Pro Union

(Cross-posted at Vim and Vinegar)

I was born in Michigan. I have family members who have worked at various points in the past with various different Unions. While I would not call myself a "Union Man," I do believe that I have a sympathetic ear to Unions.

I remember reading about the AFL-CIO, Samuel Gompers, and all sorts of information regarding the creation of Unions in school, and I always took it as a given that the presence of Unions was a good thing. I have believed, and still believe that there is an inherent benefit to the strength of our country that is provided by a strong Union infrastructure.

I am writing this in Ulysses-style, so I doubt I will make a terribly coherent, compelling argument in support of my position, but I'll shoot for it nonetheless.

in the 1800s, we saw the age of Robber Barons and tycoons. We saw a whole lot of money and opportunity go towards the richest of the rich while the poor, the immigrants, the women, and the children would toil for 12-18 hours a day for subsistence rations. It was a vicious cycle wherein the rich got richer while the poor could barely stay afloat.

With the advent of collective bargaining, Unions created a situation where individuals could negotiate for improved conditions - standard workweeks, more pay, benefits, job security, etc. The result was an era of unprecedented growth for America. Productivity soared. More people had more money, the rich were still fabulously rich, people were able to start doing things such as take vacations, buy luxury items, which further drove our economy, creating more wealth. We became the industrial power that was the standard for the world in the 20th century. It strikes me as no coincidence that the areas that saw the strongest growth in the 20th Century were the ones that had the strongest Union presence.

Now, while I believe that a strong Union is necessary, I believe that a Union can be too overbearing. I think that there have been times in the past few decades where Unions have made demands more to justify the continued presence of the Union than to protect against an actual or potential harm. Such overreaches can weaken the benefit Unions provide by providing an argument against the existence of said Unions. So, to a certain degree, I believe that Unions need to be a strong, silent presence, except when truly needed (a difficult task, I'm sure).

We're in a position now where I think the benefits of Unions can be made apparent once again. We have seen an increase in income gap between the richest Americans and the middle class (whose salaries have grown in relation to inflation in 30 or so years); we're seeing record numbers of families below the poverty line, we're seeing politicians and pundits arguing in favor of stripping/scaling back benefits for the majority of Americans (see Social Security) while arguing strongly in support of continuing tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans.

Corporate America has the bullhorn. They control the message, and they shout it loudly and often. I am pro-Union, because I believe that the working American needs a collective voice for the long-term benefit of our country and our way of life.

Misinformation Central

Disclaimer - I don't dislike Bill O'Reilly. I think he's about as fair as you get on Fox News, and he admits to a conservative bias. I'm not particularly a fan, and I don't regularly watch his show, but I saw this link on Salon.com and checked out his interview with Glenn Beck, who I do not like. I'm amazed that people follow this guy's ramblings, or that he has any fan base whatsoever. Everything in the world is tied to some socialist/communist movement designed to take down our countries, even here in America.

Now, the one source Beck provided in this interview was to what he termed the "One Nation" movement, which he claimed was a collection of the Unions and all the socialist (or was it Communist?) organizations in America trying to bring Fundamental Change to our way of life. The link he stated on the interview was to here. I took a chance to check out the link, and it turns out this website is "English for the Children," an organization in favor of Proposition 227.

I just don't understand this guy's draw.

I'm Still Here

But I'm mostly Blogging at my friend Just Wondering's site, Vim and Vinegar anymore.

Just not having the same dedication to run my own blog anymore.

As the Year Draws to a Close

While I can say I'm frustrated with what's going on, I can't say who I think bears the brunt of the blame. Republicans have been nothing but obstructionist game players who have shown an unwillingness to bend on anything that isn't their creation, but Democrats have been very slow to call Republicans on this obstructionism.

I do think the next two years are going to be constant attempts by the Republicans to destroy President Obama, which is unfortunate, because if they gave him a fair chance, they'd probably see that he's closer to the center (and possible a little bit on the right) than the wingnuts in charge of the Republican Party care to admit.

I've been mostly absent from this blog this year - I'm just not feeling the draw that I once felt for this. Not sure whether I'll get my mojo back or not; I tend to think this was more a distraction from Law School than any bona fide desire to get my voice out there the longer I go between posts...

