George Orwell’s fame is derived from two books: Animal Farm and 1984. From the latter came the linguistic Newspeak, the language promoted by the State. Today, when one speaks of something as "Orwellian," usually it is in the context of a "good" label applied to something most would consider bad.

   Presently before the Indiana General Assembly are two bills in the House of Representatives (HB 1028 and 1043) and one in the Senate (SB 0395) that are considered "right to work" laws. They have been promoted as "right to work" laws. Governor Mitch Daniels strongly supports the legislation. There is a website, moreindianajobs dot com, that promotes the daylights out of "right to work" laws.

   Does the legislation have anything to do with protecting a "right to work"? The three bills have in common penalties for forcing employees to pay dues to unions.

   What does that concept have to do with a "right to work"?

   Next Saturday’s Show will discuss the right to work legislation before the General Assembly. We also will discuss the effect of the end of collective bargaining rights for Indiana public employees. Indiana public employees lost their collective bargaining rights by an executive order of Governor Daniels on his first day in office in 2005.

   The Show is at Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell in Broad Ripple, directly across from the Monon Trail and just north of 65^th Street. We start at 11 a.m.