You mean you haven't heard? Because the unions stand for REGULAR AMERICANS. You know- those folks that work hard for what they have and try to provide for their families and such....

We must have different expereinces with unions, drive-by. Mine has led me to believe they stand for stuffing their own damn pockets, lazing about and anatagonizing workers who don't wish to join their little club.

and drinking and toking at work. Was it "union weed" from the teamsters? :)

OK- I'll meet you part way. I have also known union guys that fit your description, too, and would do anything to cover for their fellow members while they did the same. But- there are also those that are decent, hard working folks, too.

In my younger years, I HATED unions. I have never joined one- not then, not now. It's just that I'm begining to feel like SOMEBODY has to stick up for those of our citizens that are not in that 2% of the populace that takes home 80% (or more) of the bucks. Are the Unions wonderful? No. Is their counterpart wonderful? To quote the aorange onea: HELL no!

aorange onea

Make that 'orange one'

Geez- can I type, or what??

These labor unions scatter member funds around like its birdseed. They're slimeballs and thugs.

Drive-by: About as well as I can properly spell "experiences," apparently. :p

Dave: Where did you gain such insight?

STTS

Lord knows there is extra money for the Labor/Democrats to spend on House races in Arkansas. The Senate race has Democratic incumbent Lincoln down 24 points to Republican Boozman, no use rolling anymore money into that race.

Blanche clean out her office yet?

Or should Billy C., make a campaign appearance for her in the next few weeks? I mean, just look how much he helped Hillary.

My understanding is that unions are currently a mere shadow of their former selves and no longer have nearly the money or influence that they once did. Maybe partly because so many of their jobs have been sent abroad, and maybe because they have had to make so many concessions on wages and benefits as a result of the economic downturn. I never have understood why there is so much hatred directed at unions. I guess some people just like to hate and have to hate someone.

drive by has no idea about what has gone down with the unions and the democrat scam! Who is in control? Who makes the money off of the working mans back? Don't forget to send out those post cards, protecting union rights, and making sure that upper union members get a big pay check and lunch at the white house!!! Union dues do pay off for someone, yep, Obamas puppets.

Hard working union members? I was in a union and know what goes on. Tell us about how hard the 15 or so union workers were when they took their lunch, drank beer, and smoked their pot.

I see "drive by" has invoked the class warfare "2%" number again. Remember that many of those 2% that you want to tax would like to employee you if they were turned loose. But really, this class warfare subterfuge is just another way of saying "government would be much better if they only had more of your money to spend". These central planning enthusiasts just cannot comprehend that maybe they should spend LESS! When was the last time you saw layoffs from a government agency? When was the last time you say productivity improvements in the government? They can't even deliver the mail economically anymore! And why is that? Because we have unionized the public sector workforce and they are funding the Dems. Unreal we pay them to lobby against us!

Tell you what lefties, you cut spending 2% in real terms (none of this 2% less growth stuff) and I'll rethink your 2% tax increase point. That's 700 billion over 10 years too!

Okay, you asked. "When was the last time you saw productivity improvements in the governmen?" Here is just one example: the 2010 census came in at 1.6 BILLION under budget.

This administration has cut the deficit by 8% this year. This while revenue has dropped due to the recession, and the Republicans have been screaming about "big government" and deficits for months. I am sure that you are also aware that GW Bush took a surplus and turned it into a huge deficit.

Obama and the Democrats were handed a $ h i t sandwich and have improved the economy without ANY help from Republicans who have been campaigning for them to fail for two years.

Suprised the unions have any money left to spend after.......Beer, booze, and pot for their lunches?

(supported by our tax dollars!)

Maggie,

This administration has cut the deficit by 8% this year.

So let me think about this for a second ... In 2009 a budget request of $3.1 Trillion was made by the Bush Administration in 2008 and the only budget request submitted by President Obama was the 2010 budget of $3.5 Trillion or a 12% increase. So ... even were I to believe your claim of an 8% reduction, my point is (as I stated) that in REAL terms he's spent 4% more. This is the classic political "I cut spending BS". No you didn't! What Mr Politician means is they spent less (and I want to see the source of your claim!) that than they projected, which at 12% is wayyyyy more than than cost of living!

