public sector unions and fdr
Public-Sector Unions: Why FDR Said Collective Bargaining Doesn’t Fit Government

Sep 13, 2025

Clifford Ribner
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How Public Sector Unions Create a Political Money Loop That Costs Taxpayers Billions

Discover the hidden cycle draining your tax dollars—and why even FDR warned against it

Are you wondering why your property taxes keep rising while government efficiency seems to decline? The answer might lie in a political money loop that’s been operating in plain sight for over 60 years. In this eye-opening video, legal expert Clifford Ribner exposes the fundamental differences between public and private sector unions—and why it matters to every taxpayer.

What Makes This Video Essential Viewing

Watch this 15-minute breakdown to understand:

  • – The Tax Dollar Difference: Why public sector bargaining operates on your money, not company profits
  • – The Political Money Cycle: How union dues fund campaigns that negotiate better contracts (using your taxes)
  • – Historical Warnings: What FDR actually said about public sector unions in 1937—and why he was ignored
  • – The Missing Voice: Why taxpayers who fund these contracts have zero representation at the negotiation table
  • – Real-World Impact: How teachers’ unions influenced school closures and educational policy
  • – Actionable Solutions: Specific reforms that could restore accountability and transparency

Why Public Sector Unions Are Different (And Why It Matters)

Unlike private companies that negotiate with their own profits, government unions bargain with your tax dollars. This creates a unique incentive structure where:

  1. Union dues flow to political campaigns
  2. Politicians negotiate generous contracts
  3. Higher contracts require more taxes
  4. More government employees pay more dues
  5. The cycle repeats—funded by taxpayers

Historical Context You Need to Know

FDR’s 1937 Warning: Even the most union-friendly president in history warned that collective bargaining “cannot be transplanted into the public service.”

The Turning Point: Wisconsin (1959) and JFK’s Executive Order 10988 (1962) opened the floodgates to federal employee unionization.

Modern Consequences: Today’s political landscape where public sector unions wield enormous influence over the very politicians who negotiate their contracts.

Questions This Video Answers

  • Why do government workers have better benefits than private sector employees?
  • How do union dues become campaign contributions?
  • What legal restrictions exist on government worker strikes?
  • Why didn’t the taxpayer “representatives” prevent unsustainable contracts?
  • What reform options could restore balance?

Who Should Watch This Video

Taxpayers frustrated with rising costs and declining services
Policy advocates seeking evidence-based arguments
Business owners comparing private vs. public sector dynamics
Educators and parents concerned about school governance
Anyone interested in government accountability and fiscal responsibility

The Bottom Line

Clifford Ribner doesn’t just identify the problem—he traces the money, cites the history, and explains the incentives in plain English. You’ll finish this video understanding exactly how the “dues → politics → contracts → more dues” cycle works and why traditional market forces can’t fix government union excesses.

Ready to understand the political money loop that’s been hiding in plain sight?

Key Takeaways from This Must-Watch Analysis

By the end of this video, you’ll have concrete answers to:

  • How public sector bargaining fundamentally differs from private negotiations
  • Why federal law prohibits strikes by government employees (and what that means for leverage)
  • Which specific reforms could introduce accountability without eliminating collective bargaining
  • How the “representation gap” leaves taxpayers without a seat at the negotiation table

This isn’t partisan politics—it’s fiscal reality backed by historical evidence and legal analysis.


Watch now to discover how a 60-year-old policy decision created today’s taxpayer burden—and what can be done about it.

👉 Subscribe to Clifford Ribner on YouTube and Rumble for more in-depth analysis on constitutional law, freedom, and the rule of law in America.


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