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RedditRichard Trumka's great strength as a leader of the AFL-CIO has always been his willingness to challenge this country labor movement to be better not just than its past but also its present.
Long before he assumed the presidency of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations on Thursday, the former head of the United Mineworkers positioned himself as the "old labor" warrior who was determined to push union members to embrace new realities and new opportunities.
Trumka did that last year, in the thick of the 2008 presidential race, when he boldly confronted the reality of racism within the ranks of the movement to which he has devoted his life.
"Brothers and sisters, we can't tap dance around the fact that there are a lot of folks out there (who do not want to vote for Barack Obama because of the color of his skin)," Trumka told the United Steelworkers union convention in July, 2008.
"A lot of them are good union people; they just can't get past this idea that there's something wrong with voting for a black man," he continued. "Well, those of us who know better can't afford to look the other way."
Then, in one of the most meaningful statements of the 2008 campaign, Trumka, declared:
I'm not one for quoting dead philosophers, but back in the 1700s, Edmund Burke said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing."Well, there's no evil that's inflicted more pain and more suffering than racism -- and it's something we in the labor movement have a special responsibility to challenge.
It's our special responsibility because we know, better than anyone else, how racism is used to divide working people.
We've seen how companies set worker against worker -- how they throw whites a few extra crumbs off the table – and how we all end up losing.
But we've seen something else, too.
We've seen that when we cross that color line and stand together no one can keep us down.
That's why the CIO was created.
That's why industrial unions were the first to stand up against lynching and segregation.
People need to know that it was the Steel Workers Organizing Committee -- this union -- that was founded on the principal of organizing all workers without regard to race.
That's why the labor movement -- imperfect as we are -- is the most integrated institution in American life.
I don't think we should be out there pointing fingers in peoples' faces and calling them racist; instead we need to educate them that if they care about holding on to their jobs, their health care, their pensions, and their homes
-- if they care about creating good jobs with clean energy, child care, pay equity for women workers --
there's only going to be one candidate on the ballot this fall who's on their side...
only one candidate who's going to stand up for their families...
only one candidate who's earned their votes...
and his name is Barack Obama!
And come November we are going to elect him President.
Trumka was proven right. And Obama's victories in swing states such as Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania -- where Republican strategists had hoped to stir tensions sufficiently to peel off a significant number of union votes -- owned much to this particular labor leader's courageous campaigning.
Now that Trumka has taken over as AFL-CIO president (along with new secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler and new executive vice president Arlene Holt Baker), he continues to prod the labor movement to make real the promise of of the labor anthem "Solidarity Forever."
In his acceptance speech at the federation's convention in Pittsburgh, Trumka promised to forge "a new kind of labor movement – one shaped to meet the needs of Americans in a changing economy."
He spoke the language of international solidarity:
A labor movement that understands that, in a global economy, we have no alternative but to build truly global unions.Unions with the ability to confront corporate power wherever it rears its head.
Whether it's a call center in Bangalore.
A shoe factory in Vietnam.
Or a coal mine in Colombia.
Brothers and sisters, the corporate agenda doesn't end at the water's edge – and neither can ours!
Perhaps even more significantly, he spoke the language of domestic solidarity:
(The) question we face isn't just where we organize; it's who.And I want to talk about that for a moment.
We need to finally come to terms with the fact that union halls that should have been meeting grounds for understanding have often been breeding grounds for bigotry.
And millions of people of color – and millions of women – have paid a staggering price.
We have a moral responsibility to take the benefits of union representation to those who the labor movement turned its back on in the past.
That means organizing poverty-wage African-American, Latino and Asian workers.
It means reaching out to women: women are 50 percent of the workforce … they earn only 77 percent of what men do … and it's time we made a 100 percent commitment to organizing them!
And it means something else, too: organizing immigrants.
I know there are always going to be some people who are going to buy the line that immigrants are coming over here and stealing everyone's jobs.
But you know something?
When a company looks at its balance sheets, they don't distinguish between workers who are born here and those who aren't.
All they see are numbers.
Well, sisters and brothers, let me ask you a question: if employers are able to look at us and only see workers, shouldn't we be able to do the same?
It's time to build a labor movement that leaves no worker behind!
Rich Trumka is a union man of the old school. He got his hands dirty as a miner before he ever gripped a podium and addressed a crowd.
He respects the best values and traditions of the labor movement.
But he also understands that the movement's current hard times are not merely the result of corporate machinations and political compromises.
Unions made mistakes. They failed to educate members. They failed to reach out to new communities. They allowed divisions to develop -- divisions that would be exploited by those who do not want American to have a muscular trade unionism.
Trumka recognizes that in order "to build a newer, stronger labor movement," the AFL-CIO must heal those divisions and build a deeper, truer solidarity than it has ever evidenced. And, particularly with his clear and passionate embrace of immigrants, he has done just that.
Rarely, if ever, has an AFL-CIO presidency begun on so a positive note.
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John Nichols
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Edmund Burke said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing."
Well he did quote one correct thing! Good people did nothing in 2008 and the Evil that is B. Hussein Obamanation and the Demoncrats are now attempting to terminate all that is good in this nation bringing on its death throes with their socialistic nothingness governing! Thank God the American people are finally waking up to the devastation they want to reek!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 10:51pm
To destroy our healthcare system entirely the Obamanation that makes desolation, the Demoncrats and now the unions that support them want to "legalize" all illegals now in the nation to make them eligible under the healthcare program. I suppose they also will induct them into the failed unions that are left which haven't totally destroyed the remaining businesses they work for!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:08pm
That's just ridiculous. No one is trying to legitimize illegals, but to try to recognize that corporations and large agricultural conglomerates are hiring illegal aliens at nearly criminal wages as a means to make profits. Period. Then they contribute to campaigns that get "us" all hyped up about the "threat" the "illegal immigrants" pose to the essence of the United States, a country built on immigrants?! They get the best of both worlds--politicians of BOTH parties that rubber stamp favorable legislation, and prevent real reform to this system that seriously exploits not only American workers but also illegal workers.
This has nothing, nothing to do with healthcare, either. It's already illegal to "discriminate" based on appearance in health care--that's where this "myth" comes from. See Section 152 of H.R. 3200, which also explicitly states "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States."
