The line in the sand

[TBF]

Labor or Capital - Which side are YOU on? Where is your line in the sand?

Looks like certain dems have made up their minds and this is stunning. I repeat, this is NOT the the old-guard republicans or even the teabaggerati - these are DEMOCRATS clearly siding with Capital:

House votes to restrict unions
Measure would curb bargaining on health care
April 27, 2011|By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns.

The 111-to-42 vote followed tougher measures to broadly eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio, Wisconsin, and other states. But unlike those efforts, the push in Massachusetts was led by Democrats who have traditionally stood with labor to oppose any reduction in workers’ rights.

Unions fought hard to stop the bill, launching a radio ad that assailed the plan and warning legislators that if they voted for the measure, they could lose their union backing in the next election. After the vote, labor leaders accused House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and other Democrats of turning their backs on public employees.

“It’s pretty stunning,’’ said Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns. The same Democrats who tell us over and over again that they’re with us, that they believe in collective bargaining, that they believe in unions… . It’s a done deal for our relationship with the people inside that chamber.’’

More here if you can stomach it: http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-27/news/29479557_1_unions-object-labor-unions-health-care

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

[villager]

2. When they have to choose between their actual bosses, and the people who merely vote for them

...well, the choice will always be clear. To them.

It should start becoming clearer to us, as well.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Merely electing a 'D' to office is not, by itself, a win

You actually have to have a good one.

[TBF]

4. Where do we find these "good" ones?

And don't tell me about Bernie, I dig that guy but he's technically Independent.

[FiveGoodMen]

8. There haven't been many lately.

Feingold, Grayson, mostly Al Franken.

I'm sure I've missed a few.

But the point is that either the Dem party goes out and recruits some real believers in both democracy and society or else the party is fucking worthless.

[TBF]

17. Feingold and Grayson are outta there -

Franken sold out on health care.

[FiveGoodMen]

18. Yup.

[RandomThoughts]

5. I support workers rights and collective bargaining.

I don't support agricultural subsidies, or big oil subsidies. Especially when they help big corporate farmers, and not small farmers.

[Vincardog]

6. Everyone who ever told me "We have to elect DINOs so we can have a majority"

can suck my stick.
This is what allowing republicans to run as democratic candidates gets us.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

15. The "super majority" in the senate really accomplished a lot by extending tax cuts for the wealthy.

[rhett o rick]

7. Until we realize that this isnt a fight between Democrats and Repubs, we are lost.

This is a class war. That's right I said it. Many, if not most, Democrats are on the wrong side. Most are members in good standing (or hope to be soon) of the Ruling Class. Why would you be surprised to see Democrats that are members of the Ruling Class vote against the Proletariat? Oops, can I say proletariat without Joe MacCarthy's ghost coming for me.

Why do so many deny that many Democrats are not representative of the common folks?

[Newest Reality]

10. + 1

[Starry Messenger]

11. +2

[TBF]

16. Democrats=Common Folk as Beatrice=Hats

There's your royal reference for the day.

[rhett o rick]

19. WRONG. The point of my post is that Democrats DOES NOT EQUAL common folks.

Not the Democrats in Congress. Most equal the ruling class. And until we figure that out we are screwed. As Democrats our number one job is to kick the bastard pretenders out. Our corporate overlords have co-opted the Democratic Party. They no longer represent the common folks.

[maryf]

25. she was agreeing!

:)

[rhett o rick]

29. "Oh, that's different. Nevermind", as Emily might say. nm

[rhett o rick]

30. Sorry, I wasnt smart enough to understand your reference. nm

[TBF]

31. No worries, it was kind of vague.

I meant that Dems work for poor folks like Hats work for Beatrice - NOT.

Carrying that further, very little if any difference between the two major parties on ECONOMIC issues. That's what I was getting at. I think you and I are on the same page with much of this.

[rhett o rick]

35. I agree. I go around with a chip on my shoulder looking for someone to vent on.

If I am not careful, I make a fool of myself.

[leftstreet]

22. +1

[maryf]

24. +++

in a nutshell. thanks!

[Citizen Worker]

27. Yes, this is and has been for over 30 years a class war and working people must learn and use the

language of class.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rhett o rick]

12. I would say that the corporate overlords are destroying the Democratic Party. nm

[kenny blankenship]

21. They can't do it without the Democratic Party's cooperation

and it is falling all over itself to cooperate with them.

I'm done with delusions of rescue and recovery, and am just looking to rebuild at this point.

[TBF]

32. With ya on that. nt

[bbinacan]

13. Maybe they are channeling

FDR.

[JoseGaspar]

14. Whoa... wait a second...

The liberal Massachusetts House has just voted for a union-busting Bill which is essentially similar to the one in Wisconsin... the one passed by the "paid lackeys of the Kochs".... etc.

Ummm... what now?

Who is going to go into exile in Rhode Island? Who will the recall petitions be directed against? Who will the MoveOn TV commercials be targeting?

Who is buying into this two party charade?

[bluestate10]

20. Believe it or not. Getting city and town employees into the Commonwealth

plan would not only save cities and towns money, the move would save employees money too. A case of where a headline is sensational, but misses the true makeup of a policy initiative.

[TBF]

34. Right, it's all better for those little workers in the end ...

give us some very distinct details on what you mean, or I've gotta nice island to sell ya here in Brazoria County ...

[leftstreet]

23. K&R

[maryf]

26. K&R

thanks!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

28. It's a big mistake for the dems in Mass as they will so learn

My rep has heard it from me

[TBF]

33. Good sign! nt