Are political parties similar to unions? Or vice versa?

[Niki1 2]

Unions are some times needed in order to right the wrongs of abusive management. But generaly they are a mob of people with similar views and opinions who realize that a group has more power that an individual. Often, they just want more, more, and more for their member without regard to the company's needs and requirements.
(I know I'm leaving CEO pay disparity out of this.)

Political parties are a mob of people who have similar views and oponions who realize that a group has more power than an individual. They see tha "other party" as the abusive management. Often, they just want more, more, and more for their member without regard to the company's needs and requirements.
(I know I'm leaving campaign financing out of this.

Are there any differences?

Unions have a vested interest in the company's well being but acts as though that's not the case.
Political parties have a vested interest in the country well being but act like any idea the "other party" has is bad.

I've worked at enough different places to understand, "It's not a good idea unless the right person thinks of it." I've learned to swallow my ego and make suggestions so that the "right person" could have the idea.
I've also been fortunate to work at a few places with people who realized that a good idea is a good idea no matter where it comes from. These places were by far a more comfortable place to work.

Does everything have to be advesarial? Can it ever be co-operative for the greater good?
Or must the other side always lose even if my side doen't win?

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[jgoose71 0]

You forgot another real important similarity:

Both politicians and Union officials are primarily made up of lawyers.

Once you realize that, you will go "ohhhhh, it makes sense now...."

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[Niki1 2]

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You forgot another real important similarity:

Both politicians and Union officials are primarily made up of lawyers.

Once you realize that, you will go "ohhhhh, it makes sense now...."

Yes, I can understand the problem now. But that doesn't mean it makes more sense.

I guess I can see why people elect lawyers to make laws. It sounds reasonable on the surface. But lawyers don't learn right from wrong in law school. They learn how to advocate for their clients by manipulating the law.

I'm gereraly not a union fan but if I was a member of one, I think I would vote for some one who has worked in the trade rather than a lawyer who never got his hands dirty in a literal way.

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[freethefly 6]

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I think I would vote for some one who has worked in the trade rather than a lawyer who never got his hands dirty in a literal way.

Every union official that led the USWA local that I was a member of worked on the factory floor alongside everyone else. The people who moved up to the International started on factory floors and were blue collar. When I worked with the Carpenters Council of St. Louis, every leader were carpenters, not lawyers.
Every union leader starts out voted in as a rep on the floor. If he/she does good, the membership will vote them into a higher position all the way to the international level. No one votes in some shyster lawyer to lead the union. Union officials are not made up of lawyers.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young