Do SOMETHING!!!!!

[DenaliDemocrat]

I have been here at DU for a few years now. I post some, read more, rant every now and then. Seems like most people. I read posts all of the time about making a difference. Campaigning for a certain politician or boycotting a store. We lament the loss of jobs, good salaries, and health benefits...all rightfully so.

Yet tonight on this forum, I see a real chance to make a difference. You see, Reagan broke the Unions, and when he did, he changed this country forever. He took away part of your American Dream. He stole your pension, your dental plan, and your children's future. He made us work to 65 instead of 55 so his corporate cronies could pay less money for YOU not working. Basically, he killed the American Worker to a certain degree.

Decades later, enter George W. Bush. His goal is to finish the Middle Class. Under him, CEO's routinely make 100-200 times more than their workers. He likes it like this. In his world, everyone incapable of running a business is a leech on society, and Rotenone is the antidote for such leeches as non-entrepreneurs.

Yes today, now, we have a chance to make a difference. Not a difference like "DUing" some unimportant online poll that is unscientific and inconsequential. Our Union brothers in New York are making a stand. A stand against greedy politicos wanting to screw men and women out of 7 years of their retirement. I see people on here bitching about the traffic or cab fares. Come on people!

Nothing worth fighting for is easy. If we would stick together and support the unions, encourage other unions to strike along with them. NEVER cross the picket line. Call in sick to work, shop only union shops, show your solidarity.

New York is huge. This strike is huge. We can take back some of our dream, but not if we are afraid to suffer a little. Yes, I know it is easy for me to say living in Alaska...and you would be correct, it is easier for me BUT if we start taking these fights, my time will come as well. I have fought them before as my parents were union people, I would willingly do it again. For me right now, I wrote the guys a check from some Christmas money I got from a relative, and I will now only shop union shops. I have been remiss, but no more.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. I'm Sorry, I Can't Help You With This One.

I'm all for labor but something about this strike just doesn't seem right to me, unfortunately.

If it was a strike I could wholeheartedly believe in, I would join your rally call in a heartbeat.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. There are many reasons to support this strike....

check them out here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5659429&mesg_id=5664031

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. Yeah we know where you stand on this.

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

12. Oh Yeah? Tell Me Then. I would like to test your insight please.

You seem to know oh so much, so please, come forward and tell me how I stand on this.

Thanks.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. Ignore is a good DU feature, use it!

Thanks!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. Ok, Guess You Didn't Know Where I Stand After All Then.

Nuff Said.

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Thing is I do and I don't care! Nuff said!

[Kralizec]

16. You seem to have become a victim of your name. (nt)

[tatertop]

2. this is why we lose

Unions are fundamental to my party.
Even here, the bastion of Democrats, we have no
consensus.
If we can not get a consensus on this issue, where can we?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. I think the biggest thing that makes this party great is that other than

a consensus that all types are welcome, there is no demand on consensus for any single issue.

Lockstepping is a republican ideal, not a democratic one :)

[tatertop]

10. The pukes are kicking our ass

We have to come together in the next four years or
we are ABSOLUTELY done.

[Cleita]

17. Really?

I'm so happy you admit it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. Sorry there cleita, I think ya lost me on that one.

:hi:

[Speed8098]

24. Why do you not support this strike?

Do you think transit workers are not entitled to a fair contract?

Do you have any clue how much it costs here to raise a family?


Seriously, I'm interested in your side of this issue.

[NorthELiberal]

22. "Unions are fundamental to my party."

I kind of agree...... although I don't think it has to be 100% of the people for those who don't want to march in "lockstep"........ it definitley should be close to 90%....... I have went to a number of picket lines in NYC to express support..... and when the public passes by, I yell "Don't Blame It On The TWU........ If Gore Was President He Would Have Called The Governor And Asked Him To Resovle This" and even in New York there are conservatives who pass by and are pissed because I am knocking Bush..... yet they still (even some Bush voters) support the union. If many conservatives can get on board with the strikers...... I think most Democrats should.

