Yeah, the rejection of the non-union guys is really screwed up. If you’ve gotten to a point in life where all that kind of stuff matters....you really aren’t living anymore. As December comes around, and you wonder why no one much has done anything to bring life back into your town...you might want to consider moving to Alabama. We aren’t into union stuff....but we tend to be pretty gracious and open-hearted.
Spent some time in the South a few years ago and was literally stunned at the polite, kind behaviour of everyone I came across. It was as if perfect strangers where delighted to see me and couldn’t do enough to help me with whatever I needed.
Of course living in the NY, NJ area my entire life I was initially suspicious of the behavior of these people. Where I come from many times when someone is smiling at you and shaking your hand with one hand they are picking your pocket with the other.