[YankeeReb]

FYI.

I'm not sure of the protocol for posting an email, so apologies in advance if I violated any rules. This was something sent by the IBEW to the membership.

This paragraph really killed me:

Republicans would rather go after teachers and other public employees than have us look at the pay of Wall Street traders, private-equity managers, and heads of hedge funds -- many of whom wouldn't have their jobs today were it not for the giant taxpayer-supported bailout, and most of whose lending and investing practices were the proximate cause of the Great Depression to begin with.

Now wasn't congress controlled by liberal democrats since 2006, and therefore any bailouts to Wall Street were voted in by the left. The lies contained here are too numerous to list, but it shows how the union leadership plays on the ignorance of much of the membership. I'm ashamed to be a member when I see crap like this.

[skeeter]

Hard to believe this troll was once labor secretary.

Its hard enough to believe that anyone would actually pay him to be an economics professor, since he appears unable to grasp simple accounting.

[Mr. Mojo]

To the Left, “the working/middle class” is compromised exclusively of union members and public employees. No one else.

[Interesting Times]

It is always amusing to hear Rat advocates of “identity politics” yap about pitting Americans against each other.

[Wyatt's Torch]

The Republican strategy is to split the vast middle and working class -- pitting unionized workers against non-unionized, public-sector workers against non-public, older workers within sight of Medicare and Social Security against younger workers who don't believe these programs will be there for them, and the poor against the working middle class.

In other words the "looters" versus the "producers"... I think I've read this somewhere before?

[centurion316]

The Democrat Party is completely dependent on sustaining a set of massive lies that convince hard working middle class Americans that the Democrat Party is looking out for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Democrat Party takes care of special interest groups: Blacks, Illegal immigrants, labor unions, and social misfits. They make criminal arrangements with big business and banks to favor them over their competitors in exchange for money and political support. Middle class America are the big losers in all of this and the people of Wisconsin are figuring this out. The Democrat Party is showing that they cannot tolerate the will of the people when that will stands up against their Communist goals.

[PieterCasparzen]

As a "big, bad anti-union person", there's one perspective that I wish actual private sector union employees would consider.

I wonder why union members continue to belong to and support their unions when the union Presidents and leadership are such a closed, set group, that takes control of a union and stays in power literally for decades.

If a union elected new leadership from amongst the rank and file say every 2 to 4 years, and a member could only be elected once, including not being able to hold any other elected office, it would seem like the union would stand at least a better chance of truly representing the members.

Why do members just go along with the "powers that be" ? Why don't they break away and form their own real union which had no alterior motive of political power ? Unions consistently point one employee at others - just like this email does - implying that the higher pay of "other" workers is unfair. Seems to me that people should easily understand that it is wise to be wary of someone who is always chiding them to covet what someone else has, to be jealous of it and suggesting they obtained it unfairly without referring to specific cases.

While I don't think unions work towards positive ends for their members or the rest of us, I certainly see how many corporations would pay employees 10 cents an hour if they thought they could, so I understand the forces that wind up causing employees to want to "band together" and stand up to the boss. In today's world, however, where it is much easier than 100 years ago to change jobs, and if necessary, residences or even careers, the smartest approach seems to be to keep changing until one is happy, rather than trying to wring a raise out of the clammy old hands of "Mr. Potter".

[Robert357]

Thank you for sharing the IBEW information.

I think that unions in the USA find themselves at a critical point. First, with the exception of public employees, union membership is declining. Among skilled craftsmen(women) there is strong job demand and what unions can add to the benefits of those skilled professionals is becoming more marginal.

From my perspective, Unions seem to be able to “help” the most (or at least appear to) for workers with low skills, which is where a lot of union growth is occurring.

In my state, WA, teachers are in bed with the democratic party and unions (and trial lawyers) have been found guilty of getting a political consultant to set up illegal campaign contributions and help run political campaigns against some democratic incumbents who were not “liberal enough” for the union leadership. This level of shamelessness, especially in the teachers and service workers union has lead to some fall out within the democratic party in this state, especially with the Democratic Governor.

I see unions and some democratic politicians as having overplayed their hand and are now being seen by the general public as hurting the “common good.” In such a situation it is not surprising to try to convince people that there is a vast right wing republican conspiracy afoot to split the vast middle and working class. It is spin trying to salvage a failed effort in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Thanks for the post and keep the power flowing!

[nascarnation]

If the earnings of those thirteen hedge-fund managers were taxed as ordinary income, the revenues generated would pay the salaries and benefits of 300,000 teachers.

Hmmmmm.... how many of these folks donated to Dems ???

[grapeape]

So basically the strategy is to point out reality while the dems continue to live in fantasy land..

[hinckley buzzard]

Can't someone's aunt put a tea cozy on this little runt and shut him up?

[Clock King]

This is why the nation can not survive as it is. The Left and Right have fundamentally and irreconcilable views on life. Reich and Obama and Sunstein believe we are all Homer Simpsons, and only they can lead us to the Promised Land. And they will enslave us to do it.

[smokingfrog]

This garbage was old when Clintoon was president and still is.

People like RR see the “pie” (economy) as something that is of a fixed size and everyone doesn’t get a fair share.

Democrats want to control the size of the pie and how much everyone gets.

Conservatives want to have a smaller government and a bigger share of a bigger pie for everyone that’s willing to work for it.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Note how Democrats constantly refer to “Class.” The use of the term indicates that party’s current Marxist roots. Instead of thinking can we afford to continue to pay without harming all, they immediately turn to class war rhetoric.

[listenhillary]

“Republicans want Americans to believe that we can no longer afford to do what we need to do as a nation.”

Economics professor?

[Jacquerie]

Imagine a herd of barking moonbats, and each are twice as radical as Herr Reich.

They are the calibre of the various secretaries, judges and czars employed by Hussein.