[Oldtimeralso]

5. Solidarity

Americans are not in support of unions any more but they must consider that everyone shares from the gains of union brother(&sister)hood. The unions were the people that brought you the 40 hour week, the weekend is part of that victory but for many union members and most MTA members it is not Saturday & Sunday as the transportation public is expecting service 24/7. The unions brought you paid vacations, paid health care(which they are fighting to keep), paid holidays, Child labor, anti-sweatshop,OSHA and many other laws to protect workers. The old robber barons had control of everything in the life of their employees. The new robber barons just control the wages and prices to keep the middle class from being a threat to their entitlements.

[question everything]

6. Unfortunately, this train has left the station

I appreciate the sentiments. I really do.

Unions had role when many worked for large companies, when many of us were really "in it together." Mostly, when many of the jobs required skills that could not be easily replaced.

Also, when manufacturing and farming contributing a major share - don't have precise numbers - to the U.S. economy.

Today 79% of GDP comes from the service industry. In my mind - and correct me if I am wrong, please - service means either interchangeable people or solo practitioners or small groups where union talk is completely irrelevant.

Yes, it started with the Reagan area. It was not just breaking the union but it was his economic policy that made it more profitable for corporations to acquire and merge with others and to lay off million of loyal employees, then to invest in their own, to hire more people, to expand by investing.

This was also the beginning of "globalization" that brought us cheap "stuff" at Wal-Mart and K-Mart and culminating this year with outsourcing.

We switched to Japanese cars because they are more reliable, but, I believe, their workers are not unionized, not even in this country.

We shifted production from the unionized north to the ununionized south.

Many of us went through several periods of unemployment and underemployment, we tried to be self-employed as consultants in between jobs, we end up moving from large corporations to family owned ones of fewer than 50 employees.

Union just does not fit with the current work conditions of people earning income.

As I posted on a different thread - yes, many of us realize that we need to save for our own old age, but how can you tell this to a 40 or 50 or 60 year old worker who was promised pension? And paid health insurance?

[Oldtimeralso]

8. Promises Broken

Union contracts are just that a contract they seem to be unilateral broken by the corporation and that forces the union to use the only tactic they have. Companies that are mismanaged are never mismanaged by labor, and if the company made a commitment in the past it has an obligation to keep that commitment, my last raise was 6 years ago but the company has refused to bargain in good faith. The parties have agreed to mediation but the mediator has made no progress! my 11 year old American car is still running well but not as fuel efficient as a new model but it has to do, does United airlines or any of the other carriers that have cut wages, benefits and pensions make do with worn out planes? NO it is management and courts (with judges who owe their allegiance to the GOP)that go out and buy new toys while the workers suffer. As for Japanese auto workers they are highly unionized with higher wages paid in Japan on a per hour basis than their American workers, They have more vacation time, virtually a lifetime job security and great benefits. This is also true of the German auto workers. America has become the place for the foreign workers to produce their product CHEAPLY with NON-Union workers. So BUY AMERICAN, BUY UNION while you still can.

[Mind_your_head]

7. You know, I believe, by and large, the people of NYC

are doing a truly lovely job of supporting the unions on this. I'm not in NYC right now, but by all accounts and blogs that I've read, New Yorkers are all "getting along" and making their lives work, while not complaining about what the unions are doing. That really says a lot to me.

Sure, their lives are being majorly inconvenienced - but no one's coming down too much on the unions. New Yorkers are walking, riding, skating, car-pooling with strangers.....it really seems sort of cool. Sacrificing TOGETHER for something greater - that's what New York is doing.

Kudos to all of the great people of New York! :toast:

Perhaps it's THE OTHER SIDE that needs to make the concession. :shrug:

[kansasblue]

9. DenaliDemocrat, I love your passion but....

Do something! ? I think it works better is you help us with WHAT to do. Waving my hands in the air is doing something. Try to take it one step further. lead! What can we do? Rather than a title of "do something" is could be an action driven post. Call you Senator! Make a sign in support for your town. etc.

You said do something. I did, I made this suggestion to you. I hope it helps.

kb

[Cleita]

13. Sorry!

[Cleita]

15. Denali!

:hi:

:yourock:

[nofurylike]

21. absolutely, DenaliDemocrat! solidarity! eom

[NorthELiberal]

23. "Yes, I know it is easy for me to say living in Alaska"

Don't worry about it......... I live in NYC and my whole family is affected...... If you can put with the cold all year in Alaska...... you're allowed to ask New Yorkers to put up with the strike a couple of days. No problem.