Group wants bargaining rights, strike for HuffPo volunteers

The Huffington Post stands as a current model for gaining Web clout. Provide a platform for free blogs, get your SEO game on and send a spokesperson forth to talk shows on CNN to comment on political affairs. You don’t even have to say anything of substance; all that’s necessary is that you cheer for your team.

If the content model is built on solid ground (and gets that search engine love), with solid ground having nothing to do with quality, it’s possible someone like AOL will come along and hand over millions to get the brand as was the case with Arianna Huffington. Surely the head ‘HuffPoer’ will share the wealth with all those volunteer bloggers who helped her in her quest for millions, right?

It’s not looking good.

The Daily Caller said one organization involved in blogging at HuffPo is talking about going on strike. This likely wouldn’t hurt too much—limitless free content will continue to come from educators, authors, political activists and anyone else with time on their hands and a day job (with a computer and plenty of break time) to pay the bills.

In a sidesplitting moment, those threatening to strike compared the situation to “the corporate titans of the American Right.”

Say what? Last time I looked those corporate titans traded, for labor, a paycheck, health insurance, vacation and other payments. Capitalism does have its upside, you know?

Isn’t it funny when the left gets duped (willingly) and turns around and barks because they’ve been duped? HuffPo volunteers are a perfect example. So are unions, where the chiefs live large and the workers volunteer. Unless, that is, they are being paid to march in places like Wisconsin.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you write for free, that’s your business. But it’s pointless to complain about the consequences of the choice you made freely. Ms. Huffington, said by Tech Crunch to have received $315 million in the AOL deal, said no one would care if the bloggers did go on strike. For once she got something right in the world of politics.

Incidentally, The US Report, small though we are and surviving on a shoestring budget, pays all contributors an honorarium.

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/March 7, 2011)

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