There's More to Ireland's Vote

The people of Ireland came together to show the world how people should be treated whether straight or gay. This vote by the people of Ireland could be the tipping point for the country’s recession and stop the move to more austerity measures. This 62 to 38 percent vote could reverse the economic state of Ireland. The proletarians of the world are watching Ireland and learning how and what it takes to win the impossible. In essence, Ireland took on the Catholic Church and won! Think of the economic implications of such a victory—gay people and their supporters will be flocking to Ireland to spend their money. Some battles we have won, some battles we are still fighting, like the autoworkers in Turkey, who are fighting about the discrepancies in wages paid at the different auto plants for the same work, and the autoworkers in the U.S., who are fighting against the two tiered wage system. Now, do you not think Turkish workers and U.S. workers are talking to each other and supporting each other? The Greeks are still fighting the impact of the capitalist austerity reforms, which are put on their backs. But, the U.S. Longshoremen/women did ratify a five-year contract, which we hope is good and we hope they did not give up the right to strike if needed because they are threatened by new port to be opened in Canada and in the U.S. southern states when the new Canal is opened in South America. Labor leaders must be aware and plan for this fight to come, because it will come. Still, the ongoing fight against inequality and for living wages and civil rights for the wage slaves, such as $15 to $18 an hour minimum wage now, paid sick leave, childcare, healthcare, pensions and free education—most of these amenities would be paid for or at least offset the costs if corporations were made to pay for the use of our Commons. Corporations are using and destroying our Commons to get even richer while we get stuck with the bill—dirty air, dirty water, poor healthcare, failing educational system, and crumbling infrastructures. We a need a system like the state of Alaska has in place, compensating residents for the use of the Commons up there. We are winning some, but still fighting for the rest, and it is a never ending battle as it should be. There is hope; we just have to have the will—and the support all our sisters and brothers, who want to do right for each other. After all, if Ireland can take on the behemoth, the Catholic Church, in all its hypocrisy and put it in its place--the church and not the bedroom, and win, so can the rest of us in our struggles.