Posted by naranjera at 09/18/2009 @ 11:33pm
That's just ridiculous. No one is trying to legitimize illegals,Posted by naranjera at 09/18/2009 @ 11:33pm | ignore this person | warn this person
Maybe YOU should tell the other fool out there saying he will!?!?
"President Barack Obama told the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) on Wednesday evening that illegal immigrants would not get government funded health insurance under his health care reform, but said the debate over that plan underscores the need to legalize illegal immigrants so they can get that coverage"
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:47pm
You must have missed this one too!
Last month in Guadalajara, Mexico, President Obama said that he was "confident" he would get Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform that included a "pathway to citizenship" for illegal aliens.
Unless you can't figure it out they will then be eligible for healthcare via future "stealth" legislation!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:52pm
Richard Trumka, what an American (hater that is); he never met a marxist/communist he didn't like.
<The "Union Summer" indoctrination materials endorsed by Trumka use explicit class warfare rhetoric. Young participants are told to recite a pledge called "Working Class Commitment" that includes the Marxist dogma "that we produce the world's wealth, that we belong to the only class with a future, that our class will end all oppression."
Unlike their more moderate predecessors, Trumka and his fellow AFL-CIO bosses see free market capitalism not as essential to worker prosperity but as something to be despised and destroyed. "Union Summer" seeks to spread ideological hatred of capitalism, as well as love for "progressive" government, throughout the union movement. The ultimate aim is not to boost members' wages, but to radically transform society.
Shortly after coming to power, Trumka, Sweeney and Chavez-Thompson rescinded a founding AFL-CIO rule that banned Communist Party members and loyalists from leadership positions within the Federation and its unions. The "New Voice" triumvirate welcomed Communist Party delegates to positions of power in the Federation. And the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) declared itself "in complete accord" with the troika's new AFL-CIO program. "The radical shift in both leadership and policy is a very positive, even historic change," wrote CPUSA National Chairman Gus Hall in 1996 about the Trumka/Sweeney/Chavez-Thompson takeover.>
http://tinyurl.com/njmqf6
Posted by antisocialist at 09/19/2009 @ 12:02am
Nothing last forever.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/19/2009 @ 06:41am
Hey Comfy,
I have one small clean-up item from yesterday. I wasn't claiming income taxes are currently unconstitution. My recollection of history is that Congress enacted a 1% tax in income over some high amount. This was around 1900 and the Supreme Court ruled that taxing income was Unconsitutional (There were only 15 Amendments at the time. The 15th, granting blacks the right to vote, was ratified Feb 3, 1870)
So the 16th Amendment was drafted and ratified on Feb 3, 1913. It says, "The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
I have several times employed rational arguments to defend a progressive income tax structure here. Further, I have never seen anyone else give a rational defense of a progressive income tax here. Everyone else I have read simply accepts it as an article of faith.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/19/2009 @ 06:55am
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:08pm |
How do you feel about illegals signing up for the marines?
Posted by snowball777 at 09/19/2009 @ 07:04am
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:47pm |
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/ video.aspx?v=GdnznzkUpr
I guess that makes you the demagogue we were warned against, huh Rio?
Posted by snowball777 at 09/19/2009 @ 07:19am
Trumka's the real deal -- we need more leaders like him.
Posted by vanflatz at 09/19/2009 @ 09:03am
Before everyone moves over to the couch for college football, entertain yourself and take the test at:
http://www.missourah.com/2009/09/15/obama- criticism-flow-chart/
(take out the space before "criticism")
Posted by Happy at 09/19/2009 @ 09:44am
"Good people did nothing in 2008 and the Evil that is B. Hussein Obamanation and the Demoncrats are now attempting to terminate all that is good in this nation bringing on its death throes with their socialistic nothingness governing! Thank God the American people are finally waking up to the devastation they want to reek!"
Posted by BigNAMBLA at 09/18/2009 @ 10:51pm
BigNAMBLA,
You have wandered out of the safety of the David Koresh/Warren Jeffs/Phillip Garrido rightwing compound and now ... ACORN is comin' to git' ya'!!!
BigNAMBLA, look, do you see ACORN green-shirts swarming out of their convoy of black helicopters at you!!!???
BigNAMBLA, ACORN will make you submit to an obligatory gay marriage!!! Then you will be forced to perform abortions and destroy zygotes from a fertility clinic!!! Next, you will be sent to a hospital to "seig Heil!!!"-salute Adolph Obama & the MysteryMexican greaser José Biden as you pull the plug with your own hand on oldsters and on babies who were born at 19 1/2 weeks!!! Finally, you will sign Donald Duck and Edward "Ted" Kennedy up to vote in all 438 congressional districts!!!
And because you did not do all of this with enough Stalinist zeal, Adolph Obama, José Biden and their platoon of Czars will personally stuff you into the human shredder they keep in their office/dungeon!!! You will come out as Soylent Green that will then be served to near starving rural Kansans and Oklahomans whose "Camp Wardens" will invariably be named Emilio, Pablo, and their butch/lezbo compañeras Concepción and Charo!!!
Should have stayed within the compound walls, BigNAMBLA, under the protective wing of your Maximum Leader/Abuser!!!
Posted by PhilMcCrevice at 09/19/2009 @ 09:48am
"Thank God the American people are finally waking up to the devastation they want to REEK!"
---BigNAMBLA at 09/18/2009 @ 10:51pm (with my capital letter emphasis added)
Does anyone else sense that, given his obvious and pitiful lack of familiarity with English, that BigNAMBLA needs to produce a birth certificate so we can ascertain where he is really from?
Of course, if BigNAMBLA is *NOT* an American, he will be in the clear in the age of Adolph Obama...BUT if he *IS* a natural born American, we can send him to one of the still secret caged-in "parks" where the MysteryMexican José Biden and Kenya's own Adolph Obama hunt down humans for sport while ACORN urges them on and furnishes them with new semi-clad humans (usually Okies) to hunt down.
However, if for now, BigNAMBLA wants to pass (however shabbily) for a native English-speaking American for awhile longer, he should take note of this distinction in order to spare himself from the self-induced humiliations of profoundly stupid but side-splitting malapropisms:
REEK /rik/
–noun 1. a strong, unpleasant smell. 2. vapor or steam.
–verb (used without object) 3. to smell strongly and unpleasantly. 4. to be strongly pervaded with something unpleasant or offensive. 5. to give off steam, smoke, etc. 6. to be wet with sweat, blood, etc.
