-=> BOB KLAHN wrote to DAVE DRUM <=-   
      
    DD> If you enjoy an annual vacation, a base 40 hour week, a   
    DD> less-than-seven-day work week, etc. then you owe the union   
    DD> movement a debt of gratitude even if you don't directly owe   
    DD> it any dues.   
      
    BK>  Which the right wing denies all the way.   
      
   And will continue so to do until a karma runs over their dogma.   
       
    JM>> I have no problem paying for my supper.   
      
    DD> Probably because a union some where/when negotiated a   
    DD> living wage.   
      
    BK>  A point I have made over and over.   
      
   The problem with self-made men is that they used cheap labour.   Bv)=   
       
    DD>> The American middle class rose with the rise of unions ... and is   
    DD>> shrinking as the unions have less and less influence.   
      
    BK>  A point I recently made. Maybe you will have better luck getting   
    BK>  them to believe.   
      
   You are familiar with the ironies present in the cries of "fat chance" are you   
   not?   
       
    DD>> BTW - I do not think, nor claim, that unions are perfect - because it is   
    DD>> patently obvious, even to a lock-stepping wing-nut reactionary - they   
    DD>> are not.   
      
    BK>  Long ago I pointed out that, if business treated the workers   
    BK>  well unions wouldn't exist. Business don't so unions do.   
      
   And that is why China-Mart is so terrified that unions will gain a toehold in   
   their stores. They have been butt-humping their serfs for so long and so hard   
   that to unionise would force them to remove that "Always lower prices -   
   always" from their adverts and make them compete on quality and actual service   
   grounds. Subjects with which they are patently unfamiliar.   
       
    DD>> But, they are better than going back to a master and serf economy ...   
    DD>> by   
      
    JM>> You talk of going back. Dumping the union is a step forward for the   
    JM>> individual.   
      
    DD> And there, my fine right-winger we have a basic disconnect.   
    DD> Keeping and strengthening the unions (yes, and getting them   
    DD> off their arses to do what their original purpose was) is   
    DD> the basis of an improving economy and a growing and healthy   
    DD> middle class.   
      
    BK>  Poverty is a growing problem in this country. Income inequality   
    BK>  is becoming set in stone. Without unions that will continue   
    BK>  until the revolution.   
      
   Those who do not understand or read history are doomed to repeat it. (that's   
   not original with me - but, still true.)    
      
   ... You can fool too many of the people too much of the time. -- James Thurber   
   --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49   
    * Origin: Outpost BBS / Johnson City, TN / outpost.slyip.net (1:18/200)