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Unions
Topic Started: Mar 3 2014, 11:42 AM (824 Views)
Neutral
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colo_crawdad
Mar 11 2014, 10:54 PM
Berton
Mar 11 2014, 10:15 PM
Why do some on the Left keep attempting to spread the myth that, prior to Citizens, unions did not spend money, almost unlimited money, on election campaigns? Obviously they do not want the playing field to be level.
bsmeter

Obviously written by a poster who has had absolutely no dealings with real uios. One who has never sat on any union Borards of Directors. Yes, one who know nothing more than what he/she has picked up from right wing propaganda sites.

Oh, and written by a poster who shows originality.
Written by a poster who knows nothing about anything and even copies insults. :bounce:
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colo_crawdad
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You know, Neutral, that I sat on a union Board of directors for several years. That was before the Citizens decision. I know for a fact that no union dues dues could be spent for political purposes on a campaign. Hell, even in kind help like our bank of telephones could not be used unless paid for out of the voluntary PAC donations.

I have some actual experience in the field. I truly doubt that either you or Berton have any comparable experience.
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Pat
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tomdrobin
Mar 11 2014, 10:42 PM
I would like to know how the unions who represent 15-17% of the workers in this country come up with "virtually unlimited" funds to spend on politics?

Reality Check.

Quote:
 
The Campaign to Screw Most of Us

Why the 1% Brews Blowhards, Bigots & Bitter Tea Parties

What's Going On?

There is an elaborate strategic process at work here. It started with the Powell Memo in 1971 urging corporations and wealthy elites to defend the "Free Market" against "Tax & Spend" liberals, "Big Government" progressives, and "Thugish" union leaders. These slogans are part of a carefully-crafted propaganda campaign by organized wealth.

And this is just part of the more than $1 Billion spent by elitist funders since 1971 to shift wealth upwards, pick our pockets, and stomp on the basic human rights of most of us.

Their strategy is simple, and they openly brag about it:

Cut taxes, especially for the wealthy, to "starve" federal, state, and local governments until their ability to serve our needs is wrecked.
Attack labor unions and minimum wage laws to lower labor costs.
Push deregulation to remove laws that protect the environment and public safety.
Privatize, privatize, privatize.
When society starts to fall apart, blame liberals, immigrants, Muslims, women, gay people, progressive organizers, and other handy scapegoats villified on Fox News and other right-wing media.
Let's use labor unions as an example.

Over the past 30 years, corporate conservatives and economic libertarians have spent more than $170 million just trying to convince us that labor unions are bad for America, and that government laws and regulations should not protect a worker's right to organize a union without harassment or termination.

The coalition of foundations that fund conservative and right-wing think tanks and other institutions that attack organized labor give money to an array of allied and interconnected think tanks that numerous reports and issue an endless stream of press releases.

This creates the impression that there is a groundswell of support for reigning in labor unions and government "interference" in corporate affairs.

These foundations often give long-term grants that provide stability and ensure the survival of conservative and right-wing think tanks. They support both a Social Movement Infrastructure and a Political Movement Infrastructure.

Until a similar progressive social movement infrastructure is created and sustained, the Democratic Party will continue to move to the right; and the right-wing attacks on working people, a living wage, and handy scapegoats will increase.

Robust social movements pull political parties towards them -- It's not the other way around and never has been.


http://www.organizedwealth.us/

Much, much more at the link. Of course Berton will deny until his dying breath that he has been indoctrinated by the propaganda.
Assuming that most Americans are born with the same or similar bodies and minds, could you quantify this statement for me? Do you believe that when you worked that the income you earned was yours? Do you believe that the income you derived from investments is yours?

"And this is just part of the more than $1 Billion spent by elitist funders since 1971 to shift wealth upwards, pick our pockets, and stomp on the basic human rights of most of us."
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wanderingjays
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Pat
Mar 12 2014, 12:13 AM
tomdrobin
Mar 11 2014, 10:42 PM
I would like to know how the unions who represent 15-17% of the workers in this country come up with "virtually unlimited" funds to spend on politics?

Reality Check.

Quote:
 
The Campaign to Screw Most of Us

Why the 1% Brews Blowhards, Bigots & Bitter Tea Parties

What's Going On?

There is an elaborate strategic process at work here. It started with the Powell Memo in 1971 urging corporations and wealthy elites to defend the "Free Market" against "Tax & Spend" liberals, "Big Government" progressives, and "Thugish" union leaders. These slogans are part of a carefully-crafted propaganda campaign by organized wealth.

