U.S. workers mired in long losing streak

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

This hasn't been a very good last couple of years for Team America Working. The many newspaper, wire service and Internet sites that flash across my computer screen these days detail a string of economic strikes absorbed by average working Americans. Let's take a look.

* It's official, we're making less money. The overall income of Americans shrank for two consecutive years following the big fall in the stock market and the erosion of jobs and wages in well-paying industries in 2000-2002. The Internal Revenue Service said the income fall was unique, the first time it's happened since the modern tax system was introduced during World War II.

Adjusted for inflation, the income of all Americans fell 9.2 percent from 2000 to 2002, according to the new IRS data.

-more-

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/04/08/09/bus_zoeckler001.cfm

[wurzel]

1. Began in 1973.

When Oil corporations found they could make more money creating shortages than by producing. And got away with it. Then the Reagan tax cuts, with Democratic acquiescence that changed the behavior of the rich. When the rich paid 75% taxes they would rather give it to their employees in wages and benefits than give it to the government. When they got to keep 75%, they did. Then there was the frontal attack on unions by Reagan with no resistance from the Democrats. The fourth was Globalization of jobs with the active assistance of the Democrats. The only thing the Democrats can show is that with them things worsen for workers more slowly than with Republicans.

[Union Thug]

2. Everyone should be organizing...

...into militant unions. Geezus, the only union with any fight is the ILWU.

We should all emulate the union/labor movements of our grandfathers. No comprosmise, widespread organizing, retribution for crossing picket lines. It's the only way.

Edit: IWW preamble

The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want ar e found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a str uggle must go on until the workers of the world or ganize
as a class, take possession of the means of pr oduction, abolish the wage system, and live in har mony with the earth...

http://www.iww.org/PDF/2002.pdf