A more responsible blogger would have a few half written posts ready to go so that fresh content would be posted during March madness. My blog has suffered while I am engulfed in my sick obsession with the tournament. Shame on me!
Now.
HOW ABOUT THEM SPARTANS!!
MSU has once again made it to the sweet sixteen. Programs with rich histories of tournament greatness are gone and the Spartans continue to play. Kentucky, Indians, Georgetown, Arizona, Duke, UConn all will WATCH the mighty Spartans play! Even if they don’t win another game Seniors Drew Neitzel and Drew Naymick will go out with great careers.
So with all this great basketball, work and the family I will say I have no excuses for not posting for a full week. I will try to pick up the pace!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Change the Rules...
Union members from around the state of Michigan gathered in Lansing today to hear Rich Trumka, Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO address issues facing working families.
Shortly before the speech I met a UAW Brother from Local 2093 which is one of three UAW Locals on strike against American Axle. I excitedly told him about how my wife and I recently took food and water and walked the picket line with them in bone chilling weather. We spoke of the outpouring of support from the communities surrounding their plant and expressed hope the situation would soon be resolved. No doubt about it, American workers are bearing the brunt of the flawed economic policies which have eroded the buying power of the average working family while fattening the foreign bank accounts of CEOs bent on wringing even more sweat from the brow of those doing the heavy lifting.
Rich Trumka began by reminding us that deregulating business and finance led to the Enron collapse as well as the current housing and mortgage mess. “The economy is made up of rules which determine who wins and who loses. Guess who is losing?
He recited the all-too-familiar statistics:
- 3.7 million manufacturing jobs gone since 1998.
- 40,000 facilities closed. Those facilities supported research and development jobs which are now being off-shored too. He cited the new R&D facility GM is building in China.
- 47 million Americans with NO healthcare.
- 50 million are under-insured.
- The United States is spends more than anyone yet is 32nd in the world for health care and 33rd for infant mortality.
- We are seeing the greatest disparity of wealth since 1928. This was the year before the last terrible depression. “I won’t say ‘great’ because there was nothing great about it.” Said Mr. Trumka.
- The number of homeowners owing more than their homes are worth has doubled to 10.3% in the past year.
Against this backdrop he made a profound statement, “We need to change the rules of the economy so working families can once again prosper-so America can once again be a great place with opportunity regardless of one’s race or gender. One key to changing those rules is by winning the Presidency, the House and Senate in the all-important elections this fall. This in turn will lead to the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act which will restore the freedom to organize the workplace. And this will go a long way toward rebuilding the American Middle Class. “Did you know that survey after survey show that the majority of Americans would join a union if they had the chance? 60 million Americans could soon be clamoring to join unions.” Mr. Trumka continued, “The question is, are we going to be ready with the finances and resources to effectively organize?”
He predicted we will have only a 4 to 5 year window before the anti-labor forces mount a counter attack…
3,988
The Fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War is Wed. March 19, 2008. I was thoroughly disgusted to see a recent Pew research center poll that showed only 28% of Americans can approximate the nearly 4,000 U.S. death toll. Adding to the disturbing news is that 11% of people responded that they believed only 2,000 deaths to be the accurate number.
The actual number as of March 17, 2008 is: 3988 confirmed U.S. deaths. (Confirmed by the Dept. of Defense.) Michigan alone has 148 dead.
How could we let this happen? Why is this not the lead story of every newscast, every night? For some reason the importance of who gets the axe from American Idol has become more important than our neighbors getting killed in combat. The media coverage has practically vanished. Cable news network coverage has gone from 24 percent of the time spent on Iraq last year, to just 1 percent this year.
The President will utter his usual “everything is rosy” bullshit, and call those who prefer peace; traitors, quitters or some other nonsense. Bush will ignore the fact that the country believes him to be wrong! The entire administration will continue to use the same old tired rhetoric during what little coverage there may be of Iraq over the next few days. Dick Cheney even said:
"If you look back on those 5 years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavor ... and it has been well worth the effort," Cheney told a news conference in Baghdad.”
And of course John “four more years” McCain burped his obligatory foolish remarks:
“I will be glad to stake my campaign on the fact that this has succeeded and the American people appreciate it.”