--- versus ---
WREAK /rik/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [reek] –verb (used with object) 1. to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance, etc.): They wreaked havoc on the enemy. 2. to carry out the promptings of (one's rage, ill humor, will, desire, etc.), as on a victim or object: He wreaked his anger on the office staff.
Origin: bef. 900; ME wreken, OE wrecan; c. G rächen to avenge, ON reka to drive, avenge, Goth wrikan to persecute...
Posted by PhilMcCrevice at 09/19/2009 @ 10:14am
Why is it that people like Big P vote against their own best interests? I really don't understand, even after reading all their BS, I just don't get it. Big P you really need to get a life, your an idiot.
Posted by Denise29 at 09/19/2009 @ 10:16am
Check out Bill Moyers Journal - The State of Unions 09/18/09.
Posted by OneVote at 09/19/2009 @ 10:27am
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:08pm | ignore this person | warn this person
more hyperbole please.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/19/2009 @ 10:33am
About the only thing you get with unions is corruption and rich union bosses.
Also, the silence from The Nation on the criminal syndicate known as ACORN is deafening.
I wonder how far the stench of ACORN/SEIU reaches into the current government... underage child prostitution, human smuggling, etc.
Does anyone doubt that if the two journalist/reporters had been trying to acquire illegal narcotics, ACORN would have eagerly scarfed that up with the same enthusiasm? If so, I have the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge you might be interested in - for a good price of course.
Posted by pyeatte at 09/19/2009 @ 11:06am
All one needs to do is spend a morning bouncing back and forth between DailyKos and FreeRepublic, or better yet Eschaton and StormFront to see that we are all totally screwed. Irreconcilable ideologies put to voice by rabid true believers, with nothing but mutually assured destruction awaiting all.
Posted by sntauri at 09/19/2009 @ 11:22am
"About the only thing you get with unions is corruption and rich union bosses."
bullshit. nothing perfect, including corporate america.
do you read non-propagandist history? did unions just pop into existance for no other reason than the meddling of commernist agitators? what were worker's conditions before unions? please compare and contrast.
"I wonder how far the stench of ACORN/SEIU reaches into the current government... underage child prostitution, human smuggling, etc.
Does anyone doubt that if the two journalist/reporters had been trying to acquire illegal narcotics, ACORN would have eagerly scarfed that up with the same enthusiasm? If so, I have the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge you might be interested in - for a good price of course."
i've long suspected some funy business with ACORN, but figured that exposing them would be a job for you guys. GOOD JOB - YOU GOT THEM!!! guess with all the corruptionn thats been uncovered by rightwing organizations the right NEEDED a successful muckraking.
and honestly after seeing what they were really doing (encouraging criminality, sloth, and stupidity) - i'm not feeling a great sense of loss here...actually glad they've finnally been exposed so i'll not be tempted to defend them against rightwing trolls. good riddance.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/19/2009 @ 11:23am
guess with all the corruptionn thats been uncovered by rightwing organizations the right NEEDED a successful muckraking.
correction - "IN rightwing organizations"
Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/19/2009 @ 11:24am
Why is it that people like Big P vote against their own best interests? I really don't understand, even after reading all their BS, I just don't get it. Big P you really need to get a life, your an idiot.
Posted by Denise29 at 09/19/2009 @ 10:16am
Denise, you m ight want to reconsider who the idiots are...
I have often wondered the same with people voting against their best interestes...why people voted to join unions and freeze their salarys into an old model where work is regulated and dues are collected against the checks before they even see them...why would anyone with skills tie themselves to mob ridden corrupt systems designed to fleece the very worker the dolts here want to help?
Then I found out after I was forced to join the union...I was threatened with violence and I joined.
I did at one time think the unions were there to protect workers from evil corporations.... I worked "too fast" and was ordered to slow down....
and unions popped up in govt of all placers..?strike against govt in the DMV? Strike when govt is already spent into bankruptcy? Thats striking against yourself...
And now unions want to get at health care in a deeper way...I can see all the pink t-shirts with the union label guarding the health care clinics at the Post Office with their brothers at TSA.
Unions drive all jobs away..check out GM...
And global unions? would AFLCIO go along with a union vote in China to work for $4 / hour to build cars?
Posted by YourJomamma at 09/19/2009 @ 11:42am
i gotta admit to an especial disgust at the activities captured on camera ACORN is engaged in. if such represents even a small but significant portion of their activities...how sickening.
encouraging criminality and vice in neighborhoods already suffering from such? for neighborhoods benighted with domestic criminal terrorist organizations and vice that drags them down far more effectively than any police brutality or nefarious outside exploitation.
sickening stupidity and lack of moral compass. horrible when that which is supposed to help encourages that which is causing the greates damage...WOW!
with allies like ACORN who needs enemies. honestly they should just dissolve and reform a reformed organization. the name "ACORN" is poisoned, and not unnjustly so...
Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/19/2009 @ 11:49am
The most profound utterance of truth ever heard in the U.S. Senate was like "the shot heard round the world" when Joe Wilson told the Obmanation and his Demoncrats "YOU LIE"!
Truth confronted the hypocrisy, malivolence, lies, and decit of Obamanation and his Demoncrats and stopped them dead that is why Wilson is a hero and new symbol of American Democracy!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/19/2009 @ 12:28pm
God bless Richard Trumka!
Labor's new strategy has already achieved one big success: scaring the heck out of the Right.
I observe with some satisfaction that the Right's defense strategy, that of distraction and changing the subject, seems to be backfiring upon them. All that our local trolls seem capable of doing in response to Trumka is continuing to sputter about ACORN. Don't you CARE what's happening in the AFL-CIO?
On the other hand, why should you conservatives care? What you don't know can't hurt you - until it kicks you in the rear. I have to say that I'm looking forward to that.
Nationalism remains the socialism of idiots. Unfortunately, nationalism, like any other noxious weed, is very easy to cultivate. Fortunately, it cannot flourish except in a culture of idiocy. What this means is that as conservatives assiduously cultivate a nationalist sensibility in their own ranks, they necessarily become stupider.
The greatest danger, of course, is that the disease of xenophobia spreads to afflict not only conservatives, but moderates and liberals as well. Nobody is immune. Xenophobia is a real danger, not to be taken lightly.
