That's just crazy (sad), if those are your 2 options... After 40 years (?) have you not picked up a few skills beyond burger flipping?
Again, a pretty narrow (ignorant) view of things. Don't feel bad. Once upon a time I sounded like that.
Truth is (private sector) Unions play a vital roll in the balance of power. Accomplishing things as a group, that the individual could not. Much like a Corporation accomplishes what an individual cannot.
Now then, if you can put aside the broad brush, and get into the specifics of one Union vs another, the case can easily be made that all unions are not equal. Fedex Pilot's Union (ALPA) vs. the Teamsters, for example, shows quite a contrast. The most significant factor being member participation keeping the Union accountable.
The moral of the story: Union representation is vital in a capitalist system. Participation and keeping said Union accountable is a key component, most often missing.