Because we have been brainwashed for a century with an incessant drumbeat of propaganda against anything that might be construed as socialism, which of course is the same thing as communism. The idea of the common good, and caring about the same, flies in the face of our most dearly-loved myth: that we are all self-sufficient, rugged individuals, and anyone who needs and accepts assistance is weak, and anyone who "can't stand on their own two feet" deserves whatever happens to them. It's garbage of course, but I think that's where the virulent hatred comes from.
My dad was UAW and they went on a long strike(half a year) in the 70's. It was really hard on our family, it was a cold, sad winter. But they stuck it out, choosing to strike is not something workers go into without realizing they are in it to the end and are willing to suffer to get what they deserve. And these union workers(just like the writer's strike) will also stick it out, companies need to understand that and just make a deal, save everyone a bunch of time and trouble.
Cafeteria and maintenance workers at University Hospitals at The Ohio State University went on strike for better pay, and their strike pay was actually more than their regular paychecks.
My dad was also UAW around that time, but IIRC, we had enough strike pay to get by comfortably. But then my mother was also working, so we weren't completely dependent on dad's income.
We definitely didn't have enough money even with the strike pay, went on food stamps, 3 kids and just my dad's income, we couldn't afford heat one month.
My baby sister works in the film industry. The other day I asked her if there was any updates on her next project, which had been in the works prior to the strike. She said, “NO!? Hollywood is on strike, Binders!” Lol. It’s so stupid and pointless how these companies drag this out, trying to inflict enough pain that strikers will be forced to concede. They are striking for a reason, dipshits! That reason doesn’t just dissipate because they need a paycheck. They have problems with their existing paychecks!
[remembers the number of managers the company has hired in the last six months despite taking sales, sighs] Yeah. Some people still don't seem to get it.
There's an interesting factoid about the military. The system is set up so that, except, of course, when you're deployed, an effort is made to replicate the civilian work experience. The duty day is supposed to end at 1700 (5 PM for you National Guard types) every weekday, with a full weekend off. There are exceptions to this all the time, of course. Officers very often put in a lot more hours, in part due the "que es mas macho!" factor, in part because sometimes you can't get your damn paperwork done during regular hours. Also, everyone is paid a salary, there is no such thing as "overtime". You do get 30 paid days off every year, which is pretty much unheard of in the private sector, except if you're in the executive suite, pah, the rules are for the proles. Plus evil socialized medical, to include dental (braces for Lisa!), optical, whatever. They're even offering eyeglass frames that look decent, the days of "birth control glasses" are a thing of distant memory.
"Americans largely do not want a European-style welfare state" - why not?
Because Those People might benefit from it, too
Because we have been brainwashed for a century with an incessant drumbeat of propaganda against anything that might be construed as socialism, which of course is the same thing as communism. The idea of the common good, and caring about the same, flies in the face of our most dearly-loved myth: that we are all self-sufficient, rugged individuals, and anyone who needs and accepts assistance is weak, and anyone who "can't stand on their own two feet" deserves whatever happens to them. It's garbage of course, but I think that's where the virulent hatred comes from.
Fifty years of Cold War propaganda.
Any other caregivers (for family @12.25$ per hour want to join a caregivers union?) I know they'd pay more. They DO PAY MORE.
"It's time to make management scared again."
Words to live by..
UFT in solidarity.
This rocks!
My dad was UAW and they went on a long strike(half a year) in the 70's. It was really hard on our family, it was a cold, sad winter. But they stuck it out, choosing to strike is not something workers go into without realizing they are in it to the end and are willing to suffer to get what they deserve. And these union workers(just like the writer's strike) will also stick it out, companies need to understand that and just make a deal, save everyone a bunch of time and trouble.
Cafeteria and maintenance workers at University Hospitals at The Ohio State University went on strike for better pay, and their strike pay was actually more than their regular paychecks.
Solidarity.
My dad was also UAW around that time, but IIRC, we had enough strike pay to get by comfortably. But then my mother was also working, so we weren't completely dependent on dad's income.
We definitely didn't have enough money even with the strike pay, went on food stamps, 3 kids and just my dad's income, we couldn't afford heat one month.
My baby sister works in the film industry. The other day I asked her if there was any updates on her next project, which had been in the works prior to the strike. She said, “NO!? Hollywood is on strike, Binders!” Lol. It’s so stupid and pointless how these companies drag this out, trying to inflict enough pain that strikers will be forced to concede. They are striking for a reason, dipshits! That reason doesn’t just dissipate because they need a paycheck. They have problems with their existing paychecks!
365-to-1: The CEO-worker pay ratio at Stellantis
362-to-1: The CEO-worker pay ratio at GM
281-to-1: The CEO-worker pay ratio at Ford
The Big Three CEOs keep pretending they can't afford to pay workers fairly while they themselves are raking in millions off of workers' labor.
"Damn it, they've cracked the code!"
Now let's do a general strike.
https://www.iww.org/
[remembers the number of managers the company has hired in the last six months despite taking sales, sighs] Yeah. Some people still don't seem to get it.
This is good news. I'm also hoping for a nation-wide strike but I'm dreaming so I'll take this.
OT, WaPo: Alex Jones spent $93,000 in July, but hasn’t paid Sandy Hook families [paywall https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/15/alex-jones-sandy-hook-spending/]
"$93,180 for the month, including thousands of dollars toward payments to his wife, housekeeping, meals and entertainment"
Satan: Mr Jones, your room is ready.
Yes, there is a two-tiered system of justice, even in civil cases, as this obscene scenario demonstrates.
This is where I would post that clip of Lisa Simpson singing a protest song in front of the nuclear power plant.
Scroll down to get the lyrics!
I say strike! It's time to limit executive compensation.
Stock buybacks need to go also too
this has made my day so much better
Playing for Change is such a great organization and this song is fabulous
Jackson Brown and others around the world singing Doctor My Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQPD17v6eLU
I'm about to go into a meeting, but I meant to add that a 32 hour week sounds fabulous.
*Cries that she's doing trainings all weekend*
There's an interesting factoid about the military. The system is set up so that, except, of course, when you're deployed, an effort is made to replicate the civilian work experience. The duty day is supposed to end at 1700 (5 PM for you National Guard types) every weekday, with a full weekend off. There are exceptions to this all the time, of course. Officers very often put in a lot more hours, in part due the "que es mas macho!" factor, in part because sometimes you can't get your damn paperwork done during regular hours. Also, everyone is paid a salary, there is no such thing as "overtime". You do get 30 paid days off every year, which is pretty much unheard of in the private sector, except if you're in the executive suite, pah, the rules are for the proles. Plus evil socialized medical, to include dental (braces for Lisa!), optical, whatever. They're even offering eyeglass frames that look decent, the days of "birth control glasses" are a thing of distant memory.
“ (5 PM for you National Guard types)” almost made me spit out my coffee 🤣