The actual number as of March 17, 2008 is: 3988 confirmed U.S. deaths. (Confirmed by the Dept. of Defense.) Michigan alone has 148 dead.
How could we let this happen? Why is this not the lead story of every newscast, every night? For some reason the importance of who gets the axe from American Idol has become more important than our neighbors getting killed in combat. The media coverage has practically vanished. Cable news network coverage has gone from 24 percent of the time spent on Iraq last year, to just 1 percent this year.
The President will utter his usual “everything is rosy” bullshit, and call those who prefer peace; traitors, quitters or some other nonsense. Bush will ignore the fact that the country believes him to be wrong! The entire administration will continue to use the same old tired rhetoric during what little coverage there may be of Iraq over the next few days. Dick Cheney even said:
"If you look back on those 5 years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavor ... and it has been well worth the effort," Cheney told a news conference in Baghdad.”
And of course John “four more years” McCain burped his obligatory foolish remarks:
“I will be glad to stake my campaign on the fact that this has succeeded and the American people appreciate it.”
Thanks Sen. McCain five years down, one hundred to go.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Rocket Science
I‘m not an economist, but my wife is. She earned her PHD in economics from Oklahoma State University. Needless to say, when it comes to politics, she is the irresistible force, and I am the immovable object, according to the laws of physics… something has to give. Recently at our divided but intellectually pragmatic dinner table, I told her to throw away her macro and micro arts and charts and graphs with trend lines and I would solve the nation’s economic woes in three words…STRONG MIDDLE CLASS. America is charting an economic course that smacks of the dark ages feudal system where the serfs…that’s us, (the working men and women) live and work to serve the interests of the ruling class, (aka) Corporate America. Their “low bidder” mentality has placed our once proud nation at risk, and eroded our manufacturing base to a bread line mentality, where $14.00 an hour is somehow considered as “good as it gets” while CEO pay averages 80 times what the guys and gals who actually BUILD SOMETHING make.
This is not rocket science. The longest sustained period of economic growth in this country happened in the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and 70’s.It is no accident that during that period of time, union membership was at the highest level ever, and the American economy was the envy of the world. Those were the days when the American dream of home ownership and your kids being “better off “than their parents, were commonplace. Under the current administration, the only way to be “better off” than your parents is to move in with them and hope they include you in the WILL.
I submit that if we change our economic policy and strengthen the middle class, the mortgage crisis would disappear because our unions will negotiate good paying jobs that allow us to make our mortgage payments. The health care crisis would disappear because our unions will bargain health care for all their “value added workforce” and their families. Globalization would not be a dirty word because our unions would set the standard for all workers across the globe to demand safe and healthy working conditions which increase productivity, and ultimately produce more profit for corporations that their workers can share. And finally, America would be a safe and secure nation when we stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars building roads, schools, hospitals, infrastructure and job creation for hostile nations, while our families at home suffer.
Back in the dark ages, the serfs solved the problem by grabbing their pitch forks and shovels, uniting an army, storming the castle, and throwing the bums out. As proud union members, our vote is our pitchfork, unions are the army, corporate greed is the castle, and we know who the BUMS are….that’s not rocket science.
Oh, and as for my wife….the arts and charts are gone and she sent $200.00 to Hillary, for crying out loud! Me and my big mouth. I asked her what caused her to change her mind….she paused, looked at me across the table, and said,” I grew a conscience.” ……. welcome to the family.
This is not rocket science. The longest sustained period of economic growth in this country happened in the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and 70’s.It is no accident that during that period of time, union membership was at the highest level ever, and the American economy was the envy of the world. Those were the days when the American dream of home ownership and your kids being “better off “than their parents, were commonplace. Under the current administration, the only way to be “better off” than your parents is to move in with them and hope they include you in the WILL.
I submit that if we change our economic policy and strengthen the middle class, the mortgage crisis would disappear because our unions will negotiate good paying jobs that allow us to make our mortgage payments. The health care crisis would disappear because our unions will bargain health care for all their “value added workforce” and their families. Globalization would not be a dirty word because our unions would set the standard for all workers across the globe to demand safe and healthy working conditions which increase productivity, and ultimately produce more profit for corporations that their workers can share. And finally, America would be a safe and secure nation when we stop spending hundreds of billions of dollars building roads, schools, hospitals, infrastructure and job creation for hostile nations, while our families at home suffer.