The War On Christmas

I love the line about being secure in one's own religion.

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Food for Thought

I've more or less given up on the notion that Republicans are at all interested in serious governance. I think they have made it quite clear over the past decade that they are interested in one thing: the accumulation of power.

Sometimes, though, it's good to hear someone else's take on the position, just to give a better explanation for that determination. To that end, I direct you to read Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog, who has written quite well on this topic here, building on Andrew Sullivan's post here.

Both reads are good.

Sorry for the absence, again

So it's been a busy year. I've been mostly gone from the blog, but that's more due to malaise than anything else. Frankly, with spare time, I have nothing to avoid doing by blogging, which means I have less desire to blog.

I've been working as an Oil and Gas title attorney now for about 6 months. I don't mind the work, though, strangely, I do miss the commute. There's something to be said about having to get away from home and going to an office.

I am pretty certain I've decided to try to find work elsewhere. We had the opportunity to move to St. Louis earlier this year when I received an offer to work for the Department of Social Security, but we had to decline that offer due to the short notice of the start date as well as their refusal to help pay relocation. In the long run, it may have been a beneficial placement, but circumstances kept that from being a possibility legitimately.

At any rate, I think the spouse would be more comfortable moving west as opposed to midwest, and to that end, I've started looking for positions in the private sector on the West Coast. We'll see what, if anything pops up. In the meantime I'll keep plugging away at the job I'm doing, though I'm still not terribly pleased with the position (more about pay than performance).

I'm not sure why this is still a story

But Anderson Cooper does an outstanding job of showing the inanity of the "birther" position.

Busy Morning So Far

Turned in a new timesheet, finished another Chain of title, went and bought a new lawnmower (Toro - man that thing is quiet!) and cut the grass for the first time in like 3 weeks.

Need to get the title opinion for this newest COT done - I'll get a good start to it today, but probably won't finish it until tomorrow, but still, it's progress. I should be able to get through at least one more runsheet this week beyond this one. Getting through these a little more quickly now that the Base runsheet's done.

Cut and Run

That's apparently Governor Jan Brewer's new tactic after being shown to be inarticulate and unprepared for her first debate. She has now stated that she will no longer participate in gubernatorial debates and that she only did the first one for the money (public funds for her campaign). (all links from TPM unless otherwise specified)

Of course, facing people who ask questions would require her to answer to her false claims about beheadings in the desert. Because when she's not tied to a chair, she can just ignore it (azcentral.com) and walk away (tucsoncitizen.com)

This appears to be the future of the Republican Party - no direct answers, avoid the media directly but use them for their talking points. We see it from Palin to Angle to Paul, and now Brewer appears to be doing the same thing.

It astounds me that people support these candidates. Jan Brewer has a 20 point lead according to the Fox News clip on that last article. That's shocking.

Apathy

I don't care about Dancing with the Stars, and I don't care about Bristol Palin. I really don't care about Dancing with the Stars FEATURING Bristol Palin.

We're Still Here

School started this week and I've been somewhat busy with work and other concerns.

Need to find a hunting spot.

My Two Cents' On the "Cordoba Center"

I find it interesting just how much disinformation is out there regarding the Cordoba Center or the absurdly misnamed "Ground Zero Mosque."

First off - it's a former Burlington Coat Factory.
Second - it's a Community Center, more along the lines of a YMCA than anything else - basketball courts, swimming pools, etc., and open to all.
Third - It's less than 300 feet from an already existant Mosque.
Fourth - Muslims are working on the reconstruction in and around the ACTUAL ground zero with no complaints - though are they not doing a disservice to the memory of those killed by the attacks by practicing the religion of those who killed in the name of the same Allah they worship on the selfsame site?
Fifth - No Muslim Americans were involved in the bombing of the WTC. (if you need a link for this, then I really have no time for your opinion)
Sixth - Imam Rauf is arguably as big (or bigger) target of Al Qaeda than the "infidels" because he is not as pious (radical) as AQ.
Seventh - This "controversy" is the product of Fox News and company.
Eighth - Muslims were among those killed on 9-11. Denying one religion the ability to build on private property while not pining for a similar moratorium should other religions plan to build on private property diminishes the religious freedom (one of the things for which we ostensibly stand) and by extension their equal standing as American citizens - the very things that Al Qaeda hates us for.