This makes Trumka's embrace of international solidarity among workers all the more encouraging. Trumka has helped to plant one of the seeds of the new global culture that must succeed if human civilization itself is to survive.
Posted by JakobFabian at 09/19/2009 @ 12:31pm
To destroy our healthcare system entirely the Obamanation that makes desolation, the Demoncrats and now the unions that support them want to "legalize" all illegals now in the nation to make them eligible under the healthcare program. I suppose they also will induct them into the failed unions that are left which haven't totally destroyed the remaining businesses they work for!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:08pm
Again, I don't get it.
These "failed" unions are wielding this immense political power, with, about, I think, 14% of the workforce.
Neocon math?
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:23pm
Posted by BigPasture at 09/18/2009 @ 11:08pm |
How do you feel about illegals signing up for the marines?
Posted by snowball777 at 09/19/2009 @ 07:04am | ignore this person | warn this person
Now, now, snow, that's different.
As long as someone or something is getting killed, it's ok to use their ass for the dirty work.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:25pm
At least, in the neocon mind it is.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:26pm
The greatest danger, of course, is that the disease of xenophobia spreads to afflict not only conservatives, but moderates and liberals as well. Nobody is immune. Xenophobia is a real danger, not to be taken lightly.
This makes Trumka's embrace of international solidarity among workers all the more encouraging. Trumka has helped to plant one of the seeds of the new global culture that must succeed if human civilization itself is to survive.
Posted by JakobFabian at 09/19/2009 @ 12:31pm
only Jakob could turn criticism of a marxist loving union boss into "xenophobia". Perhaps it's actually that Jakob believes he must insert the word within every posting.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/19/2009 @ 3:11pm
Maybe Trumka should direct his efforts to persuade Magic to learn from that socialist heaven, Sweden:
Sweden slashes income tax further to boost jobs
Sep 19 07:58 AM US/Eastern
Sweden's centre-right government on Saturday announced income tax cuts of 10 billion kronor to stimulate the job market, its primary objective.
.....The proposal, to be presented to parliament on Monday as part of the 2010 budget bill, is the fourth leg of a tax cut programme introduced in January 2007 to stimulate employment....
With that step, 99 percent of full-time employees will have had their taxes reduced by a total of 1,000 kronor per month, while 75 percent will have had reductions of 1,500 kronor, the government said.
"The coalition government has agreed on reforms for jobs and entrepreneurialism that will increase employment in the long-term. It has to be more profitable to work and more companies should be able to hire employees," the government said....
===========================
Europe as a whole, is dialing back taxes while we are going to do what? Oh, yeah, live on Hopey and Changey!
Posted by Happy at 09/19/2009 @ 3:15pm
These "failed" unions are wielding this immense political power, with, about, I think, 14% of the workforce.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:23pm
That is a lot of concentrated money directed like a laser beam at the Democratic Party, so yes, it does represent immense political power.
One of the first things to happen when Obama was sworn in was to slash the budget of the Office of Labor-Management Standards. The OLMS spent most of the Bush years catching labor union frauds embezzeling or mis-appropriating union dues. There were about two dozen convictions, I believe, of union bosses or operatives stealing money. The OLMS also updated union reporting forms, requiring unions to be far more specific on just what they were spending workers dues on.
Long story short, the OLMS was a great friend of the American worker. The union leadership hated it. Thus, when the new kids came to town, the OLMS budget was slashed.
Why do you suppose that was?
Posted by Citizen_Carrier at 09/19/2009 @ 3:45pm
These "failed" unions are wielding this immense political power, with, about, I think, 14% of the workforce.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:23pm
That is a lot of concentrated money directed like a laser beam at the Democratic Party, so yes, it does represent immense political power.
One of the first things to happen when Obama was sworn in was to slash the budget of the Office of Labor-Management Standards. The OLMS spent most of the Bush years catching labor union frauds embezzeling or mis-appropriating union dues. There were about two dozen convictions, I believe, of union bosses or operatives stealing money. The OLMS also updated union reporting forms, requiring unions to be far more specific on just what they were spending workers dues on.
Long story short, the OLMS was a great friend of the American worker. The union leadership hated it. Thus, when the new kids came to town, the OLMS budget was slashed.
Why do you suppose that was?
Posted by Citizen_Carrier at 09/19/2009 @ 3:45pm
These "failed" unions are wielding this immense political power, with, about, I think, 14% of the workforce.
Posted by schnellerheinz at 09/19/2009 @ 2:23pm
That is a lot of concentrated money directed like a laser beam at the Democratic Party, so yes, it does represent immense political power.
One of the first things to happen when Obama was sworn in was to slash the budget of the Office of Labor-Management Standards. The OLMS spent most of the Bush years catching labor union frauds embezzeling or mis-appropriating union dues. There were about two dozen convictions, I believe, of union bosses or operatives stealing money. The OLMS also updated union reporting forms, requiring unions to be far more specific on just what they were spending workers dues on.
Long story short, the OLMS was a great friend of the American worker. The union leadership hated it. Thus, when the new kids came to town, the OLMS budget was slashed.
Why do you suppose that was?
Posted by Citizen_Carrier at 09/19/2009 @ 3:45pm
Now that E-Verify is becoming a nationwide verification application to extract 20 million plus illegal immigrants from businesses. It is now growing in aggressive performance for placing true US workers in the job line and outing illegal labor. This operation should now extend to certainly more purposeful uses? That means not just federal contractors but everybody who draws a pay check? Should a health care reform pass all obstacles in the House and Senate chambers, it could have an invaluable function of checking people who are not only applicants for jobs, but health care reform registry. Illegal immigrants are already getting free emergency hospital care and--WE--pay for it. In the future it should be considered to vet a person's nationality status, when applying for a mortgage? The United States banking system, financial institution were all but swept away on a deluge of corruption that has very sinister undertones in an organization called ACORN.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform now is under state and federal investigations at this very moment. Other involved institution impacted both Freddie Mac/Freddie Mae and a scheme incorporating underhand minority lending practices. But you might not have heard any of this, from the liberal media about the massive illegal alien mortgage accusations. The whole debacle was the involvement in a corrupt enabling banking industry and ethnic lobbyists, using unethical methods, along with Bush administration to guarantee loans for low income and people that could not possibly afford mortgages. Didn't Wall Street, the government regulators learn anything from the Savings and loan crisis in the 1980?
