Precisely. They might have made sense 100 years ago, when there really were sweatshops in this country, but all they do now is help turn members of the otherwise productive class into unproductive drains on society by giving them things they haven't earned (i.e. automatic raises for time served, rather than based on performance). And there's that whole breeding-ground-for-thuggery thing, too...

"Like what? These are not coal miners here, but white-collar professionals (or at least claim they are). "

Agreed. Teaching is a profession, not a trade, so there's no reason for them to have a union. When is the last time you saw another profession (doctors, lawyers, etc.) go on strike?

I wonder if maybe the level of outrage is dependent upon the genders involved, as there definitely seems to be varying standards. Most of the pedophile priest episodes were older man/younger boy, and most people are outraged. Likewise, when teacher-on-student abuse is older man/younger girl, most people are outraged. But I've noticed that when the teacher-on-student situation is older woman/younger boy, *some* people are outraged, while others say "You go, dude!"

I'm not saying that I agree with this, mind you; that's just been my observation over the years.