Most of us know what we don’t like or see as wrong, but what we lack is leaders with a vision on how to fix or support new policies. So far, only the Bern man has the whole platform consisting of climate change, wage inequity, universal healthcare, fair pensions, Social Security, union support, free education, fixing inequality, housing for all, fixing the damage caused by the Trump administration and many concerns.
Adding to this list should be a universal basic income for all; state banks in the states that want them; legalization of drugs with addiction treatment instead of prisons; end the private prison industry; fix the immigration mess; implement a legislation mandating corporations pay for the use of our Commons; reform and reinvest in our public education and allow parents to pay for private or charter schools if they want their children to attend such schools; cut defense spending and use that money toward infrastructure improvement to create employment opportunities for our ex-service members while making our bridges, roads, rail, airports safer and invest in green energy, among others.
We need more doctors, dentists, psychologists and addiction specialists, among others. The war industry could work on space travel, improving the world we already live on, but all of this will not happen if the power stays in the hands of a few very rich people who just want more money and power. The Have Littles must rethink their ideology and start voting for themselves and their families and the candidates who represents those things they hold dear and not for a party affiliation. The working class citizens need to understand and accept the fact that they are never going to be part of the country club elites. Don’t forget where you come from, it wasn’t from the lap of luxury.
If there aren’t any leaders suitable, then become one yourself and pull the rest of your unions up with you, and that includes ensuring your union members are educated about labor laws and regulations and all things unions, and never stop working for a better wages, pensions, healthcare and a safe working environment.
Life is very simple, you need a little luck and then make more good decisions than bad ones. If you are or have made more bad decisions, then step back and rethink your choices, such as your voting and your ideologies. And work to get the most out of every day, and try to do some good for your family and the community where you live.
We all should strive for the 5 Gs: good health, good jobs, good schools, good families, and good neighborhoods. Then become a leader or support a leader who has your best interest at heart and pay attention so that leader doesn’t stray from their commitment to their constituents.
Yes, they are coming for us. Workers need to have one another’s backs because no one else will. Neither the broader labor movement nor the Democratic party are prepared to meet the urgency of this moment. So it’s going to fall upon the rest of us to mount a real resistance against Trump’s authoritarian takeover. We’re going to have to get our hands dirty. I don’t care if you have a good, well-paying union job and you are in the middle class now—if you see a worker being dragged out of his workplace regardless of how skilled the job and potentially taken to another country, you should be ready to be there for that worker. When I.C.E. shows up, gather around and shame them into leaving. It has worked in other places. America is sleep walking into authoritarianism, and if there’s anyone out there who is a member of a labor union that is safe—at this point— and doesn’t think this applies to them. Understand that they just haven’t gotten to you yet. They’re coming for all of us. There are ...
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