And this is just part of the more than $1 Billion spent by elitist funders since 1971 to shift wealth upwards, pick our pockets, and stomp on the basic human rights of most of us.

Their strategy is simple, and they openly brag about it:

Cut taxes, especially for the wealthy, to "starve" federal, state, and local governments until their ability to serve our needs is wrecked.
Attack labor unions and minimum wage laws to lower labor costs.
Push deregulation to remove laws that protect the environment and public safety.
Privatize, privatize, privatize.
When society starts to fall apart, blame liberals, immigrants, Muslims, women, gay people, progressive organizers, and other handy scapegoats villified on Fox News and other right-wing media.
Let's use labor unions as an example.

Over the past 30 years, corporate conservatives and economic libertarians have spent more than $170 million just trying to convince us that labor unions are bad for America, and that government laws and regulations should not protect a worker's right to organize a union without harassment or termination.

The coalition of foundations that fund conservative and right-wing think tanks and other institutions that attack organized labor give money to an array of allied and interconnected think tanks that numerous reports and issue an endless stream of press releases.

This creates the impression that there is a groundswell of support for reigning in labor unions and government "interference" in corporate affairs.

These foundations often give long-term grants that provide stability and ensure the survival of conservative and right-wing think tanks. They support both a Social Movement Infrastructure and a Political Movement Infrastructure.

Until a similar progressive social movement infrastructure is created and sustained, the Democratic Party will continue to move to the right; and the right-wing attacks on working people, a living wage, and handy scapegoats will increase.

Robust social movements pull political parties towards them -- It's not the other way around and never has been.


http://www.organizedwealth.us/

Much, much more at the link. Of course Berton will deny until his dying breath that he has been indoctrinated by the propaganda.
Assuming that most Americans are born with the same or similar bodies and minds, could you quantify this statement for me? Do you believe that when you worked that the income you earned was yours? Do you believe that the income you derived from investments is yours?

"And this is just part of the more than $1 Billion spent by elitist funders since 1971 to shift wealth upwards, pick our pockets, and stomp on the basic human rights of most of us."
Idf the income I worked for and from my investments isn't mine to use as I see fit , whose is it ?
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campingken
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Other than taxes that you might owe it's yours...
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tomdrobin
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Pat
Mar 12 2014, 12:13 AM
Assuming that most Americans are born with the same or similar bodies and minds, could you quantify this statement for me? Do you believe that when you worked that the income you earned was yours? Do you believe that the income you derived from investments is yours?

"And this is just part of the more than $1 Billion spent by elitist funders since 1971 to shift wealth upwards, pick our pockets, and stomp on the basic human rights of most of us."
First off people vary dramatically in intelligence, motivation and talents. They also very dramatically in health, fitness and character traits. Now, I suppose you could take the attitude that the cream will rise to the top, and those most capable will generally attain a higher standing and wealth and shouldn't be encumbered with the plight of others. Call it economic Darwinism.

But, it is also true that what one attains in this life depends on more than just their personal traits. Sometimes their is some luck involved or the right set of circumstances. And, the society they live in can offer opportunities that aren't available everywhere. No one lives in a vacuum. And, it is appropriate IMO to pay your dues in the form of taxes based on your ability to pay.

Where we have problems is once someone becomes very successful, and then uses that wealth and power to consolidate even more for themselves at the expense of others. An example would be companies that pay their employees so little they qualify for government safety net programs for the poor. Or a corporation that uses their wealth and power to get politicians elected who will stack the economic deck in their favor. Things like tax cuts the country can't afford. The gutting of environmental and consumer protection regulations. And, the list goes on and on. IMO unions are a necessary evil in combating this tendency. If every corporation acted like a good citizen with regards to adequately compensating it's workers and genuinely looked after their health and safety, unions wouldn't be necessary. But, that isn't the way capitalism works. The primary motivation is a return on investment. It's up to government and unions to counterbalance that motivation. Recall the early days of the industrial revolution and all it's excesses. Immigrants working at almost slave wages for long hours with no benefits. Sure we had an economic juggernaut, but many were sacrificed in the process. Have you watched many old westerns? Picture the company town, where everyone is beholden to the main employer, who dictates their standard of living, controls the politicians and dispenses justice based on their own slanted view of right and wrong. That is a microcosm of the takeover of democracy by international corporate interests.
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