Disconnect

[veronica_rich]

I have calmed down somewhat from a couple of nights ago - but not by a lot. And definitely not toward those trying to sinkhole the Big 3 automakers. Besides the obvious need to preserve the fully 1 percent of the American population that would be directly affected by such job losses, I still contend the Republican senators who voted against this bailout are chewing their own feet off to spite their posture - the UAW might support the Democratic Party, but I guarantee you the majority of individual laborers who vote have voted Republican their entire lives, by and large. Management is not the hoi polloi.

However, if those people have any sense, they are reconsidering their support for the GOP in future elections and will instead check out individual candidates before casting a ballot.

This isn't so much about the UAW being asked to make concessions. The UAW would make some concessions; the UAW has made some concessions (just ask GM, at least) in the past. More than once. But why are we not hearing about upper management being asked to make concessions, too? No hired hand needs to make $25 million a year, especially if the company they're running is sucking hard into the ground. I agree with the UAW president, who said it sounds like these GOP senators are not simply trying to get a deal this time - they're trying for a union busting. While there is plenty in history to support the idea that unions can be corrupted, there's even more evidence that government can be corrupted - or, more accurately, that individual officials are corrupt. Do we abolish Congress? Burn down the White House? Bulldoze the Illinois Capitol?

Unions are necessary. Even if you've never been in a union, you probably enjoy benefits obtained by unions at some point in history: minimum wage, the 40-hour work week, health insurance subsidized by your employer, vacation and sick pay, retirement, bonuses. (And if you enjoy none of these in America, well ... I don't think it's a coincidence that unions have been on the decline, by and large, for several years, and working conditions keep getting shittier - do you?) Perhaps unions need to be revamped or restructured for a new century - but not abolished.

In short: Quit being asshats. Especially those of you from states that depend on the Big 3. Yeah, YOU. I think something happens to a person's logic once they get inside the Beltway, I swear to Dog. I would hope our incoming team for 2009 would be immune from that, but I know not all of them will be.

Comments

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

I know for a fact that unions have helped make working conditions better for several generations. I mean, thanks to them we have a minimum wage and child labor laws on top of what you cited.

I'm not going to reply to other comments on this post, as it is not my place, but I do feel the same as you when it comes to the Big 3 issue.

In fact, my dad is already begin setting aside money to give to opponents of Rep. Senators speaking out against it (namely Tenn.). That says something when my father and I are going to send money for out of state senate races.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I have no extra money to give anywhere; I only have my big mouth, which is about all I can do at any given time (though sometimes it could be more tactful than it is).

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

My dad doesn't really have the money, either, but what he does have, he's willing to give to the cause.