Posted by Brittanicus at 09/19/2009 @ 3:55pm
GOOGLE--Michelle Malkin, she has her own blog and also Google illegal immigrants--mortgages--home loans. Find out about the shady deals which had a massive impact on the 2009 real estate crash. In Addition read how we as citizens and legal residents can demand permanent E-VERIFY. Tell the politicians in Washington at 202-224-3121 It's about time they worked for the USworking man/woman, instead of paying-off favors to the wealthy business lobbyists? NUMBERSUSA & JUDICIAL WATCH has more answers about corrupt lawmakers and the issues that effects us all. HELP AMERICA SURVIVE. BETTER START COUNTING YOUR PENNIES, BECAUSE IF THE DEM'S PASS ANOTHER AMNESTY--WILL HAVE MILLIONS OF MORE DESTITUTE ILLEGAL ALIENS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT!. THE BUSINESSES THAT HIRE THEM WILL NOT! If the Democratic leadership forces through a path to citizenship or blanket AMNESTY--the US will also have irreversible OVERPOPULATION guaranteed and massive hikes in taxes to support illegal alien families.
Posted by Brittanicus at 09/19/2009 @ 3:55pm
" The United States banking system, financial institution were all but swept away on a deluge of corruption that has very sinister undertones in an organization called ACORN"
this is the most unbelievable statement i have read in months on these pages.
i have nothing to say, except that when fox news was "reporting" this scandal, why did they conveniently neglect to mention that they were literally going around from acorn office to acorn office (in maryland), literally looking for an office to 'take the bait,' as it were, and be entrapped?
you can't call it "reporting" unless you tell the full story: and that is, the "reporters" were doing whatever they could to find something outrageous happening at an acorn office, and spread it viral on the internet, and take down acorn.
it's quite possible that these "reporters" were breaking the law by unlawfully filming these acorn office volunteers. and as i've said earlier, acorn may very likely sue the filmmakers.
again, the republican party, fox news, and their outrageously stupid viewers, are somehow forgetting that acorn receives CHUMP CHANGE in federal funding from the government. only 3 million/ year.
that's it.
and meanwhile, goldman sachs gets trillions. and the guys running that show are the real criminals, not a bunch of poor, black community organizers.
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 4:05pm
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 4:05pm:
It was how easily and smoothly the ACORN people slid into the trap, as if they did this everyday, that has peoples attention. I just hope ACORN sues - the discovery process could take months, if not years. The veins of rot will go many places (SEIU for one) and very very deep. After all, they have had 39 years of scheming and conning that has generated a lot of baggage.
Posted by pyeatte at 09/19/2009 @ 5:09pm
I would like to see all of IT unionized, but I understand that the power of a strong labor movement comes from the organization of the lowest paid, most exploited, and most discriminated against people. The reason unionization can elevate a rural backwater country like the U.S. into the most powerful nation on earth is because it's aggregate. If your middle class is 75% of the population then everyone has a vested interest in the success of the economy, rather than simply worrying about their own job. It is a powerful catalyst that we have been neglecting. On the other hand, socialized wealth (a greedy entitlement class), and no class mobility like Brazil for example, are doomed to wild bubble economies and poor quality of life across the board. The wisdom of unionizing undocumented workers appears to serve everyone. Undocumented workers suffer from their status and are ruthlessly exploited, citizen workers in turn would have less competition for wages against a permanent low-wage underclass. I know it's a touchy subject, but there are a lot of people who complain that poor immigrant communities breed crime. Well, there you go. Organizing them to fight for better wages is part of the remedy, if you think that way.
Posted by Milhaus at 09/19/2009 @ 5:39pm
"It was how easily and smoothly the ACORN people slid into the trap, as if they did this everyday, that has peoples attention"
what has people's attention is that the filmmakers never disclosed what *every* reporter should disclose whenever doing reporting. that they made it their mission to find a single acorn location where something illegal was happening, and then on top of that, laid a trap for wrongdoing by acorn volunteers. and then (again) on top of that, they filmmed the wrondoing without notifying the volunteers.
that was anything but reporting. that was an attempt to destroy acorn (which happend to succeed).
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 6:43pm
pyeatte, what specifically about acorn is so bad for the country?
i want specifics, not abstract generalizations about acorn's mission.
and then after that, please measure that 'bad-ness' against others: goldman sachs, countrywide, cigna, etc, etc.....
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 6:45pm
I wonder if Greg Palast, Jeremy Scahill, or 60 minutes ever notify their undercover subjects that they are filming?
But I guess that is acceptable because they are not conservatives.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/19/2009 @ 8:49pm
....what specifically about acorn is so bad for the country?
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 6:45pm
Look in the mirror!
You are either way over-stoned overly stupified tonight!
In either case, you prove that blacks, presumably educated even if stoned or overly stupidifed, don't give a shit about other blacks.....if you think ACORN isn't "so bad".
Posted by Happy at 09/19/2009 @ 11:19pm
You are either way over-stoned OR overly stupified tonight!
Posted by Happy at 09/19/2009 @ 11:19pm
And global unions? would AFLCIO go along with a union vote in China to work for $4 / hour to build cars?
Posted by YourJomamma at 09/19/2009 @ 11:42am
That won't happen because the Chinese don't have labor rights.
Posted by koroviev at 09/20/2009 @ 02:45am
"only Jakob could turn criticism of a marxist loving union boss into "xenophobia". Perhaps it's actually that Jakob believes he must insert the word within every posting."
Posted by antisocialist at 09/19/2009 @ 3:11pm
This from a poster who is incapable of posting w/o using the word marxist. Seriously, I'll give you $5 for every one of jakobs "xenophobic"s, if you'll give me $1 for every one of your postings of "marxist".
Posted by Malcontent at 09/20/2009 @ 09:56am
"only Jakob could turn criticism of a marxist loving union boss into "xenophobia". Perhaps it's actually that Jakob believes he must insert the word within every posting."
Posted by antisocialist at 09/19/2009 @ 3:11pm
This from a poster who is incapable of posting w/o using the word marxist. Seriously, I'll give you $5 for every one of jakobs "xenophobic"s, if you'll give me $1 for every one of your postings of "marxist".