Back in the dark ages, the serfs solved the problem by grabbing their pitch forks and shovels, uniting an army, storming the castle, and throwing the bums out. As proud union members, our vote is our pitchfork, unions are the army, corporate greed is the castle, and we know who the BUMS are….that’s not rocket science.
Oh, and as for my wife….the arts and charts are gone and she sent $200.00 to Hillary, for crying out loud! Me and my big mouth. I asked her what caused her to change her mind….she paused, looked at me across the table, and said,” I grew a conscience.” ……. welcome to the family.
Clean Up
Some administrative clean up.
There are a pile O’ new links and some minor and not so minor changes in the left column of the blog. The politifact.com truth-o-meter is a cool little widget that will likely stay until the election is over.
The links are long over due!
Blue Collar Heart is a brand new blog by a friend who has been active in unions, politics and labor for years. This is her very first attempt at blogging but she is a longtime writer so I have no doubt that she will be great! Please check her out and offer encouragement!
LJ’s Blogorific is a fellow activist who I had the pleasure of having lunch with after some anti-right to work training. Cool guy and some really great writing! Enjoy!
Progress Michigan Blog also called the Upper Hand! Our friend Julielyn Gibbons is behind the scenes at Progress Michigan, among other places, pretty much anything that she has a hand in is worthwhile! Check it out.
Ranting of a Sarcastic Cynic is the blog of a really thought provoking guy I met at camp Wellstone. He lives in Detroit and has very well thought out posts. If this guy didn’t live so far from me I would be getting his input on just about everything political that I do! This guy is way smarter than he realizes!
Rockridge Institute George Lakoff’s Blog. GREAT and I do mean GREAT, resource for figuring out how to shatter faulty frames and change the dynamic of the debate.
It has been really crazy at work for me lately and these great blogs should have been linked long ago! Also, thanks to LakeMich for stepping in and writing a few great posts lately!
There are a pile O’ new links and some minor and not so minor changes in the left column of the blog. The politifact.com truth-o-meter is a cool little widget that will likely stay until the election is over.
The links are long over due!
Blue Collar Heart is a brand new blog by a friend who has been active in unions, politics and labor for years. This is her very first attempt at blogging but she is a longtime writer so I have no doubt that she will be great! Please check her out and offer encouragement!
LJ’s Blogorific is a fellow activist who I had the pleasure of having lunch with after some anti-right to work training. Cool guy and some really great writing! Enjoy!
Progress Michigan Blog also called the Upper Hand! Our friend Julielyn Gibbons is behind the scenes at Progress Michigan, among other places, pretty much anything that she has a hand in is worthwhile! Check it out.
Ranting of a Sarcastic Cynic is the blog of a really thought provoking guy I met at camp Wellstone. He lives in Detroit and has very well thought out posts. If this guy didn’t live so far from me I would be getting his input on just about everything political that I do! This guy is way smarter than he realizes!
Rockridge Institute George Lakoff’s Blog. GREAT and I do mean GREAT, resource for figuring out how to shatter faulty frames and change the dynamic of the debate.
It has been really crazy at work for me lately and these great blogs should have been linked long ago! Also, thanks to LakeMich for stepping in and writing a few great posts lately!
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Cold Winds and Warm Hearts at Local 2093 in Three Rivers, Michigan
My wife and I took food and water down the Sisters and Brothers at UAW Local 2093 in Three Rivers Friday night. They were forced out on strike due to unreasonable demands by American Axle that they cut their pay in half…
Folks gathered about the burning barrels in an effort to ward off a ten degree wind chill which no doubt would worsen as the evening temperatures were predicted to plummet into the single digits. I worried for the sisters and brothers who would be out there on the front lines during the 4 am to 8 am shift when the bone chilling cold would be at its worst.
