political power and selfishness. The transport unions have brought both countries to their knees, ignoring the hardship and dislocation their actions are bringing to the people.

It seems incredible that an unelected political group in our much vaunted Western democratic system can still get away with such naked political action, while the electorate looks on helplessly.

The Unions in Germany and France are of course no different from those in Australia in terms of their ideological motivations and aims. It seems one of the unchangeable features of living in our democratic system that a powerful political group who speaks the language of democracy can and do acquire and wield power without reference to the wishes of the people.

Warnings about union power in Australia, which the Howard government has managed to limit, are not idle. The coming election will test how much the people of Australia have forgotten.