Who hates organized labor, liberated women, and peace?
The war profiteers. The radical right. The power elite within the 1% who seek wealth over human rights, power over fairness, and profitable wars over global peace.
But they are in the minority. Even though they have frightened millions and lured millions into supporting the agendas that hide their greed, they are in the minority.
The majority of Americans:
- overwhelming support equal rights for women and believe more needs to be done to ensure those rights
- support the right of workers to organize (e.g., participate in labor unions)
- support an international order based on international law, which, they believe, imposes constraints on the use of force and coercion
- prefer negotiation and nonviolence to armed conflict[1]
This majority is not the “silent majority” enshrined by Ronald Reagan, but nevertheless is too often silent in these frightening times.
Don’t believe the hype of the radical right. Don’t buy into claims that big corporations making millions in profits are forced to “outsource” their work because organized labor in America makes “unreasonable demands.”
Don’t be lulled into ignoring the attacks on women’s rights, including voting rights, taking place in this country today. (See, for example).
Finally, ask yourself whether cutting social services, educational programs, and unemployment entitlements for the working class—and increasingly the middle class—while retaining George Bush’s revolutionary tax benefits for the wealthy makes your life better or makes America more secure.
The Occupy Movement of 2011 raised the right questions and offered some provocative solutions. Let’s not allow their demands to get lost in the shuffles of the 1% power elite.
Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology
[1] See http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/ for more detailed results of relevant polls; also informative are http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/07/01/gender-equality/ and http://www.gallup.com/poll/157025/labor-union-approval-steady.aspx .
I read the “example” link with shock and disbelief–although I know it presents truths most of us are unaware of. How far will the threat to women’s right to vote be carried? Every woman who follows this blog and every fair-minded man should read these facts and rally to combat them.
“Don’t buy into claims that big corporations making millions in profits are FORCED to “outsource” their work because organized labor in America makes “unreasonable demands.””
So true! Whenever my friends complain about federal regulations/oversight or unions “taking” jobs away from Americans I point to CostCo. Their average pay is $17/hour, they have really great health coverage, and their employees love working there. It helps that their CEO ONLY takes an annual salary of 350k + bonus of 200k and his philosophy is “Having an individual who is making 100 or 200 or 300 times more than the average person working on the floor is wrong” (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html?pagewanted=all)
very interesting article! Thanks for submitting the link.
DO you have any more recent info on what is happening with Costco?
I really appreciate this post. I think the beginning was very captivating. I do think that maybe elaborating on the fact that the poor are the majority and yet struggling due to their lack of power might have added more impact. I enjoyed it nonetheless. I really don’t appreciate some of the ruthless and self-righteous right winged sometimes. Especially how influential and often effective they are in “bullying.” And I appreciate you serving as a voice for those of us who have trouble expressing and taking these necessary stands.
Great post. I wholeheartedly agree that companies are not ‘forced to “outsource’ their work because organized labor in America makes ‘unreasonable demands.’ ” I believe that greed is at the root of this issue and some corporations are willing to sacrafice the livlihood of others for yacht and a seat at the country club.