How to fix Wisconsin

I came up with an idea the other day that I thought I'd share. It seemed to me that you have a lot of vilification going on regarding the events in Wisconsin. I'd like to share a bit of context to the issue and then share my idea.

First, unions are not inherently bad as one side likes to claim. They serve a very important purpose, protecting employees from large corporations. This, in my opinion, is and should be their primary goal. However, when a union represents employees against a corporation, that union is trying to get a bigger slice of the "corporate pie" which is solely made up of the profits of the corporation.

Second, public sector unions do not serve this same goal. Sure, they represent the workers and protect their rights. Here, public sector unions are useful. However, there seems to be a disconnect in the debate in Wisconsin. One side seems to think unions shouldn't exist at all in the public sector while the other seems to think the legislature does not have the power and authority to limit union activity. Both happen to be wrong. Nonetheless, public sector unions are not seeking a greater slice of the "corporate profit pie" as private sector unions do. Instead, when they are negotiating a contract, they are asking for a greater slice of the "tax income pie".

This is not the same philosophically. One seeks a greater portion of what they've helped produce (the profits of a solid company and product) while the other seeks a greater portion of money from the pockets of the people in that state whom they serve. In one case, you can argue that the laborers have a right to a bigger piece of pie, but I am not certain you can make that same argument regarding public sector unions. It seems to me that the people who are represented by the legislature have every right to determine how their tax dollars are spent.

So...with that in mind...I propose that all collective bargaining agreements by public sector unions be approved in a referendum. Union members vote to approve the contract negotiated by their representatives, so why shouldn't the taxpayers of a state get to vote on the contracts negotiated by their representatives (being either the legislature or other entities working on its behalf). This seems like a fair and equitable way to resolve the issue in Wisconsin. After all, in such a referendum, there would be little on either side to complain about once the outcome was final.