Posted by Malcontent at 09/20/2009 @ 09:56am
There would be no way to respond to most of the dialogue here since there are so many marxists posting here.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 11:17am
"There would be no way to respond to most of the dialogue here since there are so many marxists posting here."
all the evidence we need to conclude that antisocialist doesn't even know what marxism is.
Posted by darladoon at 09/20/2009 @ 11:34am
Posted by darladoon at 09/19/2009 @ 6:45pm:
The trouble with ACORN can start with the fact that they are a partisan group being funded by taxpayer dollars - a definite no-no. Can one find good from them? sure, but what is clear is they must have significant oversight if they are to continue to exist, otherwise the bad will far outweigh the good. The voter registration problems, for example, are quite significant and have been documented. They seem to be operating in a "anything-goes-as-long-as-it-favors-the-left" environment.
Posted by pyeatte at 09/20/2009 @ 1:02pm
Posted by darladoon at 09/20/2009 @ 11:34am:
Defining Marxism/Communism. Whittaker Chambers in his book "Witness" stated it rather simply. "In defiance of religion, morality, truth, law, honor, the weakness of the body and the irresolutions of the mind, even unto death, is a simple conviction: It is necessary to change the world." "The Communist vision is the vision of Man without God."
Posted by pyeatte at 09/20/2009 @ 2:16pm
There seems to be a general ignorance or avoidance or the facts.
It is a fact that Trumka removed the restrictions for Communists to be members of the leadership of the AFL-CIO.
It is a fact that Trumka, Sweeney, and Linda Chavez-Thompson welcomed known Communists back into the AFL-CIO.
If that isn't supportive of marxism, what is it?
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 2:22pm
OK pyeatte, I can go with oversight for acorn to exist, I mean i actually agree with you! Hopefully it would weed out the undisirables.
Posted by Denise29 at 09/20/2009 @ 2:23pm
Add to the marxist mix, Sweeney is a member of the Socialist Internationale.
Add to the mix that after welcoming the Communists back into the AFL-CIO, they kicked out the anti-communist leaders in the organization.
then they received a thank you endorsement from the head of the CPUSA (Communist Party USA).
Yeah, no marxism there to talk about (lol)
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 2:27pm
What I can't understand is that if the Unions are so pro government option health care reform why is it that they haven't turned out 500,000 marchers in the streets of Washington to say so....or are they just too comfy with their own jobs and salaries?
Posted by sillohed at 09/20/2009 @ 2:55pm
Let's look at some other Union leaders who are marxist/socialists.
1. Delores Huerta-co-founder of United Farm Workers and member of Democratic Socialists and Socialists Internationale. Also a leader in the DNC.
2. Wade Rathke, founder of ACORN, former leader in SEIU, and a leadership position in AFL-CIO. Former member of the SDS, trained in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals
3. Kevin Pranis-consultant to the SEIU, head of Prison Moratorium Project. Member of Democratic Socialists and Socialist Internationale.
March 5, 2009 Union and student protests in NYC organized by the 4th Internationalist (Trotskyists)
http://www.internationalist.org/shutnycdown0903.html
I can post all day the involvement of the marxists, the trotskyists, and the maoists with the labor unions in the US.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 3:00pm
anti the fact that you're views are tolerated anywhere says to me there is room for all views. Even if it were true that Communists are members of a union, it doesn't mean squat. Millions of people are members of unions. People in unions are there to have their interests at work represented, not talk about politics on the clock. Get over it. What you're talking about is on the order of banning the catholic church because a few members are neo-nazis. It's just plain irrelevant.
Posted by Milhaus at 09/20/2009 @ 3:39pm
Aside from that. The words socialism and communism are also irrelevant. Neither of them have ever, and will never exist. In the same way a free-market economy has never and will never exist.
Posted by Milhaus at 09/20/2009 @ 3:46pm
"Yeah, no marxism there to talk about (lol)"
define marxism, anti.
thank you.
Posted by darladoon at 09/20/2009 @ 5:07pm
I am wondering what the guys who post at all hours of every day do for a living.Santi ,I am sure you mus be Robert Ludlum ascended from the grave. Every day is a new storyline.I guess I am sick of hearing about the Marxist menace. I do not know of any true Marxist country. I do remember when Angola was called Marxist and they used mercenaries in the "wars" in southern Africa. Does that mean the U.S. has been Marxist if I take the Comparison of Blackwater and associated mercenaries in our "war on terror". Thinking along those lines how do we look at how we have aligned ourselves with our largest bond holder Red China?We want to use labels on viewpoints but be expedient with our business arrangements. Historical sources are quoted liberally here. I am wondering if our "containment of Communism" policy will evolve into the "containment of Islam".
Posted by whatozz at 09/20/2009 @ 6:58pm
anti the fact that you're views are tolerated anywhere says to me there is room for all views. Even if it were true that Communists are members of a union, it doesn't mean squat. Millions of people are members of unions. People in unions are there to have their interests at work represented, not talk about politics on the clock. Get over it. What you're talking about is on the order of banning the catholic church because a few members are neo-nazis. It's just plain irrelevant.
Posted by Milhaus at 09/20/2009 @ 3:39pm
That would be correct if we were just discussing membership.
But I listed leadership. Do you see any difference in impact between random members and the leadership of unions?
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 8:25pm
I didn't realize there was this much ignorance by some on the left about the number of communist organizations and their involvement with unions in this country.
Amazing.
If you live in So Cal, you can listen on KPFK to Michael Slate who usually hosts on Tuesdays at 5pm. He is a member of the RCP.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 8:29pm
Most members of unions do not have any time for the Michael Slates of the world.Have a ball with your posts all day long .I am glad you have the time. A lot of people in unions want good wages and benefits, period. Read into it what you want,I think you drew a line in the sand a long time ago. That is tempering your viewpoint. That is class warfare that has been in your mind for a long time. That is why I continue to ask why is this an issue with you. We are going down a road with Communist China as our biggest bondholder.Yet this is o.k. with you because this helped us in our war versus Islam. You are a walking contradiction.
Posted by whatozz at 09/20/2009 @ 9:18pm
"I didn't realize there was this much ignorance by some on the left about the number of communist organizations and their involvement with unions in this country"
i didn't realize there was this much ignorance on the right about the number of capitalist organizations and their involvement in the republican party in this country.
woopee-doo.
calling someone a communist is completely vapid. it's like saying, "antisocialist is white."
