Trade Unions and Politics

They say that the Universe is fractal.  It means that the parts forming it are miniaturised versions of the whole that they form.  This makes drawing inferences for larger systems possible by watching  smaller sub-systems.  Though, there must be a limit at which this recursion breaks down; the extreme example being going down to a single point.  

Now, what is happening in the economic and political spheres at the country level may be difficult to observe in its totality because of its sheer size that can't fit into our frame of observation as also a lack of complete data and soft information.  But one can always draw inferences by observing smaller structures within the industry or organization one works in.

Recently a friend and colleague posted in FB about how the trade unions in banking industry have systematically cheated their members and benefitted at their cost.  When I expressed surprise in a comment at the fact that these unions continue to represent bank employees despite a majority of members despising them, another friend made important observations.  He said that the unions are able to retain their stranglehold by vigorously defending errant members facing disciplinary actions, and by siding with the management when it comes to demanding extra efforts for the organization (even though the benefits from it may not flow to them or may disproportionately benefit the top.)

Now take a look at the political sphere.  In our system of first-past-the-poll, and not proportionate representation, any ruling party is, almost as a rule, despised by more people than liked.  A 30% vote share may be more than adequate to ensure complete and even overwhelming majority, and a swing of a few percentage points to lose it.  So how does a party, in power on the basis of such minority support, strengthen its hold?  First by defending or protecting errant members (read criminals) of the society, and second by exhorting the populace in the name of patriotism and nationalism for greater, even slave like, efforts and sacrifices, the benefits of which hardly ever trickle down to them and are mostly reaped by the crony capitalists who always cosy up to the party in power!

Do you agree that the world indeed is fractal?