Labor Day 2010, an obituary

A day of rest, thanks to the unions of America, the folks who brought us the 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek so rare to so many these days.

Battered by 40 years of deliberate demonizing, decertifying, delegitimizing, and defunding by the right, organized labor and the idea of collective bargaining by workers is weaker than any time since its inception.

The free markets run free (to sweatshops in China, Saipan, India) and the chasm yawns between the American economic classes, as people are replaced by machines, overseas workers or temps without benefits.

And when they are replaced, who do you call? 

Maybe the SEIU, (the service workers, who're getting the brunt of the right's shit machine these days) but not the blunted AFL-CIO or Teamsters as factory workers, skilled labor, and truck drivers become waiters and dishwashers.

The ranks of the uninsured, the bankrupt and the long-term unemployed have all crept up the income scale, proving those problems aren't limited to the poor. Meanwhile, income inequality has grown. In 2001, the top 20 percent of households for the first time raked in more than half of all income, while the share earned by those in the middle was the lowest in nearly 50 years.

The decline of the middle class mirrors the decline of union clout and organized representation of US workers. We're becoming a nation of billionaires and busboys.

Comments

[BamBam]

Labor Day is a farce! It has motives into simply the end of summer and the beginning of school year. The real meaning is not recognized...because NO ONE cares any more.

[Obama is a black man]

I would argue the notion that the decline of the American worker/American economy is DUE to the outragous and anti-business practices of unions in the late 20th and early 21st century.

Look nat Boeing. Because of the union it is likely Boeing will have virtually no presence here in the Seattle area.

[Andrew]

It is true; Unions shouldn't be the ones fighting for health care, livable wages and working conditions, it should be the federal government. Vote Democratic folks!

[AprilMayJune]

How many U.S. Americans even know what Labor Day celebrates? If only 24% know who we fought against in the Revolutionary War, I would estimate about the same know why we celebrate Labor Day. Most people probably think it is the last day of summer. It is discouraging.

[Andrew]

Labor Day celebrates the defeat of pro-business ideology and practices by workers who sought a more socialistic ideal in the late 19th century.

[Obama is a black man]

Yes if think the country ois going down the right path and you agree the past 2 years represent the way our country should be run then:

Vote Democratic folks!

I think not.

[SB Rat]

Fuck the middle class. Give me the tools and the liberty to be able to climb up out of it. The unions and their "benefits" and wage levels decided by someone else (thugs and bureaucrats)simply give people permission to be satisfied being where they are. If you can't make it out of the MC, then you deserve to work at Mickey D's.

[Andrew]

If the middle class shrinks you wont have the "tools" to "climb out of it". You will not be able to afford college. Banks will not fund your new business. You'll be foreced to find a job working for "The Man", and he will not pay you shit because you'll be competing with Chinese labor, who are also not payed shit. Without some redistribution of wealth, money pools at the top.

[KS]

Don't forget to thank you man, Obama for helping carry out the eradication of the middle class that Bush 43 left behind and while you're at it, don't forget to blame Bush.

[Doug Rheemr]

I love this blog? Keep the shit flying!!!!!

[Trocar]

Obama is Mao, the unions are his Armies. He will be defeated like Hitler, by brave white Americans.

[gorkri]

Imagine a time when labor had enough clout to get its own holiday. That may have been the high point of American civilization. We have been going downhill since with the increased inequality of the last 30 years which some readers of this blog approve of. If Obama does not reverse this trend, he will have a failed presidency. There has been a class war going on and the middle class has been losing to the aggressors.

[sparky]

Happy Labor Day everyone! Had a great lunch in a state park and saw a mama black bear and two cubs. A wonderful day. Now it's back to work.

[Dang Them Liberals Anyhow!]

Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised. All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn't think he should loose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.
Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.

Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dads; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans. The house didn't have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican's would still be sitting in the dark)

He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.

He turns on a radio talk show, the host's keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn't tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, "We don't need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I'm a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have".

By John Gray

[joanie]

Because of the union it is likely Boeing will have virtually no presence here in the Seattle area.

No, the union did not make that decision. That was Phil Condit. You never seem to have your facts right, OIABM.

Give me the tools and the liberty to be able to climb up out of it(middle class).

Spoken by a true neo-con. Hard to tell the difference between neo-cons and idiots, isn't it?
Oh, and why should I or anyone else give you anything at all? Get it for yourself.

I don't know how old you are, KS, but you deserve what's coming. It almost makes the decline of our country to third-world status worthwhile.

[joanie]

Good post, Dang...

[Puget Sound]

What is so funny is how poorly joanie and the usual suspects understand the terms they throw around.
joanie, here is what neo-con means:

"Neoconservatism is a political philosophy that emerged in the United States of America, which supports using modern American economic and military power to bring liberalism, democracy, and human rights to other countries.
In economics, UNLIKE Paleoconservatives and Libertarians, Neoconservatives are GENERALLY comfortable with a welfare state; and, while rhetorically supportive of free markets, they are willing to interfere for overriding social purposes."

