Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I want to be a scab

I had never wanted to be a union member until the other day when I drove past the striking Boeing workers. They had a giant "scab of the month" banner naming one of their co-workers who, and this is shocking, decided to keep working to support himself. I want my name on a banner like that.

For a long time I've thought that if you wanted to do something positive for taxpayers, gun owners, property owners, unborn babies and children the best thing you could do in Oregon was weaken the unions. Kari Chisholm (who hates black people, I keep saying it so it must be true) really proved my point:

You can't be a progressive unless you're pro-labor
The good folks of organized labor are the only people putting substantial and sustained resources into fighting for progressive policies.

If we didn't have organized labor fighting for progressive policies and Democratic candidates, we'd have lost the battle long, long ago.

But to point out that unions are not always self serving, Chisholm does note that unions actively work to elect people who will screw them:

If we get universal health care in this country, it's highly likely that individual union members will pay more and get less than they get under their current negotiated contracts.

And yet, everywhere you turn, it's organized labor that's leading the grassroots fight for universal health care.

Keep that in mind when you vote on your ballot measures that deal with unions and the public money they use to campaign for socialism.

16 comments:

Kaelri said...

Daniel, my friend, with no unions at all, we'd have 80-hour work weeks and child labor. I look forward to a slightly more nuanced criticism.

Anonymous said...

Yes kaelri, but as with most power structures in this country, it's outlived it usefulness. Tell me aside from supporting democrats, what do labor unions (not trade unions) accomplish? The company I work for we were lucky, and rejected the IAM. If we were to have gotten that in, I'd not be able to make my mortgage payment because I'd have to "support" my fellow union members. Too bad the union leaders wouldn't have done the same.

Anonymous said...

Talk, talk, talk, talk. You want to be a scab? Then go cross their picket line. Let them shove a camera in your face like you do to Latino workers, and let them hoist your picture and name high. You're not dreaming of the impossible, you know. If you want to be a scab, you can be one. So let's see it, Miglavs. Let's see what a big man you are. You talk a big talk. So walk the walk.

Anonymous said...

Is it too early to join a successionist movement? With B. Hussein Obama in the White House will states like Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Idaho succeed from the Union? Is it possible that parts of eastern Washington and Oregon would join the movement? I have a dream.

Anonymous said...

kaelri, the when the unions when they were started were needed. If I remember correctly, Japan does not have unions or very few. Their bosses understand the need to treat their employees with respect. Most companies these days are much better than they were a century ago in treating their employees. Unions are not needed now in my opinion. Here in Oregon, they control a lot of elections. They will always do what is best for them, not our state and community. Unions have helps close a lot of manufacturing plants in this country.

I agree with Rick, unions have outlived their usefulness.

Anonymous said...

Is it too early to join a successionist movement?

Oh grow up and get a life. If the United States can survive George W. Bush, I think it will survive Barack Obama. As if there's never been a Democrat in the White House before. Jesus, you guys act like he's some sort of space alien who's going to shoot lasers out of his eyes or something.

Anonymous said...

So, you gun-toters want to succeed from the Union (like those other Alaskan liberals). And you would thereby be "successionists." When you get your own country, don't forget to lobby for better schoolin' that you got so far.

zib-zab

Anonymous said...

"...don't forget to lobby for better schoolin' that you got so far"

zit-zab, It appears you're the one in need of "better schoolin'". Obviously you attended a government school.

Anonymous said...

I propose that this new country be called ... Miglavia. Seriously. To get in, you need to fail an IQ test.

Anonymous said...

7865 sw brentwood 97225 now has five mexican scabs on the roof doing work illegally/ owner is laura forbes.
these are the real scabs/
call ICE they are so unafraid of being deported they are practically shouting in spanish.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, because if they're Mexican and speaking Spanish, then by definition, they're "illegal aliens." Nothing bigoted about that, though. Nothing at all. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Anony 1:01pm

Are you serious, you have not idea they are legal or not but you have not problem posting this address. I find interesting that Daniel miglavs will allow this post to remain but if someone was to post his address he would be up in arms and delete it. There is no proof that those workers are illegal so why is this address still posted?

Anonymous said...

Miglavs and his family personally benefit from a LOT of things that unions accomplished during the 20th century, more than he realizes.

They did not accomplish these things thanks to scabs, Mr. Miglavs. They accomplished these things in spite of scabs.

Clearly, the only thing you are interested in accomplishing in your life is showing off your astounding ignorance and behaving like a fucking asshole.

Anonymous said...

Miglavs, your wife is a state employee, yes? If so, she's a member of SEIU Local 503, Oregon Public Employees Union, yes?

Polish Immigrant said...

GM, Ford, Chrysler are all unionized. They will go bankrupt unless bailed out. Toyota and Honda may have unions but they are relatively new in the US and don't have to pay for 1 million retirees' pensions, health care, etc. Where would you like to work today if you wanted some job security?

Anonymous said...

So when did it become appropriate to post someone’s home address even though what was said about what going there was totally incorrect. Then is it suitable for me to start receiving harassing phone calls and even have the workers approached and harassed also? From where I stand I don’t think so, and since Danny runs this site and has refused to take down my address here we go. Danny can be harassed at 23352 SW ST Charles WY. Sherwood OR 503.625.0123. Turn about is only fair game and you can see what we have but up with!