--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we shouldn't be doing is trying to…" description: "\"What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions... These so-called \"right to work\" laws..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg" --- # What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your… ![“What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions... These so-called "right to work" laws, they don't have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg) > “What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions... These so-called "right to work" laws, they don't have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that "right to work" laws undermine workers' bargaining power, framing them as political tools. **In simple terms:** These laws weaken workers' rights. Key Takeaway Support stronger labor protections. Themes politics economics workers' rights Mood critical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - legislative debate - union organizing - policy analysis Key Concepts labor law political strategy collective bargaining Questions to Reflect On - How do such laws affect wages? - What political motives drive them? A Different Perspective Opponents claim they increase job freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bargains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/) [Working conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-conditions/) ## Related quotes > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Fast food also has a uniquely difficult business structure for workers to achieve better wages and working conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rolf/fast-food-also-has-a-uniquely-difficult-business-structure-for/) [David Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rolf/) > [One classic paper compared the effects of right-to-work laws on factory jobs in neighboring counties, on either side of a right-to-work border. It found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-glaeser/one-classic-paper-compared-the-effects-of-right-to-work-laws-on/) [Edward Glaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-glaeser/) > [Any reasonable economist will tell you that it's nearly impossible to isolate the impact of right-to-work laws on a state's job growth. A multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/any-reasonable-economist-will-tell-you-that-it-s-nearly-impossible-to/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [Immigration is as much about the American experience and the values we share, and a lot more about economics than it is about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/immigration-is-as-much-about-the-american-experience-and-the-values/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I think - something I learned recently looking up the meaning of ideology. If you look in American encyclopedias, it says, you know, 'Rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-think-something-i-learned-recently-looking-up-the-meaning-of/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [I was certain that I was not a Marxist, but I did believe firmly that a connection between economics and politics existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/i-was-certain-that-i-was-not-a-marxist-but-i-did-believe-firmly-that/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [Economics, politics, and personalities are often inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/economics-politics-and-personalities-are-often-inseparable/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Economics is not politics. One is a science, concerned with the immutable and constant laws of nature that determine the production and distribution of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chodorov/economics-is-not-politics-one-is-a-science-concerned-with-the/) [Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chodorov/) > [Both economics and politics are false sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/both-economics-and-politics-are-false-sciences/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [There'll be a growing disparity between economics and politics. An economy that grows so rapidly is intractably global. On the other hand, the current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/there-ll-be-a-growing-disparity-between-economics-and-politics-an/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [Economics and politics are so intertwined and interlinked that politics now, mainstream politics, extreme center politics, are little else but a version of concentrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/economics-and-politics-are-so-intertwined-and-interlinked-that/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [The whole time I was a union leader, we had to put up with John Howard and Tony Abbott attacking workers' conditions. I'm proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/the-whole-time-i-was-a-union-leader-we-had-to-put-up-with-john-howard/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [He that serves God for money will serve the Devil for better wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/he-that-serves-god-for-money-will-serve-the-devil-for-better-wages/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [Keep up hope for a better economy, more jobs, better wages, affordable healthcare and all the issues we have brought into focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-clement/keep-up-hope-for-a-better-economy-more-jobs-better-wages-affordable/) Bob Clement ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Bargains quotes > [I have thoroughly tried school-keeping, and found that my expenses were in proportion, or rather out of proportion, to my income,for I was obliged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-thoroughly-tried-school-keeping-and-found-that-my-expenses/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [To love unconditionally requires no contracts, bargains or agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-woodman/to-love-unconditionally-requires-no-contracts-bargains-or-agreements/) [Marion Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-woodman/) > [If you want something and don't get it, there are only two reasons. You either really didn't want it, or you tried to bargain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/if-you-want-something-and-don-t-get-it-there-are-only-two-reasons-you/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Our goal is to find an outstanding business at a sensible price, not a mediocre business at a bargain price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/our-goal-is-to-find-an-outstanding-business-at-a-sensible-price-not-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I would prefer to remain in prison for another 20 years than bargain my beliefs for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-geagea/i-would-prefer-to-remain-in-prison-for-another-20-years-than-bargain/) Samir Geagea > [Let us not envy some men their accumulated riches; their burden would be too heavy for us; we could not sacrifice, as they do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/let-us-not-envy-some-men-their-accumulated-riches-their-burden-would/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Off-the-rack solutions, like bargain basement dresses, never fit anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-giroud/off-the-rack-solutions-like-bargain-basement-dresses-never-fit-anymore/) [Francoise Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-giroud/) > [The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-natives-are-very-exact-and-punctual-in-the-bounds-of-their-lands/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [“Employment bargains your life and time for a piece of currency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/employment-bargains-your-life-and-time-for-a-piece-of-currency/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I'm a bargain shopper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-m-a-bargain-shopper/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [Leisure is gone,--gone where the spinning-wheels are gone, and the pack-horses, and the slow wagons, and the peddlers, who brought bargains to the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/leisure-is-gone-gone-where-the-spinning-wheels-are-gone-and-the-pack/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Every man ought to be in love a few times in his life, and to have a smart attack of the fever. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/every-man-ought-to-be-in-love-a-few-times-in-his-life-and-to-have-a/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A reputable lawyer will advise you to keep out of the law, make the best of a foolish bargain, and not get caught again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-reputable-lawyer-will-advise-you-to-keep-out-of-the-law-make-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) [Browse all 262 Bargains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions... These so-called \"right to work\" laws, they don't have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to-take-away-your-rights-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bargains" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to-take-away-your-rights-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/barack-obama-17_bargains_what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to_131397.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working…” — Barack Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we shouldn't be doing is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to-take-away-your-rights-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to-take-away-your-rights-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```