Go Union
I’m a lefty – no question about it. I grew up in a union household and walked the picket line with my baker father when I was a preteen. Later in life I was a job steward for a large 3 star hotel. I won’t argue that there are not now or in the past serious problems and corruption in unions but that is irrelevant. What is relevant is have unions improved the working lives of their members more than they would have been had the union not existed and you can be damned sure the answer is yes. So I was pleased to see this on Politico
Democratic lawmakers will not be able to count on the AFL-CIO’s support if they drop the public insurance option from the health care reform legislation, union officials said Tuesday.
The AFL-CIO’s incoming president, Richard Trumka, outlined “three absolute musts” in any overhaul package: a public option, an employer mandate and no tax on employer-provided health benefits.
Asked if the union would work against any bill that did not hit those targets, Trumka told reporters during a briefing: “That means we won’t support the bill if it doesn’t have the public option.”
It is way more than time for the traditional supporters of the Democratic Party top stand up and tell Obama and the blue dogs enough is enough – no strong public option, no support come mid-terms and 2012. If the Dems can’t, with a majority in the house, the senate and occupying the White House, push a strong public option bill through they do not deserve to hold office as they will have proved themselves to really be no different than the GOP. End of story.
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