And there are some rights we as American citizens should always have.
Being entitled to cast a private ballot is one of these rights.
When I vote in elections, I like the fact that we can support who we think is the best person for a position and have our voices heard on issues and levies - and we exercise this right without the pressure of anyone and everyone knowing and being able to question or intimidate us on the decisions we make.
Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter goes as far to call a secret ballot "the cornerstone of our democracy."
Unfortunately, some of his cohorts on Capitol Hill don't seem to feel the same way.
This summer, Congress will once again take up a measure called the Employee Free Choice Act, also called "Card Check."
Basically, the Card Check bill, if passed, would allow a majority of employees at a company to organize by signing cards, a change from current practice that allows employers to mandate secret ballot elections. It also would boost penalties for retaliation against workers seeking to organize and call for arbitration if management and the union cannot agree on a first contract.
The unions are arguing that reforms are needed to prevent companies from retaliating against workers who try to organize, while business groups say secret ballot elections are the only way to prevent union intimidation to sign cards.
"This legislation would cost Ohio jobs and negatively impact businesses at a time when our economy is very fragile," Andrew E. Doehrel, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a letter to federal lawmakers.
"In Ohio, our unemployment rate is higher than the rest of the country and businesses are struggling. Just as any American citizen voting on Election Day, workers should have the right to participate in private elections to determine whether or not they unionize," Doehrel said.
"Card Check takes away that right and opens up employees to unnecessary pressures as they cast their votes. Card Check is a top priority of labor unions because they know it will enable them to rapidly organize large segments of the economy - including small, family owned businesses. But it will also deny workers their right to cast a private ballot while preventing businesses from conducting good faith bargaining negotiations."
Last week, Specter, who was the only Republican to support the Employee Free Choice Act two years ago, said he was no longer in favor of the bill. Many think Specter would be the crucial 60th vote needed to overcome an expected GOP filibuster of the measure this summer.
Specter called the organizing bill a "very emotional issue with labor looking to this legislation to reverse the steep decline in union membership and business expressing great concern about added costs, which would drive many companies out of business or overseas."
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called Specter's position "frankly, a disappointment and a rebuke to working people, to his own constituents in Pennsylvania and working families around the country. We do not plan to let a hardball campaign from Big Business derail the Employee Free Choice Act or the dreams of workers."
A rebuke to "working people?" How about the non-working people who don't have jobs, in part, because lawmakers have listened to special interests for too long (writing in millions of dollars in bonuses for some to AIG folks immediately comes to mind) and not to their constituents?
And for those of us who have jobs despite a sagging economy and rising unemployment, I'd wager most of us are pretty damned happy we have them and don't want - or need - the wonderful "dreams" Card Check would offer.
One of our senators, George Voinovich, is against the bill.
"I am not convinced that this mechanism provides a significant indication of an employee's desire to join a union," Voinovich said last week.
"I am not alone in this view - a number of federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have also found that a secret ballot election, rather than a petition or other authorization cards, is the preferred method to determine whether a union has a majority of the employees' support."
I agree. To me, Card Check hurts employees, employers and our economy. Organized labor is the only winner.
If there is no secret ballot, what will keep unions from pressuring employees? And if unions weren't hurting, why would they press for this measure?
Tony Fiore, director of Labor and Human Resources Policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said approving the Employee Free Choice Act would be disastrous.
"If passed, Card Check would be devastating to our economy in these uncertain times," Fiore said.
"Many employers are struggling to keep their doors open and Card Check would place more unnecessary costs on the backs of businesses forcing them to cut costs and possibly their workforce. In fact, one study clearly shows Card Check would cost 600,000 jobs in 2010 alone.
"Under this proposal, employees are losing a right all Americans enjoy - the right to cast a private ballot. Employers are being forced into lengthy and expensive contracts forcing their costs to soar even if the company is not profitable."
While Specter's decision deals a blow to Card Check supporters, it certainly hasn't defeated the bill.
If Democrat Al Franken beats Republican Norm Coleman in the still-contested Minnesota Senate race, things could change.
Doehrel urges lawmakers to vote down the Employee Free Choice Act.
"When considering support of Card Check, please be cognizant of the negative impact it would have on our economy," he said. "At a time when we need more job creating policies, we must not place costly burdens on small businesses - the drivers of our economy."
He's right. Congress should be totally focused on creating jobs and should not entertain any type legislation that could cost them.
And we, as constituents, need to let our lawmakers know loud and clear how we would vote on this proposed issue.
We need to tell Congress to listen to us and defeat the dangerous Employee (Forced) Choice Act.
Steve Roush is managing editor of The Times-Gazette.