Posted by darladoon at 09/20/2009 @ 9:21pm
To BigPasture--"legitimizing illegals" is not the same as allowing them to apply for citizenship. This is a country that has made it progressively difficult to acquire citizenship (compared to the late nineteenth century, when it was relatively easy), and has a history of setting up ethnically based quotas for admission. I've not got a problem with allowing people to apply for citizenship, and making it easier, and cheaper, for them to attain it--it's currently incredibly difficult, and very expensive.
Politicians across the board have a really mixed record on this--they don't want to eliminate the cheap labor force, but they're afraid of alienating their base groups who hear "illegal immigrant," almost always think "eek, Mexicans!" and start nativist programs--I notice your two examples dealt specifically with Mexican issues.
It's important to remember that tens of millions of Americans have this history. I know I do--my great-grandparents came here during the gilded age.
And as for the fear that "illegals" will take advantage of this system--that's a real ignorance about illegal communities. The last thing they want to do is draw attention to the fact that they don't have paperwork and are here illegally--that's just common sense. They also do not try to vote in elections (thinking back to my 6 years in Arizona).
Posted by naranjera at 09/20/2009 @ 10:04pm
What I can't understand is that if the Unions are so pro government option health care reform why is it that they haven't turned out 500,000 marchers in the streets of Washington to say so....or are they just too comfy with their own jobs and salaries?
Posted by sillohed at 09/20/2009 @ 2:55pm | ignore this person | warn this person
That is easy, thier union healthcare programs are almost as much "in the red "as medicare medicaid and they want YOUR taxpayer dollars to bail them out! That I'm sure is ONE of the things the Demoncrats promised them for thier support. The Demoncrats have already given them control of their employers and even provided a market for their products with the clunker program!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/20/2009 @ 10:27pm
Posted by naranjera at 09/20/2009 @ 10:04pm | ignore this person | warn this person
You are almost as evasive and deceptive as the Obamanation in circulous reasoning. By the way, why don't you go to any hospitial emergency room and tell us how the latin to white-black ratio of patients is, then maybe you will have a clue!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/20/2009 @ 10:30pm
"By the way, why don't you go to any hospitial emergency room and tell us how the latin to white-black ratio of patients is, then maybe you will have a clue!"
bigpasture never fails to seize an opportunity to demonstrate what a complete asshole he is.
and to think that we're only scratching the tip of the iceberg here with the teabagging scene.
Posted by darladoon at 09/20/2009 @ 10:38pm
Darlaloon, once again your shallow vacuumous immitation of intellect rules the night circled by its gravitous cannibis cloud. Pull the heads off some kittens and your hatred and self loathing will feel free at last!
Posted by BigPasture at 09/21/2009 @ 12:10am
Posted by BigPasture at 09/21/2009 @ 12:10am
Anybody think of anybody on this blog more hateful and likely filled with self-loathing that Rio/Big Posture?
Posted by Mask at 09/21/2009 @ 07:25am
Reposting because I wanted to make sure Comfy saw this ***********************************************************
Hey Comfy,
I have one small clean-up item from yesterday [Friday]. I wasn't claiming income taxes are currently unconstitution. My recollection of history is that Congress enacted a 1% tax in income over some high amount. This was around 1900 and the Supreme Court ruled that taxing income was Unconsitutional (There were only 15 Amendments at the time. The 15th, granting blacks the right to vote, was ratified Feb 3, 1870)
So the 16th Amendment was drafted and ratified on Feb 3, 1913. It says, "The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
I have several times employed rational arguments to defend a progressive income tax structure here. Further, I have never seen anyone else give a rational defense of a progressive income tax here. Everyone else I have read simply accepts it as an article of faith.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/19/2009 @ 06:55am
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/21/2009 @ 07:31am
littleP- You are so concerned with the lily whiteness of decision makers. You are a joke. I wish the unions were as powerful as you think. That would mean we were making something here or that someone besides Wal mart was selling something.You sound like a Southern caste supporter. You and Droopy need to go somewhere together.
Posted by whatozz at 09/21/2009 @ 07:46am
Did anybody else catch this???
"I have several times employed rational arguments to defend a progressive income tax structure here.
Further, I have never seen anyone else give a rational defense of a progressive income tax here."------Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/21/2009 @ 07:31am
Darin got Darin on Ignore?!??!?!?!....heheh
Posted by Mask at 09/21/2009 @ 08:41am
Did anybody else catch this??? "I have several times employed rational arguments to defend a progressive income tax structure here. Further, I have never seen anyone else give a rational defense of a progressive income tax here."------Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 09/21/2009 @ 07:31am Darin got Darin on Ignore?!??!?!?!....heheh Posted by Mask at 09/21/2009 @ 08:41am | ignore this person |
--you're "funny" might actually be funny if you understood english: he said I have never seen anyone "else" give a...that means anyone but himself.
the maskerade continues...
Posted by urmygyro at 09/21/2009 @ 08:55am
We are going down a road with Communist China as our biggest bondholder.Yet this is o.k. with you because this helped us in our war versus Islam. You are a walking contradiction.
Posted by whatozz at 09/20/2009 @ 9:18pm
I've been a critic of Communist China for over 40 years. I saw when I lived in Taiwan in the early 1990's the threat that they posed to a free nation.
Recently I have come to modify my views through daily watching of CCTV, the Chinese television programming. It is run at a quality equal to or better than the BBC. It shows the level of capitalism that I believe is irreversible in China. And the level of criticism towards the govt that is allowed is striking compared to past decades.
While the central govt in China remains a threat to world peace, while they continue to persecute Christians in inexcusable and intolerable ways, the sleeping giant that is the Chinese people appears to be a force that will not be stopped in it's progression to full capitalism and the liberty associated with it.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/21/2009 @ 10:20am
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 3:00pm
Of course you could. Your definition of marxist includes everyone remotely to the left of you. Please provide an official definition of Marxism, not yours.
