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Politics and what's going on. what about that static that brian talked about, half the country is on the federal dole? >> not half the country needs to be on the federal dole. let's face it. they think it's free money. you showed a stat, 31% think obamacare is great or something. who are these people? it's weird that you can even be that high with the problems we've had with the whole logging in. it's 100% of the problem. not 30% is fine. >> 70% say we seem to be on the wrong track, about 20% a little higher. 20.1% say on the right track. >> at least the 73% know -- these are people that are i...

♪ hard for my money >> the economy creates good, middle class jobs that pay well and offer security. >> that fight is worth fighting for. >> we have to be able to outbuild and outeducate and outinnovate every other country on earth. >> richard trumka, afl-cio president joins me now from los angeles. mr. trumka, good to have you with us tonight. certainly you have a big convention next week. a lot of hot topics. the numbers are a little staggering. last year only 11.3% of american workers were unionized. that's the lowest percentage in nearly a century. 30 years ago, 20.1% were unionized. and...

Be 20.1% in 1993. now it's 11.3%. a decline in participation in the private sector. >> take a look again, let's go back to wisconsin. when they eliminated -- the republican employees, in other words, they didn't take the money out of their wages and send it directly to the unions. the unions had to get it from the workers. 1/3, as i understand it, of the public employees, simply dropped out of the union, put their dues in their pocket, and kept their jobs. i think unions have done some wonderful things. eight-hour day. get rid of child labor. we don't want things like over in bangladesh. dropp...

Be 20.1% in 1993. now it's 11.3%. a decline in participation in the private sector. >> take a look again, let's go back to wisconsin. when they eliminated -- the republican employees, in other words, they didn't take the money out of their wages and send it directly to the unions. the unions had to get it from the workers. 1/3, as i understand it, of the public employees, simply dropped out of the union, put their dues in their pocket, and kept their jobs. i think unions have done some wonderful things. eight-hour day. get rid of child labor. we don't want things like over in bangladesh. dropp...

About ten points and this is the first thing rick snider. >> why should i be required to join a union? it's always strange you would get a job and be required to have your paycheck lowered by union dues and not make that choice for yourself. >> you get the benefits of their collective bargaining. if they negotiate great working and health benefits you get them. >> and if you look at the overall union membership which has declined rapidly n 1983, 20.1%. in 2011 it's 11.8%. you chart that against the decline of middle-class wages, the noshlg times did a great series of articles. look at compensa...