It was just too much to ask, too much to expect – that partisanship would take AND keep a back seat to patriotism so our nation’s war on terrorism would have a chance to succeed and bring American life back into relative balance.Reading the remarks of AFL-CIO President John Sweeney at the Las Vegas held biennial convention, only reconfirmed why I walked away from the so-called Democratic party at the age of 20—which was 36 years ago. The characteristics which prompted my ‘walk’ are all still there—whining, blaming, excusing, refusing responsibility, exercising more mouth then brain and most sadly of all, unadulterated exploitation of people’s dreams and trust.
Yep, the AFL-CIO has cornered the market on how to serve one’s own self interests. The word UNION has apparently come to mean ‘one’ as in ‘only one’ as in “me and only me’. How very sad for our nation.
Wanting desperately to win the next election, and still self-destructing from bitter anger over honestly losing election 2000, all stops have been pulled in order to gain victory in the next elections.
Labeling their fellow conservative Americans with words such as “sleaziness” and enemies of the working man, and …’shame of the nation’, leaders of the labor organizations seem intent on polarizing this nation to serve their own monetary and political purposes.
Obviously outraged by the popularity and pride that most Americans are taking in the leadership of the Bush administration, union leadership(?) has decided to embrace emotional blackmail to bring Democratic voters back into “voting line”.
This tactic is not what the nation needs, what citizens need; but it is what the Democrats need to win back voters. So much for politically maturing as time marches on.
Union leadership is deliberating trying to set a tone of ‘them against us’. John Sweeney went so far as to say that Republicans were “not concerned about workers—they probably have never been unemployed.” Mr. Sweeney has apparently not spent much time in rural America during the dictatorship of Bill Clinton masquerading as President.
Speaker after speaker took the microphone to decry how the Bush administration and the Bush recession was destroying the working class in America. Did they have nothing else to offer? Where was the leadership of unity that is needed in such times.
Now I, a declared conservative will openly admit that many conservative folks are as self serving as many liberal folks. I would go on to say, that more then one American and their industries continue to be sacrificed to self-serving interests, bank accounts, stockholders, etc. etc.. I think big industries ‘bottom line objectives’ have not infrequently played a role in the diminishment of middle class America. So too have liberal agendas. No political party is “people perfect”. Greed, avoidance, generosity, love of humanity, etc., etc. exist on both sides, on all sides.
The troubling aspect of the events in Las Vegas is what they indicate and signal for the months ahead. Divisiveness did not win the World War I or World War II—–wars when our country was under attack as it is today. The focus was to subdue the enemy, not to create enemies from within to assure self-destruction. Our nation is at stake here. Our nation, not an election! Which is more important?
Considering the $4.5 billion annually collected in compulsory dues ( National Right to Work Committee ) one would think that the AFL-CIO would have some dollars to offer their members who are out of work. Why does this organization not look to itself to lift this part of the load? Certainly, the federal government is doing a great deal to try and keep the infra structure which creates so many jobs up and running. Surely, it isn’t too much to ask that the AFL-CIO lay on the table everything it has to see to the welfare of its members.
Even more troubling is the clear sell out of the American voting process by the AFL-CIO. Coming up on the agenda in Las Vegas this week will be the AFL-CIO’s decision to affirm the Executive Council’s call to have the federal government grant amnesty for all ILLEGAL immigrants and end the ban on hiring ILLEGAL immigrants. Increasing membership and winning elections at any cost. Space requires a separate article for that issue.
In the meantime, let’s encourage the leadership of ALL our political parties and special interest groups to try and focus on statesmanship not partisanship. Then, and only then will the trusting American public be the winner.