[Puget Sound]

it's so funny when Sparkles post those internet stories. (we just indulge sparkles when she post under other neames...doesn't harm anything and kind of funny sparky thinks she is fooling anyone)
The stories float around for years and you use to only ssee them in Breakrooms and you can find em for both sides.
Hell, its the kind of stuff your 70 year old Aunt who just learned how to get on the internet sends to all the family members.
Whats next, Sparkles? Maybe the internet chain letter or will it be Nigerian Money Scam...
(Be sure to pass on those magic male enhancement products to Coils. He'll need 'em come November...)

[sparky]

Ok, I'll bite, Putz. You are always asking for proof from everyone else...time to stand behind your accusations. Your "proof" that every new name on here is me?

Ask Bla'M. He can look at the IP addresses and tell you that those names are not me.

If you couldn't make silly accusations and call us all names, you would be left with very little to say. No wonder you cut and paste so much.

[joanie]

And, as usual, he doesn't source his definition. Although nothing about it necessarily conflicts with what I said.

And, change the label or not, sputs apparently agrees with me that these people are idiots. One for me.

[KS]

Give me the tools and the liberty to be able to climb up out of it(middle class).

Spoken by a true neo-con. Hard to tell the difference between neo-cons and idiots, isn't it?
Oh, and why should I or anyone else give you anything at all? Get it for yourself.

I don't know how old you are, KS, but you deserve what's coming. It almost makes the decline of our country to third-world status worthwhile.

Posted by: joanie | September 06, 2010 at 10:47 PM

That was a brain dead and classless statement, unless you figure you'll be pushing up daisies or skunk cabbage within 10 years.

I am not a neo-conservative and your attitude about the welfare state is similar to that of a neo-conservative, which in turn is similar to a lib. prog. - in other words lame and pathetic.

[Fremont]

Putz quoted directly from Wiki...

[Puget Sound]

actually Fremont, the quote comes from Michael Tanner's book, "Leviathan on the Right"
but yeah, it's also in WIKI.

[Puget Sound]

Your "proof" that every new name on here is me?

Ask Bla'M. He can look at the IP addresses and tell you that those names are not me.

Posted by: sparky | September 07, 2010 at 08:15 AM

Oh Sparky, I must have hit a bullseye.
First off it's not 'every new name' on the blog.
Second, you could get around the ISP deal with no problem.
Third, stop running to Daddy when you got an issue.

[sparky]

As expected.

[Puget Sound]

so you weren't disappointed.

[Puget Sound]

now go start that machine of yours...

[KS]

whete's ph(j)oanie - Is she preparing for pushing up daisies ? LOL

[KS]

where's ph(j)oanie - Is she preparing for pushing up daisies ? LOL

Says O bongo yesterday- "They're talkin' about me like a dog" He said that; 1) to sound cool (but phony) by copying lyrics from a song by Jimi Hendrix "Stone Free"; 2) to get sympathy from his lock-step a-hole buddies in the news media and 3) to see if anyone of his lock-step buddies would call any dissenters "racists". The lowest common denominator just keeps slipping lower and lower. This stench needs to be disposed. It's evident that this self-proclaimed dog can't learn new tricks, even if he did graduate from Harvard Law School - he's making his own bed of thorns and he'll have to lay in them.

[Puget Sound]

but KS, it's all they got.
they can only cry racism.
talk about a bankrupt party.

[Chucks]

Just be glad that Vote Correction Day is only two months away. Then we are rid of Peelosi and maybe even Reid. With that, maybe (don't hold your breath) Oblahblah will move to the middle and get some co-operation from the right.
If he doesn't or can't learn, another Vote Correction Day follows in 2012 and we can flush him.

[Puget Sound]

Vote Correction Day...can't wait for that to occur.

Hey Coils, what's your thought about Vote Correction Day?

Do any of the Usual Suspects think that it will turn out 'okay' for Democrats?

And why are Democrats running away from President Obama? Maybe we'll see less of the Teleprompter and more of him speaking from his head.

BTW, too damn funny they spend all that money for a rug in the Oval Office and put up the wrong quote author.

[Coiler]

Polluted, I dunno, I suspect a lot of people wont vote this year. What's your take on extending the stimulus, it was difficult to tell in your last cut and paste.

[KS]

BTW, too damn funny they spend all that money for a rug in the Oval Office and put up the wrong quote author.

Posted by: Puget Sound | September 08, 2010 at 04:35 AM

Predictable though, as this crop of WH occupiers are constantly trying to revise history - part of their statist playbook. I'd venture to guess that these kind of tactics go a long ways toward turning off voters. Voters don't like those who they can't trust.

When will they change - regardless of who controls congress ? They won't because that would undermine their narcissistic game plan and then they would be lost.

[Puget Sound]

Polluted, I dunno, I suspect a lot of people wont vote this year. What's your take on extending the stimulus, it was difficult to tell in your last cut and paste.

Posted by: Coiler | September 08, 2010 at 08:39 AM

glad to hear that people are too lazy to vote on your side.

my solution: cut taxes on a permanent basis to get business going and cut spending on the gov't side at least to 2008 spending levels.
then stand back and watch the economy boom.

capitalism, it's a wonderful thing to watch.

[sparky]

Amazing..John of Orange said the very same thing.

[Coiler]

Our President beat the orange off his face today. We cannot fail...

[Engineered Labor Standards]

Workers and factory managers can communicate and find a work schedule and pay that works for both. Good blog!

[froth]

uh???