Now the receipts are down 11% and the bottom line deficit has increased from $11 Trillion in 2009 to $3.5 Trillion today which aside from the horrendous total size is a 20% increase in 18 short months!

You need to check your facts ...

Now let's fast forward to today (2011 Budget year)... we don't even HAVE a budget!

So, my statement stands. When the lefties show me a 2% reduction in spending in real dollars from year to year, I'll consider rethinking my position on taxes!

... and the census? The same slight of mathematical hand waving.

Maggie ... typo on my part ...

bottom line deficit has increased from $11 Trillion in 2009 to $3.5 Trillion today

That should read "bottom line deficit has increased from $11 Trillion in 2009 to $13.5 Trillion today".

That's a $2.5 Trillion increase. My mistake

Heartlite3 you right about unions in the private sector but way wrong about Organized (Crime) Labor in Government! Why do you think Cities, Counties, States, and the Federal Government are all in financial trouble? It's because of the growth of Unions in government at every level and the corruption it has caused! Ask yourself who are the Unions protecting these workers from? Unions in Government serve absolutely no purpose!

Here's a link to info on union membership by percentile of the workforce in America and a few other places; government does have the highest level at 29%- which begs the question: what do the other 71% of government employees do with their money at election time?

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=108&subid=900003&contentid=255103

As a percentile of the private sector, union employees comprise a whopping 7% of the total- and the number of government union employees is still vastly out numbered by that 7%. But you sure hear a lot more about unions manipulating politics than you hear about the businesses that own Congress lock, stock, and rotunda.

So, why IS the public perception of unions so bad? I used to think the same way, until I started working for "the world's largest telecommunications company" and saw what a bunch of jackbooted thugs were running it- and why we needed CWA to survive as human beings, let alone as an economy.

So, why? My answer: thirty years of well orchestrated campaigning against them by big businesses- which have quietly slit their own throats by killing unions so effectively that they've destroyed the surplus income of the middle class which one supported their sales.

Hilarious stuff, if you like black humor: "Them dang pesky lice! I'll fix them- where's my shotgun?" Well, the lice are certainly gone now- but the hair and the head they were infesting went with them. And, wouldn't you know it- boy, howdy- the unions are pretty much gone too- along with the economy the middle class once supported.

Let the shout-down commence- but that's the way I see it.

I was a member of a very good and strong union for 17 years, during college part-time (paid tuition in full), full-time when no one else would hire a 1-A possible draftee during Vietnam, part-time after I started a family so my wife could stay home--Retail Clerks Union. I get a small pension now based on what benefits were in those days. We understood that working people must be represented just as employers are represented by professionals. Too bad a few bad eggs have given the plutocrats the ammunition to destroy the union movement just when it was most needed (think Reagan and the controllers' union). So little real American history is taught by third and fourth-generation poorly educated teachers that even college graduates are unable to determine and vote for their own economic self-interests. Consequently it was easy to pull the rug from under the middle class in the preceding Republican decade and not enough people realize there's more of the same if we allow another Republican majority.

Most of the people I have personally met who are against organized labor -unions- collective bargaining are just jealous of the increased pay and benefits, or they are owners who do not wish to pay fair wages and benefits. Union members dues can not be used for political purposes, those monies are collected separately and are completely voluntary. If you don't like government social programs wait until an entire generation of wal-mart workers try to retire, they have never made decent wages, no healthcare, no pension without medicaid and SS they will be on the streets, sick and dying. The same people that knock unions go to the emergency room with the flu because they have no insuance and thats part of the reason my employer provided insurance is overcharged. My union dues are a bargain I know exactly how the non union employees in my industry are getting shafted, and virtually every one would join the union if they could I don't know anybody that is unionized who says hey lets go non-union, and take a cut in pay and benefits. Lastly there are a lot of people who will take a pay cut if the unions are eliminated. The unions set the pay scale for the non-union as well as middle management. The non union shops have to pay a little more to keep good people when the unions get a raise, and the managers feel they should make more than the union workers. I never met a manager that did not wish the union members would get a raise so he would get a raise. Do something good for you and your family get organized.

