The anti-union-right wingers have capitalized on how to vilify any one who stands in their way to get richer and gain more power. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan succeeded in making liberals feel ashamed of the word “liberal” and fearful of being associated with socialism. When that worked so well, the GOP started vilifying the word “union” in as many ways as unions drive up the costs of construction, that unions are just corporations and all union leaders’ want is your money in the form of dues. This effort worked so well they convinced unsuspecting workers to vote against their own best interests.
Today, the workers are starting to see through all the rhetoric of the anti-working establishment. The teachers have started a new trend by winning higher wages and other benefits. Now, there are others feeling like they can win higher wages, such as $15 to $24 an hour. This will, in turn, be a good thing for elections turn outs to put the right people in office who will support workers, workers rights and needs. Just because a candidate has a “D” by their name doesn’t mean they support workers. Workers fought and won in 1920s so called the Gilded Age when all was stacked against workers and I believe that the workers of the 1900s to 2000s will win in the fight of this second Gilded Age.
The progressive agenda must rise to the challenge to update and own liberalism by supporting the traditional negative rights represented in the first ten amendments of the Constitution with a set of positive rights. We will argue that without a living wage, adequate housing, effective healthcare and basic education.
The traditional negative rights have no real substance so the question is, “Are you for the workers who want a better life and support the 5Gs: good health, good jobs, good schools, good families and good neighborhoods?”
If so, vote and vote smart, and do not listen to what some of the talking heads who are paid by think tanks or radio station or television station owned by a corporation, such as Sinclair, that is anti-union and anti-workers.
I hope that I am wrong, but what I see at this time is our unions are going to be in the fight of their existence. This is the most perilous time of our life. The life we had is threatened like never before. Unions are the largest organized group of people who can save our country if things keep going the way they are heading at this time. We need to all stand together for power, but we each must prepare and plan to take care of ourselves and our families. We can fight the big fight and not be distracted by worry about things that can and should already be taken care of. For instance, stashing at least one month’s pay and at least a month or even a year’s worth of food, whether the food is staples (pasta, rice, canned goods) and meat or chicken in the freezer. Keep your vehicles' tanks full and if possible a gas can full. It’s in your best interest to also save money for house or rent payments plus extra. This is not new thinking for us old trade workers who had to prepare when...
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