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GoLeft TV

(3,910 posts)
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 02:07 PM Oct 2015

40 Years Of Union Busting and Trickle Down Has Killed Middle Class

The American middle class has become an endangered species in this country, but it wasn’t always this way. There was a long stretch of time in the 20th century when the middle class was strong, they were organized, and they were prosperous. But something happened in the last forty years that shifted the balance of power.

Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins and attorney Howard Nations discuss this.

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40 Years Of Union Busting and Trickle Down Has Killed Middle Class (Original Post) GoLeft TV Oct 2015 OP
Ronald Reagan is what happened, and it is why the rich WORSHIP him randys1 Oct 2015 #1
I would like to add................................... turbinetree Oct 2015 #4
Very interesting stuff, i have to check that out randys1 Oct 2015 #5
When I read all three of the books................................ turbinetree Oct 2015 #7
K&R..... daleanime Oct 2015 #2
I am the canary in the coal mine when it comes to non unionization of America ghostsinthemachine Oct 2015 #3
I'm touched by your story..Thanks for telling it. whathehell Oct 2015 #6
Thanks.... ghostsinthemachine Oct 2015 #8
You're welcome.. whathehell Oct 2015 #9
K&R. JDPriestly Oct 2015 #10

randys1

(16,286 posts)
1. Ronald Reagan is what happened, and it is why the rich WORSHIP him
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 02:14 PM
Oct 2015

Millions of idiot rightwing non rich worship him also, they are the dumbest people alive.

turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
4. I would like to add...................................
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 02:51 PM
Oct 2015

that when FDR died, for two years this country had a republican controlled house and they had the means to overturn Truman's veto of the Taft-Hartley Act, and The Wagner Act, that has been the death knell of unionization in this country''.
And because of Ronald Reagan, who helped in this demise of one of the two unions in Hollywood, and then when he was brought on by NBC to spew his little rants of propaganda in the early 60's and these books pretty much explains what he, Reagan, Nixon, and Goldwater were like;

http://www.rickperlstein.net/

Pretty much nails what I saw and experienced during this time frame of republicanism, and what is now playing out today

In a nut shell:

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Taft-Hartley+Act+of+1947



Honk------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
7. When I read all three of the books................................
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 03:22 PM
Oct 2015

it brought back everything for me during those days which I saw and lived in, and what my mother and father said about Reagan then, holds true today---------------he was a two faced hypocrite, a liar


Honk---------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
3. I am the canary in the coal mine when it comes to non unionization of America
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 02:37 PM
Oct 2015

60 years old and no chance of employment. Homeless and more than likely will remain that way until the end of my time here on earth. lots of pain, wrists, elbows and shoulders, all job related....very painful.....(Carpal T operation on one wrist scheduled (thanks Obama))

Was in the tile setters union in the 70's, but got out when the two gate system came around and union jobs were scarce. (The guys who stuck it out stayed employed, are now retiring and have been happy in their lives with long term relationships, homes and cars and vacations.

Worked for non union shops and never made more than 20 an hour and even then, not that often.

I never had job security and was abused by many employers. Some gave employees meth so they would do more work (but not more pay?) Worked a lot under the table too...I got injured too and the boss came and took my company truck and forced me to walk (about 4 miles) to the hospital with a separated shoulder and then fought (and won) my disability claim against him......I've been fired for being two minutes late, for accepting a turkey at Thanksgiving from the builder (my boss was so pissed) and other insane reasons.

I Never ever had enough money to afford a new car, buy personal health insurance or buy a house unless I was a contractor (and non union at that) when I was employed at any job I had including being a manager at Color Tile (Which paid poverty wages). No vacations, no IRA, pension or retirement and no health care.

Today a non union tile setter makes LESS than I made in the 80's with the current way to screw employees being piece work,which breaks employees down pretty quickly because they have to do so much to make a decent dollar......



whathehell

(28,969 posts)
6. I'm touched by your story..Thanks for telling it.
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 03:19 PM
Oct 2015

I'm sure it's the story of huge numbers of Americans. My dad was a union member (and organizer) and he retired

early in the Reagan administration (he despised Reagan) just before the real gutting started.

I don't know your exact circumstances, Ghosts, but please don't give up on finding a home.

No one should be homeless. It's existence in a country of this level

of wealth is an absolute crime. I'm not a millionaire, but if there's anything I can do for

you, please pm me. I'd like to help.




ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
8. Thanks....
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 03:29 PM
Oct 2015

For a homeless person I have it pretty good. 2 cars, one a van which is my home. Compared to others I have it pretty good with many friends, clothes etc, all stuff they don't have. Makes me so sad to see people sleeping outdoors. With El Nino coming (hey, when?) they are going to be in serious trouble...One of them is blind and compared to him I got it pretty good....


.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
10. K&R.
Thu Oct 22, 2015, 12:38 AM
Oct 2015

The oil crisis in 1973-74 was the response of oil-producing nations especially Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as Libya and others to the American inflation that occurred as the War In Viet Nam bled not only our soldiers and the people of Viet Nam but our treasury.

So what happened in 1973-74 was the result of our splurge on war and the rise in oil prices as oil producers tried to protect the value of their revenue from what they argued was an irreplaceable commodity.

I was working for a small oil company at the time, and I recall this very clearly.

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