Forrest Gump

Great hyperbole ... no facts!

Stupid is as stupid does ...

Our love was born with our first embrace, and a page was torn out of time and space..... Such romantic words. How I love romantic movies. They don't make them like this anymore.

"If it had to happen, why DID it have to happen to you?" So so sad. sniff sniff Oh the tears. Always the tears when I watch that scene at the end.

"If you can paint, I can walk". Oh man.

hmm hmmm hmmm

Our love affair may it always be - a flame to burn through eternity - hmmm hmmmm hmmm

How sad for you........it is MUCH more fun to watch our "Celebrity in Chief" stick up his cocky chin, roll up his sleeves, and read his teleprompter 4-5 times a week! (sp?)

AND.......repeat amnesia and car keys, over, and over, and over again!

OR........photo-ops eating his fried wings, ice cream, junk food, and smoke his ciggie.....all while his amazon wife is dictating to schools and World Class chefs.......HOW to cook their foods!

Hey Michelle..........shut up!

Drive By.....Maybe you need to re-read the User Agreement. Posting off topic is prohibited and for good reason. We are not here to read your daily dribble. If you continue rest assured I will get you banned.

Boo-hoo? Drive-by made his point to me - there was no need for this.

So now we have to run our comments by the Imperial Dragon before we post?

Lord. Take a chill-pill, man.

Ol' FrankH seems to have inadvertently left the 'emroid' off is moniker.

Nice wit Drive By - LMAO

"They want everything possible given to them with the least amount of effort"

Alright- leave the stock holders out of this.....

...good zinger, Drive-by. XD

Did you bump your head before posting?

Actually, Chris- it looks like the little emoticon guy just stepped in a still-warm pile of Beck while walking barefoot.

Banks and large corporations (Chrysler, GM etc. ) didn't get a dime to spend from the federal govt. did they? Of course they will spend it on creating jobs won't they? No big salary increses for the CEOs or golden parachutes? Man, do I have a bridge I'll sell you cheap. It is a pretty orange one spanning the golden gate. Some folks see only one side and not the other. Both sides have their benefactors. The Democrats have Unions and grass roots organizations. Republicans have huge businesses and the top 2%. Nothing wrong with either, just different interests and different supporters.

A title like "Working America" that is an arm of the Democratic party seems to suggest that no Republicans work, just another class warfare organization. For those of you who think the unions are for the working class, those days are going/gone. The goals of those "grassroots" organizations such as SEIU and their "workers of the world" if allowed to grow will be a real eye opener. This is the same union, (due to its felon membership) has convicted rapists, robbers, etc., taking care of your grandparents at home (no medical quals and no supervision), paid by govt money with the blessings of a judge. Gotta give those criminals jobs and hold that healthcare money down and pad the pockets of your constituents. We are sick people.

Beverly

Gee I thought you were for building the Mosque. So now you are not because the second largest shareholder at Fox is a Muslim? Oh one thing a progressive like you always doesn't mention are facts. How much total stock does he hold. A humongous 7%. Oh boy he really runs Fox doesn't he.

afloatinasea

Beverly

Gee I thought you were for building the Mosque. So now you are not because the second largest shareholder at Fox is a Muslim? Oh one thing a progressive like you always doesn't mention are facts. How much total stock does he hold. A humongous 7%. Oh boy he really runs Fox doesn't he.

You read my statement incorrectly. In fact, you made up SH!t just like Fox NOISE does. In no way did I say anything against building the Islamic Community Center.