I was thankful for my warm American made Carhart Artic Jacket which has kept me warm over the years. I wonder if that product line has suffered a similar fate like the thousands of other production jobs which have been shipped to foreign lands by greedy unpatriotic corporate leaders like the owner of American Axle, Dick Douch; who is threatening to move everything offshore to lands which cater to the dictatorial whims of his ilk. Local 2093 Brother Robert Snyder and I chatted as we warmed our hands over the fire. He has been a victim of ‘globalization’ before, Rob shares the following; “Years ago I worked for Aeromotive in Kalamazoo. They moved our jobs to Mexico and China. Over 200 of us lost our jobs in a month’s time.”
The movement of American manufacturing jobs offshore in the name of the ‘global market forces’ is a national disgrace. Jobs which fuel the American Middle Class are being ‘off-shored’ due to a lack of cohesive national manufacturing policy. Meanwhile, Republican politicians continue to smile and repeat the 'mantra of the moment' as the resulting recession which grips our land shows no signs of letting up.
According to the banter around the barrels that night, American Axle owner Dick Douch made over $36 million last year, not counting bonuses.
I am reminded of the squeals of children’s laughter as we unloaded the food and water at the Local 2093 union hall. Our friends at Local 2093 are trying to live their lives and raise their families. Those children deserve a future. A middle class future…
Folks gathered about the burning barrels in an effort to ward off a ten degree wind chill which no doubt would worsen as the evening temperatures were predicted to plummet into the single digits. I worried for the sisters and brothers who would be out there on the front lines during the 4 am to 8 am shift when the bone chilling cold would be at its worst.
I was thankful for my warm American made Carhart Artic Jacket which has kept me warm over the years. I wonder if that product line has suffered a similar fate like the thousands of other production jobs which have been shipped to foreign lands by greedy unpatriotic corporate leaders like the owner of American Axle, Dick Douch; who is threatening to move everything offshore to lands which cater to the dictatorial whims of his ilk. Local 2093 Brother Robert Snyder and I chatted as we warmed our hands over the fire. He has been a victim of ‘globalization’ before, Rob shares the following; “Years ago I worked for Aeromotive in Kalamazoo. They moved our jobs to Mexico and China. Over 200 of us lost our jobs in a month’s time.”
The movement of American manufacturing jobs offshore in the name of the ‘global market forces’ is a national disgrace. Jobs which fuel the American Middle Class are being ‘off-shored’ due to a lack of cohesive national manufacturing policy. Meanwhile, Republican politicians continue to smile and repeat the 'mantra of the moment' as the resulting recession which grips our land shows no signs of letting up.
According to the banter around the barrels that night, American Axle owner Dick Douch made over $36 million last year, not counting bonuses.
I am reminded of the squeals of children’s laughter as we unloaded the food and water at the Local 2093 union hall. Our friends at Local 2093 are trying to live their lives and raise their families. Those children deserve a future. A middle class future…
Counterpoint
I was a bit surprised to see a recent post by a blogger, whom I have read often and greatly admire her work, touting the positive points of the “lean” business model going as far as to say:
Our small manufacturing businesses are lean, efficient and know how to make a penny squeak. And that's a good thing - for all of us.
I would like to submit a counterpoint to this argument; with special emphasis on the last sentence.
The article linked to is a fairly long article. It uses the example of a Herman Miller worker who is thankful that the company made changes over the last few years. For unknown reasons the article failed to mention that the worker quoted is a company spokesperson. The article is from the Financial Times which would explain its use of the terms slashing costs and diversifying internationally; read- eliminating jobs and outsourcing. As usual in corporate America these layoffs and shipping of American jobs overseas occurred while the top executive’s compensation was way above that of competitors’ executive compensation. Herman Miller has outstanding products and is a Michigan company that has stuck with the state through hard times. I don’t mean to pick on them. My point is that they are typical of corporate America and shouldn’t be lauded as some sort of great business example for laying off working people and sending jobs overseas while only their executives reap the financial gains.
This sort of business model I would argue is BAD for many people. There are recent reports all over the place regarding the tough economic times that are upon us. Numerous trade agreements have been and are likely will be sold to America as a means to help workers in each of the countries that are involved. Bullshit! There are many well written easy to understand explanations on why and how trade and globalization HURTS workers. We are likely all aware of how purchasing cheap, poorly made products can harm or even kill us after the recent lead paint on children’s toys scare. I could go on about the ill effects of trade on working people but I won’t, I will leave it for the many other posts that I write against ill-conceived trade deals.