I support Park 51, because of a couple reasons - first and foremost, it's their right to do so and I support 1st Amendment rights. Second, I think it's a slap in the face to AQ to allow this center to be built - "we respect the rights of all religions so greatly that we're able to accept willingly the construction of a center founded by men and women who subscribe to the same religion as you - we don't hate your way of life, we embrace all comers!" Third - For those who say "we support your right to build, just don't build 'here,'" I ask - what distance is far enough to be "acceptable?" One of my problems with the opposition (and with much Right-Wing rhetoric anymore is that there's never a serious (or in this case *any*) alternative proposed, just "no."

Quite frankly, unless you live in Manhattan near the site, how does this story affect you? Had Fox News and friends not manufactured the controversy in time for the new election cycle, would you have even known about it?

Wednesday - Crossroads

So I turned down a job offer a couple weeks ago, though I'm having second thoughts. The attorney is quite amicable, very knowledgeable, and I'd have full time hours at about $75-100/hour.

My current job allows me a lot of flexibility - I get to work on my own set of hours, I get to work at my own pace, and I get to stay at home - no commute, but I make less money per hour and I work fewer hours.

I'm not sure how I should handle this - maybe I should call the attorney who I'd turned down to see if he might have a spot for me part time a couple days a week, or maybe I should give up on the job I'm doing currently, or maybe I should continue doing what I'm doing, or I should switch jobs altogether and move to the new firm, which would give us the financial means for my wife to leave her job to find a new one if she wanted, closer to home...

Truth to Power

Thank you, Michael Bloomberg For speaking to one of the core tenets of our nation.

Dana Milbank Tackles Glenn Beck

The article starts by talking about an event outside Oakland, where a Glenn Beck listener got it in his mind that he needed to go do some killin' to stop the evil liberals from stealing our country. Dana then goes into greater detail about how this isn't an isolated incident, and that there is a common denominator here - listeners of Glenn Beck's conspiracy theories...

Speaking of Conspiracy Theories, Rubicon starts tonight.

Those Who Don't Study History

Are doomed to repeat it.

Sarah Palin claims her interviews were edited to make her look bad during the 2008 campaign.

Here is the full transcript of the Charles Gibson interview. There are other links to her other interviews there as well. Read them in their entirety and determine what you think.

Then Why is There Still Violence?

Apparently, John McCain knows something that he's not telling the rest of the world. I wish our guys knew that we already won the war in Iraq and that it's a peaceful, stable democracy that is a regional ally like we were told it would become.

What to Say

I've been neglecting the blog. I know this.

I'd like to say that I have a good excuse, like I've been busy with work, but while that's technically true, it's also misleading, as I was out of work for several months, and even now that I am working again, I'm working from home, so I have no commute to speak of to muck things up. In other words, I have more free time, yet I feel like I have less.

The kids are home for summer vacation. I'm glad, because I don't have to pay daycare, and I get to spend the summer with our rugrats. The Boy and the Princess have both started swimming this year, which is good for me, in that I don't have to try to watch 3 separate kids all at once while we go to the pool, but it's bad, because now they constantly want to go to the pool (I don't oppose activity, but I can't always take an hour or two each day to take them in).

The Apple is still somewhat afraid of the water. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the water being deeper than he is tall, but I would like to see him getting a little more active in the pool.

At home, we've gotten accustomed to the dog. Molly is basically a gassier part of our family now. Very sweet dog who just knows that she loves us and we love her. Sometimes the Princess loves her so much it hurts (literally).

As you know, I've yet to get paid, but once the checks start coming in, I should be able to get out of the house from time to time. That will be nice. Sometimes I feel like a shutin.

Productivity

I've got several invoices in now for work, and hopefully it's just a matter of time before the checks start arriving.

I'm doing a reasonable job of getting between 25 and 35 hours in each week, which is better than a lot of their folks do, I guess. While I'd like to get closer to 40 billable hours a week, the kids still require attention, as does the house.

At any rate, if the math is right, I think I'll be making a fair bit more part time than I was making full time at my last job.