I just stumbled on this picture of a SEIU (Service Employees International Union) protest about a month ago, which was covered by the media despite there being like 30 people (imagine a 30-person conservative protest being covered, ha), and which, unlike the tea parties that had over half a million people, managed to be disruptive.

But what's most interesting is that the signs read: "Workers' Voice to Stop CEO Exploits." Now, in the sentence, "exploits" is clearly used as a noun rather than a verb. And in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the noun "exploit" is defined as a "deed" or "act," especially "a notable or heroic act." In the corporate world, that means achieving expansion and higher profits for shareholders, which translates into more and better-paying jobs for employees as well as lower prices for consumers.

So, there you have it. The SEIU wants to stop profit, job creation, and cheaper products. Incidentally, that's exactly the effect that such union activism has had in America (see: Detroit).

(Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com)