Republican politcians NOT INVITED to the Labor Day March

[Pico and ME]

Labor unions barring Republican politicians from their Labor Day March in a Wisconsin Town

I say way-to-go.

[BigV]

the link you provide glosses over an important aspect of what the republicans did in Wisconnsin. This is what was reported from your link:

The background, if you don't remember, is that after a protracted fight in which Democratic lawmakers fled the state, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, managed to pass a law that stripped public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

The bill he signed would still allow state, municipal and school workers to bargain over their wages, but any raises beyond the rate of inflation would require a voter referendum. The repeal of most collective bargaining would not apply to unions representing local police, firefighters and State Patrol troopers. In addition, the law would solve part but not all of the state’s immediate budget shortfall, require public employees to pay more for pensions and health insurance, give Walker broad authority over health care programs for the poor and turn 37 civil service jobs into political appointments.

from here

Why take away rights from civil service workers and school teachers but not take away those same rights from cops, firemen and troopers? Because it is a craven political maneuver to reduce the political strength of his political opposition. By reducing the economic strength of his perceived enemy, he increases his strength.

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

II-Waging War; 15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own, and likewise a single picul of his provender is equivalent to twenty from one's own store.

Why take away a teacher's rights but not a cop's rights? Because he decided that the constituencies of their opponents would not be roused to a degree that couldn't be defeated. But if they'd included cops and firemen and troopers in the same theft, that those constituencies *would be* too angry to face. EVERYBODY can be made to fear some boogeyman, and those people want happy dedicated on the job cops/firemen/troopers to defend them. But not everybody believes that having happy dedicated teachers is in the best interest of everyone. Stupid and wrong of course, but true nonetheless.

Why exclude the cops and firemen and troopers? They didn't want to be seen as gutting the forces that protect our security. They were afraid to be responsible for making people less safe. They're ok with being responsible for making us more stupid. It's the power of the politics of fear that they respect and in this case did not want turned against them.

Fear.

Brought to you by the GOP

[TheMercenary]

I say what a load of Bull Shit....

Labor Unions are not the only piece of the pie of what made our country great. Who the fuck is paying for the public employees to support this parade? The tax payer. Another reason Labor Unions are outdated and a bunch of bullies.

If I were the mayor I would deny their permit for a parade and send them packing. Bunch of wankers. This should not be about politics. Fools. Pox on anyone who supports them....

[DanaC]

How the fuck is Labor Day not political?

[TheMercenary]

How the fuck is it political? Doesn't everyone contribute to the production of labor in some sense, no matter where you fall on the ladder?

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white.[4]
In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race was held that day from 1950 to 1983 in Darlington, South Carolina. At Indianapolis, the National Hot Rod Association hold their finals to the U.S. Nationals drag race. Most school districts that started summer vacation in mid june will resume school near this day (schools that had summer begin near memorial day will have already been in session for about 3 weeks).

To make into some political statement is to highjack it for political gain.... It is much more than that.

[Happy Monkey]

You might have been able to make a point if your "more than that" hadn't been a bunch of unrelated stuff that used a convenient three-day weekend.

You might as well say that people shouldn't highjack Presidents' day by talking about history and ignoring all of the good deals you can get on mattresses.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

You might have been able to make a point if your "more than that" hadn't been a bunch of unrelated stuff that used a convenient three-day weekend.

You might as well say that people shouldn't highjack Presidents' day by talking about history and ignoring all of the good deals you can get on mattresses.

But just think! We got a day off!!! Presidents day has been hijacked as just another day off. I don't see your point.

[DanaC]

From wiki:

The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York[1] It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, which it had been observed to commemorate.[3] All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.

[DanaC]

Labor Day originated from the politics of labour and conciliation. The unions commemorate those fundamental roots and don't want politicians who've acted against the interests of the labouring class commemorating with them.

Seems reasonable enough to me.

[TheMercenary]

So let them have their parade without the support of taxpayer dollars. No police, no fireman, no EMT's. No permit. They only support one party in the US. It is political by the nature of preventing inclusion of anyone who wants to participate, regardless of political affiliation. How about if we had a parade on the 4th of July and said that Demoncrats just weren't patriotic enough for us, and since we are the majority in that state, they will not be allowed to be in the parade? What would be your response? Are you trying to say that because a person is a Republickin that they have not contributed to the production of labor in our nation or to the creation of jobs? What if all the Republickins in that state said, well since we are not included we will just fire all Demoncrats who participate in the parade, see you in court, you are out of a job? Now do they contribute to Labor or not?

[Happy Monkey]

It is not highjacking to talk about what the holiday is actually about.

Presidents' Day is about presidential history. It is not highjacking Presidents' Day to talk about presidents, even if you ignore all of the mattress sales.

Labor Day is about the Labor movement (I note that you didn't link to the article you quoted, as it makes that point pretty explicitly). It is not highjacking Labor Day to talk about labor unions, even if you fail to mention the proper season to wear white clothing.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It is not highjacking to talk about what the holiday is actually about.

Presidents' Day is about presidential history. It is not highjacking Presidents' Day to talk about presidents, even if you ignore all of the mattress sales.

Labor Day is about the Labor movement (I note that you didn't link to the article you quoted, as it makes that point pretty explicitly). It is not highjacking Labor Day to talk about labor unions, even if you fail to mention the proper season to wear white clothing.

So how does that support the action to prevent participation?

[Happy Monkey]

The Wisconsin Republican Party made it pretty clear that they do not want Labor to participate.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

The Wisconsin Republican Party made it pretty clear that they do not want Labor to participate.

But yet they can't work without them. So again, how does that support the fact that Labor Day is a National Holiday, supported by taxpayer dollars, regardless of political affiliation and how can a single political party prevent participation in a national holiday. Why couldn't all blacks just say we don't want any white people to participate in MLK day because they are not black? White people would have to work, all black people get the day off....

What a load of Bull Shit, on both accounts.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

The Wisconsin Republican Party made it pretty clear that they do not want Labor to participate.

No, what they said was they are no longer in charge and can no longer screw the taxpayer at the expense of more needed programs. They can no longer hold the average taxpayer hostage and get benefits that 99% of the rest of working stiffs can't get. They will now have to pay their way like the rest of the state. The gravy train ends and the average tax payer no longer has to support their publicly supported lifestyles.... I see no problem in that.