FYI: it is a community center not a Mosque. I am in total support of it; and do hope that certain Islamophobes can rid themselves of their bias and get on to healing themselves. This ugly, aberrational, religious, and racial intolerance has just cropped up since Rupert Murdoch and FOX NOISE came on the scene portraying our President and Muslims as clandestine terrorists. This is really an uncouth and thuggish video that plays well across the Middle East and rest of the world. It is a promo for "Americans Behaving Badly" video. As an American I am very much ashamed of this hatred and fear mongering. These are not the values this country was built upon.

Now, I will clarify what my intent was. If the Saudi Prince is the 2^nd largest shareholder, then it’s Saudi money that is buying right wing judicial activist to our Supreme Court. Since the Supreme Court has opened the flood gate for money to campaigns it is outside influence of global corporations which allows global, (foreigners) to peddle their products.

In this case it happens to be Saudi Oil.

A lot of those middle class unionized workers that are apparently only dear to Democrat pols vote Republican and do not appreciate their dues being pooled to always support D.

Damn right. Otherwise one might be impressed into an organization one may not necessarily wish to be a part of.

You have the right to work for less and less and nobody is ever forced to join a union.

In the right to work states I've been in (Wyoming and Nevada),one of them the employers pay good (better than union jobs in the same field) to keep the unions out and the other one payed the same (more because you didn't have to pay dues).

You are so right, sammie. Private insurance companies probably have a whole department dedicated to coming up with ways to further screw policy holders.

Maybe the Health Care Reform isn't strong enough to keep private insurance companies from feeding off our bones, but it is better than nothing, and way better than what we have now.

Palin's crap about having death panels with the Health Care Reform is ridiculous. Everyone knows that the private insurance companies have been doing just this for years. They especially hate children and fight the parents regarding treatments. Now, to get around the law regarding pre-existing conditions for children, the insurance companies are no longer going to offer insurance policies for children.

It just amazes me that there are actually people who feel no remorse allowing a child to die because it will interfere with their bottom line and bonuses.

Do you proofread Wade? I am not in a union now but was for 19 years. The union did very little for us for our 2-1/2 hours of pay per month and it was mostly clerical so we got out. The deputies/detectives where I work are in a union, and many of them have gone to the far side. The people voting for Obama were not union, and I know more women than men. Several men in the unions who are the biggest Rush and Glennie supporters have it made - make over $100K a year with all benefits, have $800K homes, think dems are socialists, want to dump social security (even though their parents are benefiting by mine and others donations) want to dump medicare, and even are supportive of the crazy tea party things. Believe me, the sane ones are not the republicans, what I so blatantly see is that the dems want what is best for America and would even open their wallets to do so, and the repubs want what is best for their own wallets.