Posted by nkurland at 09/21/2009 @ 1:57pm
Santi-You and I will both be long gone IF there is real capitalism in Red China.You of all the posters here should have a better sense of their political situation. They are run by a Central Committee. These men are now extremely rich and are allowing more "favored" cronies in on the action. They allow the military in on the action and allow plenty of profit skimming for those elites. I think you should stop spouting off about Communists and Socialists if you support Red China. It is a" state" enterprise in China and not only Christians are persecuted there. To think of all who have given their lives in battle for our containment policy and you just shrug it off because we have lost our way economically is appalling. You are pretty solid about our founding documents written by our first elites. Now we can fast forward to the guys we gave the keys to the car to and you are pushing people over to get in. The next "story" I will read is about tax work in Chinatown from 1969. The government and military is firmly in control. We are fueling their expansion. They will exploit Southern Africa because they can. They will strip it bare. Thats o.k. global warming is a myth anyway.
Posted by whatozz at 09/21/2009 @ 3:21pm
I think you should stop spouting off about Communists and Socialists if you support Red China. It is a" state" enterprise in China and not only Christians are persecuted there. To think of all who have given their lives in battle for our containment policy and you just shrug it off because we have lost our way economically is appalling. You are pretty solid about our founding documents written by our first elites. Now we can fast forward to the guys we gave the keys to the car to and you are pushing people over to get in. The next "story" I will read is about tax work in Chinatown from 1969. The government and military is firmly in control. We are fueling their expansion. They will exploit Southern Africa because they can. They will strip it bare. Thats o.k. global warming is a myth anyway.
Posted by whatozz at 09/21/2009 @ 3:21pm
Nowhere did I say I support Red China. What I said is that rather than relying upon my personal experiences of more than a decade ago, or what others write, I have been watching Chinese television for over a month now on a daily basis. Yesterday my wife and I watched over 4 hours of Chinese broadcasts.
I find the changes there to be dramatic. And unless you can show me something more significant, I will rely upon my conclusions.
I majored in Asian Studies for my degree in History. I have lived in both Taiwan and the Philippines. I have been to China on several occasions (though more than a decade ago).
So what is it about you that makes you able to better determine than me how China is changing, or not changing? That's not a taunt; it's a serious question.
Posted by antisocialist at 09/21/2009 @ 4:19pm
whatozz,
I don't want you to mistake what I'm saying for an endorsement of the Chinese govt. They are still oppressive and they continue to persecute Christians and others.
But the massive shift of the people into capitalism is a movement that I don't think the govt can contain.
Here is a weblink if you do not receive their channel on your local broadcasts (I have satellite)
http://english.cctv.com/live/
Posted by antisocialist at 09/21/2009 @ 4:26pm
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 2:27pm
This is absolutely pathetic. John Sweeney identifies himself as a Social Democratic. And he's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a Social Democratic organization. I realize that in your mad rush to spew out something remotely passable you have to toss out any and all meaningful distinctions.
Posted by nkurland at 09/21/2009 @ 5:46pm
I think from the shows I see on the Science Channel and Nat Geo that there has been tremendous advancements in China.I also believe from what I've read that the purse strings only go so far in who makes the profit.China is like the U.S. of the 1930's with its hydroelectric plants and building of new towns. It still has a policy of expendability with its people.
Posted by whatozz at 09/21/2009 @ 5:57pm
Posted by antisocialist at 09/20/2009 @ 3:00pm
I just did some quick research on Wade Rathke and Kevin Pranis. The first search items on Pranis indicated that his organization was merely associated with the Socialist, then went on to stress that Pranis himself is not a member. Same with Wade Rathke, there was nothing about him being a member of the Socialist international. And your article that you linked merely gave a synopsis of the protests, nothing there even suggested a role in organizing the protests.
Now please, tell us about the other 95% who don't even have these fuzzy affiliations.
Posted by nkurland at 09/21/2009 @ 5:58pm
Quoted from BigPasture: "By the way, why don't you go to any hospitial emergency room and tell us how the latin to white-black ratio of patients is, then maybe you will have a clue!"
Hmmm, I wonder if it's directly proportional to the number of underprivileged groups without access to affordable health care coverage? People with coverage go to doctors before it becomes an emergency. People without health care coverage wait until it's an emergency, and have few other options. In Pittsburgh, a major hospital has actually opened their own urgent care clinics to deal with the demand, primarily from people without health insurance.
People of Hispanic descent are not ipso facto illegal immigrants.
Thanks for proving my point... inadvertently, I'm sure.
Posted by naranjera at 09/21/2009 @ 5:59pm
I just did some quick research on Wade Rathke and Kevin Pranis. The first search items on Pranis indicated that his organization was merely associated with the Socialist, then went on to stress that Pranis himself is not a member. Same with Wade Rathke, there was nothing about him being a member of the Socialist international. And your article that you linked merely gave a synopsis of the protests, nothing there even suggested a role in organizing the protests.
Now please, tell us about the other 95% who don't even have these fuzzy affiliations.
Posted by nkurland at 09/21/2009 @ 5:58pm
If you are a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, you are also part of the Socialist International as the DSA is a member
<The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the United States, and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International. DSA's members are building progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly socialist presence in American communities and politics.
DSA's political perspective is called Where We Stand. It says, in part, We are socialists because we reject an international economic order sustained by private profit, alienated labor, race and gender discrimination, environmental destruction, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo.
We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane international social order based both on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships.>
http://www.dsausa.org/about/index.html
Posted by antisocialist at 09/21/2009 @ 7:27pm
DSA was formed in 1982 by a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM). DSOC was the largest group to emerge from the splintering of the Socialist Party of America in 1973; two other Socialist Party factions went on to form Social Democrats USA and the Socialist Party USA. NAM was a coalition of writers and intellectuals with roots in both the New Left movements of the 1960s and the more traditional parties of the Old Left.
At its founding, DSA consisted of almost 5,000 ex-DSOC members and 1,000 ex-NAM members. By 1983 DSA reached 7,000 members, which it would not surpass until the early 1990s. Recently, membership has increased to around 10,000.[1] Michael Harrington and socialist-feminist author Barbara Ehrenreich were elected as the organization's co-chairs.[2]>
http://tinyurl.com/yslyzm
Michael Harrington, the founder of the DSA was a Trotskyist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Harrington
Posted by antisocialist at 09/21/2009 @ 7:34pm
Everything this site promotes and spews is garbage. Democrats and liberals have been the party of racism and hate since 1840. Stay out of our lives....us hard working people can do fine on our own.
God save the U.S. from you hatemongers.
Posted by spwhelan85 at 09/21/2009 @ 8:53pm