Because unions had been so enormously effective, companies that did not want unions tried their darndest and worked so hard to compete with regard to pay and benefits.

The republicans are the enemies of most Americans, (they are not even pro business because they are destroying the largest customer of the capitalist world…the American Middle class!)The reinvention of Reagan has been remarkable. After castigating Carter for a $68B deficit
he proceded to grow it to $279B, which Bush #1 added another $110B to.
Under Ronald Reagan a second earner was needed just so Middle Class famillies could maintain their standard of living.

Social Security brings in $180B a year in SURPLUS, which after castigating Gore about a lock box this administration has spent 1.3TRILLION OF THE Social Security SURPLUS. This is why Clinton worked to ballance the budget
(which benefits solcial security) and when he entered office he combed the federal budget every morning asking his cabinet “if I cut this who will it impact, go find out.” All Gore then implemented it, though he took no credit during his campaign. And John Kerry reached along the isle to try to force Reagan to ballance his budget.

Fact is that since George Washington all the presidents combined acrued
$ 9 Trillion in deficits. 70% OF IT DUE TO THE LOOTING OF OUR TREASURY by Reagan, Bush1, and Bush2. And it is not just our children, today every American is working off in part, the Republican debt.

It is the Executive branch that runs our government and spends 99% of our taxes.

The 12 year Republican majority (plus the 20 years out of 28 years of Republican Presidents) and particularly this administration, is responsible for so much damage it is unthinkable. Every tragedy our nation endures today can be attibuted to their Radical Right Wing ideology.

And while the Democrats have terrible PR, and for Republicans PR is their entire public policy (Other than tax cuts for the greedy and Short sited among the rich), The Democrats believe in the wolking for the Greater good. while the Republicans equate working for the Greater Good with
Communist Central Planning.

Their appeasers, The Air/cable/TV waves are not friends of our nation.
Rather than educating the electorate, they run like a dishonest opposition Party (the mad dogs of the Republicans beholden to them for Media consolidation), it has become the root of Republican Propaganda and the success of a party that only represents about 7 Million people. All else: division and deception (with a dum dawg at the helm) has been done to garner our votes…brainwashing people to vote against their own interests.

Cris Mathews is a Psychological Abuser, and a self proclaimed Alcoholic. His observations of reality are no more than 50% accurate, and he has consistantly attacked the Democratic frontrunner with cascades of erroneous assertions. Tim Russert uses Republican Talking Points and out of context quotes to challange Democrats. They both recently trashed Social Security the innacurate Bush way. And if you don’t catch things live you may have to wait until Republican damage is done. This is the administration whose labor department sent information to companies about how to avoid paying overtime. To those who are not sure if they should vote for Democratic candidates or Republicans. Think again!

alogn with their appeasers

BushCo has diminished every facet of America they’ve touched. Will take the hard work of all of us to restore the basics and build from there.

Demand better of our leadership. Be better, ourselves.

Salut from this daughter of a lifelong IBEW union worker.
Prairie Sunshine

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12…..ref=slogin

I have not followed the WGA strike closely but this seems to be a big failure in union solidarity.

This county has never been a country for people who want things done for them. That is why we are in terrible shape now. This country is about people who are told “no” and they respond with “we will see about that”.

There are two groups of people in general terms who get all the money. The owners of the means of production and the anesthetizers. Where do you spend your time? THere is a whole industry that rakes in the dough keeping you aleep at the wheel. (with apologies to the band)

If you do not like things change it. Find out who in your area wants to be unionized and can’t. If you wait on the “Government” you will always be on somone elses timetable. Where have we gotten waiting for the governemnt on Child Health Care and Ending the War? We can’t even depend on our own party.

Power was placed on the hands of the people in 1776, and they fought for that right. It was diluted a bit in 1789, but the people then also fought to have their voice heard and rights protected.

The power still resides with We The People. If you let “Government” keep you from doing anything it is like having to ask the maid if you can so something in your home. The “Governemnt” derives it power from us and aer our servants. Do feel like a master? Then act like one and it will be. The Constitution says so.

Oh by the way, about time labor began to organize globally instead of trying to fight reality.