Doogal, the democrats have done nothing short of totally ruin and bankrupt our country. Just by what you are saying, pretty much infers you are a socialist and we ought to take money from people that have earned it and give to people that have not. The democrats would like to turn us in to a Greece, Spain, Portugal, etc. Look where they are at now. Almost bankrupt. The democrats had a huge hand in getting us in to this financial mess. They figured that everyone deserves a house, even when they could not afford it. They told Fannie and Freddie to back the toxic loans. Even the financial reform bill did not address Fannie and Freddie. They were the most significant problem in this mess and has been given a free pass from the dems that it was ok what they did. Most Republicans do not want to get rid of the SSI system, but want to reform it. But, then people like you berate them for this. The dems do not want to do anything about, because just like the mortgage market, they have their heads in the sand and do not think SSI has a problem, along with Medicare. Whether you and other liberals like to admit it, SSI will go bankrupt if nothing is done. Then there is no SSI for the elderly. So in essence, the dems do not want SSI either, by your argument. We can not wait for 10 or 20 years to help SSI. It will be too late. Medicare is now paying out more than taking in. How long do you think it will last? China owns a large part of our country. What is meant by this? They own a huge amount of our debt. Does it make you feel good that a communist country has us under their thumbs? I blame both parties for this. No one is free of the responsibility. But, obama, reid, pelosi, and the dems have perpetuated the problem by 1.5 trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. There is no way that the healthcare bill will come in at the price the dems say it will. When has the government ever spent the amount of money for something that they say it would cost? Both parties to blame. Before you and the other liberals say the CBO stated it will save money. Keep in mind that the CBO also said that the dems double counted the $500 billion in Medicare savings. They did not include the $225 billion in medical reimbursements to the health industry. They counted $80 billion in money they will make by taking over the student loan business. Do you really think the feds can cut out fraud? Haven't done it in over 200 years and it won't start now. Where are tens or hundreds of thousands of people go when they no longer get Medicare from this bill? To medicaid. The states will have to pay the bills. How many states are in good financial standing to be able to pay billions of dollars more in healthcare? Not many. Preexisting conditions? Why do you think insurance companies have this clause? Not because they are heartless, like many think. This is what will happen with a lot of young people. They will decide to pay the fine for not having healthcare, which will be in the several of hundred of dollars. In 20 or 30 years, they contract a catastrophic illness, they will walk in to an insurance company and say I want you best policy. No deductibles, no copays. They will then get hundreds or millions of dollars in care, get cured, then drop the insurance again. It will happen. What about the union members get a free ride on their cadillac plans, when the rest of the Americans do not. If you healthcare plan costs your employer $12,000, the individual will have to pay a 30% tax on the amount over $8,000. How many of you middle americans can afford another $70 per week in taxes? Democrats looking out for the middle class? Ha ha!! Think of this scenario. If you employer pays out $12,000 per year in medical premiums for you and under the healthcare bill, they would be penalized $3 - 4,000. What would you do? Pay the penalty and save $8,000 a year per employee. Figure it out $8,000 savings per employee and if you had 100 employees working for you. That is $800,000 per year in savings. Then the employee is forced to go out and buy their insurance. You then are paying $8,000 or more for year out of you pocket for health insurance. Why? Because the democrats are not looking out for the middle class. They do not care about you and I. The dems never read this in its entirety before passing it. pelosi, reid, baucus, etc all admitted it. Another broken campaign promise by obama who lambasted clinton in the primaries for wanting a universal healthcare bill. People need to open their eyes. Also, if the Bush tax cuts expire, it means all of the middle class will be paying more in taxes. What about farms that have been in the family for decades? When the farmer passes away, they get hit with possibly millions of dollars in taxes. Means the farm has to be sold. A small business making $1 million per year may have to pay $100,000 more in taxes. What does this mean? Less jobs, less raises, more work for their employees. The dems do nothing for the middle class and actually hurt them. They will force more businesses to not hire, lay off, pay less, and even move out of the country from the high taxes. Which we have the second highest business tax in the world. Is this all really helping the middle class. If you are sane, you would see it is not!

I think the prefix/word you were going for was "pseudo."

“Have you wondered why it’s so hard to get through to a right winger?” You know, Harbinger, everything you’ve written in your post can be perfectly turned around and applied to the left wing as well. It’s a matter of perception. Sadly, when you paint an entire sector of the population with a broad brush, you are bound to be wrong. When you refer to one side as “unthinking” you imply your superiority, and show your narrow mindedness. Why are your opinions based on sound thought, experience and reason and your fellow American’s opinions are “unthinking.?” Why is that?

The truth is Republicans and Democrats have many of the same goals. We all recognize the problems in this country. We just have different ways of approaching them and different solutions. Your perception that Republicans just want to “win the shouting match” is another example that can be turned around and applied to the Democrats.

I find the left’s obsession with Fox news interesting. I don’t think those who consistently bash Fox have ever really watched the network. Forget Beck and Hannity and Rush (who is not affiliated with Fox). Their views are extreme, biased, narrow and many times absurd. If you’re home during the day, tune in and you will see representation from both right and left on the split screen, each having a chance to state their side, and spew their respective talking points. The network does slant conservative but is necessary, in my opinion, to balance out MSNBC, ABC and CBS who slant left.