I know that the intention of the original post that I referenced was to draw positive news from a Michigan company in the news. But it needs to be pointed out that layoffs and plant closings are not good “for all of us.” They are good for the board of directors, the CEO and the shareholders. I wonder how many of the people in the unemployment line were excited about the jump in Herman Miller stock prices after the layoffs were announced.
This is not meant to pick a fight or anything silly like that. Two reasonable people can have a genuine difference of opinion. I hope I have not crossed the line Cordelia.
Our small manufacturing businesses are lean, efficient and know how to make a penny squeak. And that's a good thing - for all of us.
I would like to submit a counterpoint to this argument; with special emphasis on the last sentence.
The article linked to is a fairly long article. It uses the example of a Herman Miller worker who is thankful that the company made changes over the last few years. For unknown reasons the article failed to mention that the worker quoted is a company spokesperson. The article is from the Financial Times which would explain its use of the terms slashing costs and diversifying internationally; read- eliminating jobs and outsourcing. As usual in corporate America these layoffs and shipping of American jobs overseas occurred while the top executive’s compensation was way above that of competitors’ executive compensation. Herman Miller has outstanding products and is a Michigan company that has stuck with the state through hard times. I don’t mean to pick on them. My point is that they are typical of corporate America and shouldn’t be lauded as some sort of great business example for laying off working people and sending jobs overseas while only their executives reap the financial gains.
This sort of business model I would argue is BAD for many people. There are recent reports all over the place regarding the tough economic times that are upon us. Numerous trade agreements have been and are likely will be sold to America as a means to help workers in each of the countries that are involved. Bullshit! There are many well written easy to understand explanations on why and how trade and globalization HURTS workers. We are likely all aware of how purchasing cheap, poorly made products can harm or even kill us after the recent lead paint on children’s toys scare. I could go on about the ill effects of trade on working people but I won’t, I will leave it for the many other posts that I write against ill-conceived trade deals.
I know that the intention of the original post that I referenced was to draw positive news from a Michigan company in the news. But it needs to be pointed out that layoffs and plant closings are not good “for all of us.” They are good for the board of directors, the CEO and the shareholders. I wonder how many of the people in the unemployment line were excited about the jump in Herman Miller stock prices after the layoffs were announced.
This is not meant to pick a fight or anything silly like that. Two reasonable people can have a genuine difference of opinion. I hope I have not crossed the line Cordelia.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
There are three UAW Locals in Michigan striking American Axle.
Please consider supporting them.
The two Detroit Locals:
UAW Local 262
313 871-0626
8490 St. Aubin
Detroit
UAW Local 235
313 871-1190
2140 Holbrook
Hamtramck
Driving Directions which are from one of the folks at the hall.
Take I-96 east to the Davison Freeway eastbound.
Continue easterly on Davison Freeway to I-75 south. Continue south (not too far) to the Holbrook exit. Turn left on Holbrook. Both locals are within a mile or so. Local 262 is at the first light 1/2 mile down and Local 235 is just prior to the 2nd light.
UAW Local 2093
269-279-5201
15802 Hoffman
Three Rivers, Mi
Take I-69 south to I-94 West to US 131 south toward Three Rivers.
As you approach the north side of town the American Axle Plant looms to the left. Hoffman is just past the plant.
Please consider supporting them.
The two Detroit Locals:
UAW Local 262
313 871-0626
8490 St. Aubin
Detroit
UAW Local 235
313 871-1190
2140 Holbrook
Hamtramck
Driving Directions which are from one of the folks at the hall.
Take I-96 east to the Davison Freeway eastbound.
Continue easterly on Davison Freeway to I-75 south. Continue south (not too far) to the Holbrook exit. Turn left on Holbrook. Both locals are within a mile or so. Local 262 is at the first light 1/2 mile down and Local 235 is just prior to the 2nd light.
UAW Local 2093
269-279-5201
15802 Hoffman
Three Rivers, Mi
Take I-69 south to I-94 West to US 131 south toward Three Rivers.
As you approach the north side of town the American Axle Plant looms to the left. Hoffman is just past the plant.
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