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Forum Post: Buy American; Join a Union

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 3, 2012, 1:25 p.m. EST by jds1952 (12)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

The most impactive action that every member of the 99% can do to improve the economic situation for the middle class is Buy American. The next best action is to join a union.

16 Comments

16 Comments


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[-] 1 points by freewriterguy (882) 12 years ago

its an oxymoron to buy american, when noone can afford to buy american.

[-] 1 points by Shawn22 (5) 12 years ago

In the height of the Civil Rights Movement, JFK prompted a Fed Reg Office of Economic Opportunity to empower the lower classes to eliminate poverty. One program was to mobilize the poor politically to ballot which compelled goverment obligation. Once traditional delegate privilege came vulnerable, state legislators prohibited political activities of government funded programs. Thus, if the 99% under party rules put delegates on the ballot box, they would become the legislators and correct past abuses without opposition. The traditional political parties with unlimited campaign finances would loose to the unionized 99% effort. Thus, 1,9,and 10 amendments would embrace the citizens as a 4th check and balance, promote the general welfare by specialization of trade of the working class to be heard and counteract the majority will of special interest and lobbyist, Then, to impliment the iniative and referendum and recall of public officials at all levels by popular vote. End of self regulation errors, broken campaign promises, and refuting the contradiction with the other party as the good cop - bad cop scapegoat. As a result, the majority of numbers as absolute dominance over the perception of wealth as authority transends into a social technological scientific evolution of citizen politic obligation. Monetary compensation to all citizens that participate in the political process is a privilege as the market place of ideas produces prudent decisions when all voices are heard. The result will be the general will over the majority will to the republic for which it stands indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[-] 1 points by RebelRebel (25) 12 years ago

Are you aware part of the US Government is unionized?

Primarily the Treasury Department, but includes a lot of other Federal Agencies - http://www.nteu.org/

Blows your mind huh? The bank regulators are unionized!

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[-] -2 points by skylar (-441) 12 years ago

Be American, don't join a union.

[-] 2 points by jds1952 (12) 12 years ago

Think about it. Offshoring manufacturing is the root cause of the problem. Look at the trade deficit. If we don't buy what isn't made here, then they will have to make it here. Unless you want to work for minimum wage with no benefits, join a union. Economics is much simpler than economists would have you believe.

[-] -1 points by skylar (-441) 12 years ago

i know many people who do not belong to a union, they have no problems with working conditions , benefits or wages.

[-] 2 points by jds1952 (12) 12 years ago

I'm not saying unions are necessary in every case, e.g. small business. Multi-nationals when forced to return manufacuring to US locations in order to sell their products here will minimize their costs to maximize profit. Employees will need a union to earn a living wage.

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[+] -4 points by skylar (-441) 12 years ago

competition, a free market , will produce a "living wage".

[-] 6 points by jds1952 (12) 12 years ago

History has proven otherwise. Without worker protection, corporate greed prevails. Either government protects or organized leverage, i.e. unions. Our government isn't doin' it, so options are limited. In fact, gov't and corp greed appear to be on the same side...see Wi and Indy, and soon Ariz.

[-] 2 points by opensociety4us (914) from Norwalk, CT 12 years ago

Don't be fooled. Capitalism doesn't automatically bestow standards of living. Standards of living always had to be fought for and must continue to be fought for. If Capitalism, in its purest form, had its way, children would still be working in factories.

[-] -1 points by Jflynn1964 (-206) 12 years ago

yeah, it worked well in the Soviet Union. People want to stay in Cuba as well. Keep it up.

[-] -1 points by Jflynn1964 (-206) 12 years ago

And the unions protected the auto industry? What has the SEIU done to protect the individual citizen by negotiating such beneficial contract for their public employees. We are going bankrupt because of their pension deals.

[-] -1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Doesn't that depend on if the state raided the pensions? When the state refused to pay or raids the pensions or shifts the money then you don't have the money and want to get out of paying it. It wasn't the pension deals, it was the theft to begin with.

[-] -2 points by skylar (-441) 12 years ago

Govenor Walker has done great things in wisconsin, the unions don't like it's a lose it's a lose of money ( personal power) for them. meanwhile the state is now doing financially well.Teachers did not have to be laid off.

[-] 2 points by lgarz (287) from New York, NY 12 years ago

You obviously don't know nothing about what's happening in Wisconsin. The only person who believes that Walker is doing a great job in Wisconsin is Walker, and now you!

Governor Walker has decimated Wisconsin. Deficits are up. Wages are down, Unemployment is risng at the fastest rate in the nation. Teachers are about to be laid off, and take a pay cut. Nobody is making any money. Thousands of people are protesting in the streets, and you think he's doing a great job??? Are you serious?

Unions aint the only ones pissed at Walker! They got over a million signatures to recall him, and there are less than 100K union workers in Wisc. Where do you think the other Million signatures came from??? Happy Campers???

Stop living in a dream world, and read a book that wasn't written by Ayn Rand of Ann Coulter once in a while before you end up curled up in a ball crying behind a sofa! Whistle past the grave Yard all you want my Friend, but the hammer is about to fall on your Free Market Hero, and he deserves everything he gets!

[-] 2 points by lgarz (287) from New York, NY 12 years ago

You are living in a dream world if you believe that. States with "Right to be a Slave" rules have lower average wages than states that don't. It's a fact, you could look it up.

If it wasn't for those Evil Unions that you hate, there would be no 8 hour day. No paid Vacation days. No Holidays. You would have to work on Sat. & Sun with no overtime. A living wage would be minimum wage. There would be no Unemployment Insurance. No Workmans Compenstation. People paid for those things with Blood, and Blood will be shed if you try to take them away. Ask Governor Walker about that.

Unions are an integral part of the Free Market! Unions are what keep the Free Market Free! If you ever had a real job, you would know that!