The most significant franchisee-specific issue in this election has attracted no comment on Blue MauMau. Why is that?

In March, Janet Sparks wrote about the "card check" bill in Congress. Not a single person has commented on this.

To me, this willful ignorance epitomizes the illogic and stupidity of franchisees, which has resulted in the current regulatory environment in which franchisees customarily get the short end of the stick.

The card check bill passed the House on a party-line vote of 241-185. The Democrats control the House, and are likely to pick up seats in the new Congress. The Senate co-sponsor of the card check bill is Joe Biden. While Biden will likely leave the Senate to become Vice President, the current polls indicate that the Senate will likely have a filibuster-proof Democrat majority.

The polls indicate that the House, Senate, and the Executive branch will all be Democrat come January 2009.

Hence, the likelihood is that card check is going to pass in some form, barring aggressive action by franchisees.

The reality is that this will result in a unionized workforce for many franchise operators. The peer pressure that will be exerted make it unlikely that many employees are going to oppose unionization, given that their opposition will be public (card check does away with the secret ballot).

Not only will this result in significant upward pressure on direct wages, unionization will impact benefit costs and limit the ability of the employer to hire, fire, and discipline their workers. Anyone who has worked in a unionized environment knows the power wielded by the shop steward can be more than that of the supervisor, and sometimes even the employer.

It is incomprehensible to me why we have seen no discussion of this on BMM.

People put gibberish rants about ideology, but no one is remotely interested in a scenario which could send them into bankruptcy.

Franchisees are just like any interest group. You get the government you deserve.

UPDATE: See also Jim Coen discussion of  former Sen McGovern's opposition to the card check bill, as reported on an influential DC website.