I’ve always found it better to consider the thoughts and arguments on both sides, and then form my own opinion. I’m sure you don’t believe everything you see on MSNBC or read on left-slanted blogs. I’m sure you are capable of forming your own thoughts. It’s just that your thoughts may differ from others. That’s not a bad thing. That’s America.

Republicans ran up the deficit. Then, they lost their jobs in 2007. The Democrats are running wild with the deficit now. Both were guilty. The Republicans never actually filibustered. The Democrats assumed they would, so they tabled issues --- meaning they admitted their legislation did not have the support to go through. I found that a little weak on their side. Regarding the tax breaks, Harry Reid, for political reasons, has not brought the vote to the floor, thereby extending the uncertainty that’s holding back the economy.

The truth is that the Republicans want to continue the tax cuts for the richest 2% along with everyone else. This will increase the deficit. (There are many arguments for this but I’ve gone on too long already). The truth is the Democrats, too, are wildly running up the deficit. Current policies are killing jobs, or at least not creating new ones. There are all kinds of “truths” out there, Harbinger. Most people will sort them out.

Thanks for your response! You have proven my points wonderfully.

FOX talking points, intransigience, closed mindedness, it's all there.

I especially like the "there are lots of truths out there" part.

Thanks again!

PS - FOX, Beck etc. distribute the propaganda, while MSNBC's Olbermann, Maddow etc. EXPOSE the propaganda.

Nice try Candice. I applaud your attempt to respond rationally, and I, for one appreciate it.

Olddog26

Obama, democrats, unions, and why do we need more of this? Oh I know, more stimulus money for the union Jobs! What about all the people that are out of work and do not belong to a union? Not even "Change" you can have hope in. Show me the non government, non union jobs, that were made in the past 2 years? Skip the union and democrat web sites, just the facts!

We need more so that President Obama and unions can fight to keep US jobs her instead of being outsourced, consumer protection, and reducing the deficits.

You can skip the facts on democrat web sites; if you like tent cities and soup lines.

Bev, I wish you were right, but that global redistribution thing that Obama supports unapologetically, wants to equalize workers of the world just like Cap and Trade. I honestly think many do not understand that the goal is to unionize us globally and we (working class) have the opportunity to be equally poor. See where the GM (currently govt jobs) are going (hint: not USA)

The growing unions are restaurant/hotel/dock workers and have you peaked behind the curtain lately and noticed how many are not American citizens. Of course, there will be with that much needed immigration reform. At the other end, Bill Gates and his unlimted professional and student visas, (he says our students are not smart enough) has an unending rotating 2 year supply of underpaid, no benes, 10-12 hours a day engineers.

The jokes on us and we all play cute and all knowing on here. We are laughable.

Unions only exsit because companies have treated worked unfairly and paid low wages to their workers while their management workers make big salaries. Any company that has a union deserves a Union because it means that they treat their workers like crap.

The conditions you describe were typical in the 30's and 40's. The unions made sense back then by demanding safe working conditions and fair pay. Since then, they've grown into political machines, full of corruption and don't provide the benefits you would think they do for their members.

I grew up in a union family and know how corrupt they can be. My brother in law is a member of the steel workers union. When he was laid off, he lost his insurance. The business manager couldn't cross out of his local and place him where there was actually work. His family was forced to apply for state aid and was nearly on food stamps. Now that he's back at work, he expects to accumulate enough hours by the end of October to get his insurance back. So much for the unions taking care of their own.

I have been hardworking and financially responsible.....it's a bit strange that my husband and I were FINE until 2007 when the Democrats took charge of the Congress!

The Clinton years were also wonderful for all of us......UNTIL ENRON and some of the others admitted they Faked profits.(of course, this nightmare didn't come out until After Clinton...so Bush got the credit (blame).

Please tell me WHO here was not comfortable and Not so stressed and full of hate until the past 2 yrs.?

And BTW "Debra".....name calling just shows your desperation and ignorance....