Liberal is not a Dirty Word

E.T.I. 2009

Oil hits $86 for the first time

Crude prices reach record high on worries about declining oil inventories.

Everywhere you look you will find an excuse to attack labor. Oil prices will be used to cut benefits, deny raises, and provide breaks to the corporations in the name of jobs. It won't matter if you need to work four eight hour jobs a day just to make your old wages, never mind benefits.

What can we do about it? We can vote for a Liberal in Maine and in Washington. I am only concerned that the liberals have forgotten that they "should dance with the one that brung em".

What has happened to Liberal America and the Democratic Party? It seems like they have forgotten what this is about. Forgetting what they are supposed to do if elected and who they should support if elected.

Democrats used to be proud to say that government exists to do good for the people. It stands on the side of the poor to even the odds against power and money that are used to push the advantage to the few, the rich, and the arrogant. Democrats are supposed to stand for one person, one vote and to be proud of free speech even when the speech is unpopular.

What have Liberals done for this country? Look at Public buildings built during the New Deal, schools, roads, homes and utilities paid for by government grants, loans, and subsidies, national parks, all built by Liberal America. One of the greatest Liberal improvements ever in this country was the Freeway system rammed through by that great Liberal Dwight Eisenhower. Liberals have produced the 40 hour week, OSHA, fair pay for women and minorities and integration. Look for the benefits of Liberalism in government programs, from college loans to unemployment, from the minimum wage and collective bargaining to safe medicines, and clean water.

When the Constitution was written, it was written to allow the government to help even the odds for all. That is why we have the Bill of Rights. Ever since the revolution we have built a stronger force of law to keep the powerful from destroying the poor. One of the greatest successes of Liberal America came at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s when the Robber Barons were broken, leaving only poor millionaires no longer emperors of all they surveyed.

One of the most frightening topics affects both the American Political scene and in particular the American Union scene. The loss of voting participation. The Republicans led by the far right of their party have been attacking any help given to the needy as and attack on the independent American spirit as if to help another human were a crime against the one you help. Ronald Reagan won the White House with only 51.5% of eligible voters going to the polls and then he acted as if he had been given a free pass by God to do what he decided was right. He was elected by only 28% of the eligible voters.

The current president lost the popular election in his first term. As little as a few thousand votes would have given us a different president and perhaps no war. In Maine the Union took a ONE MILLION DOLLAR CUT, in health care last contract and we considered ourselves lucky. With almost no one calling the legislature, rallies that look like two bit car washes, and members wanting the Union to do it for them, we are headed for disaster.

Our legislature would just as soon anyone wearing purple stay away from the polls. The Union still votes two or three to one compared to the general public and we have families. They need to hear from us. We still have what we have not through the generosity of the legislature. We have what we have because they want to keep their jobs!

Blogs are not going to save America or the Unions, only an involved and educated membership and citizenry can accomplish anything worthwhile.

We will make it! America and the Unions will not be sold to pay for someone’s third Lexus. Unions and Liberal America will make it. I don’t know why non voters don’t vote, but the last several years have created fear in America and in Union ranks. The fears is worse than anything since the Great Depression, a fear that is causing this country to remember who it belongs to. I hope this fear brings the voters out before we lose any more of what makes this a great country.

In our Union and in the presidential race the same thing will make a difference for a candidate. Both Union members and Americans are looking for change and hope. Democrats can get by for a little while just by not being George Bush, but if one candidate starts talking about principles they will win. Our candidates must tell us what they believe in, not chase votes.

If we cannot get voters involved then more voters will stay home and the politicians in Augusta and in Washington will sell your jobs and sell your country to the lowest bidder. They will listen to those they represent, but they will not be representing the public. No one will hold them responsible.

How far have we actually changed? I include the following fact to show how far we have gone down the wrong road and the direction some want us to travel.

The Unite States “does not torture” according to George Bush. George says we practice “enhanced interrogation”. Do you know where the term came from? “Verschärfte Vernehmung, enhanced or intensified interrogation, was the term created by the Gestapo for what was known as the ‘third degree.’ It left no marks. It included hypothermia, stress positions and long-time sleep deprivation.”

E.T.I. 2009

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