Good Relations with May Day

[Stomper]

The labor movement when it started was DEFINATELY needed, but it has morphed into an evil caricature of its former self that BLINDLY follows the "party line", and BTW- I'm in a trade union, and have paid out the better part of $4,000 in dues for '09. On the other side, corporatism is just another form of UNCONSTITUTIONAL totalitarian rule, that is no better than socialism, communism, or fascism. BALANCE... somewhere in the MIDDLE (maybe slightly to the right of middle) you will find the truth and true freedom yet while preserving the rights of the citizen against those who would make them into slaves... be it "revolutionaries" waving foreign flags on our own soil, corporate boards of directors, or power-mad politicians.



BTW-- I OWN page 2.

 

[AGCR]

AGCR?

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/AGCR

or
Allied Gum Chewers Review
Advanced Gonad Cancer Research
Acme Golf Club Recycling

 

[AGCR]

I don't want the left to accept the second amendment, I want them to accept the common sense ideals of the right and then accept the blessings of the Constitution.
I don't want guns in the hands of marxists. Our lives are miserable enough without that.

Fortunately that view is being left behind among quarters where it counts. When Kevin Starrett of OFF came to speak at the event I threw last sunday, he emphasized several times the importance of the gun rights movement being inclusive regardless of ideology, right or left.

 

[AGCR]

If I had my way... I'd introduce them to the "class III" aspect of the 2A from a high vantage point, stocked with 5,000 (or more) belt-linked rounds and a few spare barrels.

[/QUOTE]

Threatening violence against people you don't agree with in a public pro-gun forum. Might as well write a check to the Brady Foundation.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Examine that photo carefully: American flags far outnumber the Mexican flags. La Raza ("the People") was just ONE group included in the mass of that march, and the photo is only of a very limited area of the march. It could be postulated that the photo is deliberately staged to distort the nature of the gathering, which overall is about Labor organizing, not immigration "rights". The biggest contingent was Jobs With Justice, a worker-rights national organization, and many individual unions.

The May Day parades are about the international workers' rights campaigns and are a celebration of the progress that labor unionization has brought to the world and the solidarity of all workers in the struggle against corporate capital enslavement. Few people in the United States remember that May Day, the International Workers' Day, BEGAN IN THE USA. It was in the 1880's. I forget the date but I think it was 1888, the first nationally organized event to celebrate the Labor Movement and its gains (you know, dumb stuff like the five-day work week, and the eight-hour work day, and elementary job-safety regulations, ideas that never existed until labor unions forced Capital to agree by withholding union labor from them.) May Day celebrations spread around the world in the following years, but as the Labor Movement was so brutally repressed in the USA, among industrial nations only America does not enshrine May Day as a national holiday.

You see that red flag? THAT BEGAN IN AMERICA! It was a blood-soaked white shirt taken off of a murdered worker, that a striker held up before a crowd of union marchers, after corporate mercenaries fired upon a peaceful and unarmed labor protest march. I am old and my memory is fuzzy, but I think it was the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, around 1888 (sorry, I'm too busy to check the dates.) There are dozens of such worker massacres in American history, where corporations hired goons to harass and kill strikers and labor organizers. The red flag represents the blood and sacrifices of those workers and organizers, and their inspiration to all of the world. Most nations have great reverence for America as the source of this movement, and pity for us because our memories have been shaped by corporations to forget it.

The May Day march is a home-grown celebration of our American freedoms, including our Bill of Rights, and is an ongoing protest against corporate capital dominance, and all that we have not lived up to.............................elsullo

Sorry to burst your bubble, but most of the marchers are illegal invaders and therefore lawbreakers. I do not give a @rap what they want, I want them gone back home

 

[Blitzkrieg]

What he said.

The rallying cry was "taxation without representation".

We get to vote nowadays.

The forefather legacy is over-used today...especially by people who have no problem kneeling at the altar of Corporate America who have taken all manner of liberties away from Americans.

The Founders wisdom is eternal..

Can you understand that many of us hate all of the oppressive actions of government and corporations? I do.. in fact capitalism in it's purest form is slavery to the most wealthy, no matter how they got that way

The golden rule is that he who has the most gold makes the rules, even if he's Bernie Madoff and stole it all (until he gets caught, if he gets caught)

Capitalism is not a free market system!

 

[Stomper]

If I had my way... I'd introduce them to the "class III" aspect of the 2A from a high vantage point, stocked with 5,000 (or more) belt-linked rounds and a few spare barrels.

Threatening violence against people you don't agree with in a public pro-gun forum. Might as well write a check to the Brady Foundation.[/QUOTE]


So who should I write a check to when SEIU thugs attack a BLACK MAN who is protesting Obamacare, while attending a town hall? WHo should I write a check to when the leftist jerks are demonstrating downtown PDX and trashing private/public property and assaulting the police officers onthe scene?

Spare me your moral superiority....

 

[Correctthought]

The history of May Day was that it began in the US a rallying date to coordinate lots of demonstrations and protests to win the 8-hour day. Of course, they were called communists for that.

At some point, we switched our Labor Day to September and the rest of the world (communist and non-communist) kept "our" Labor Day as May 1st (May Day).

It could very well be union guy, but I see Che flags in the picture above. In other places, I see different communist flags of various stripes, or hammers and sickles as it may be. These things are just as appalling as the numb nuts waving nazi flags around.

I think you're sincere and the Haymarket Protests may be one of the reasons for "May Day", but I don't think its the whole story by a long shot. Just as my version might not be.

And, to be clear, I DO NOT ever advocate the initiation of violence in a civil society. I do however, believe anyone has the right to defend themselves against violence. ((also property, but that doesn't fly in this state.))

To be fair, I don't think you were addressing the violence bit to me.

Oh man, this if veering off of Guns......

It's awesome that any law abiding citizen has the right to bear arms (your state may vary, so keep vigilant)

 

[MuddyWatters]

This year AGCR is again co-sponsoring the annual May Day March through downtown Portland on May 1st. The other groups are for the most part a long list of leftist and liberal organizations; exactly the usual suspects supposed as being anti-2nd Amendment. However, the collaboration last year went well and after my first meeting with the planning committee last night, I had a good talk with the sole member who had any reservations about being associated with a gun politics magazine the first time around and she said her position on firearms has reversed 180 since then. Everyone else had been enthusiastic from the get go. It would have been ridiculous otherwise, since we happened to be meeting in a room with a big mural of 19th century Zapatista farmers with rifles on the wall.
Ross Eliot

Seems like a great way to reach folks who wouldn't ordinarily get a positive view of the 2nd Amendment. I commend you.

 

[unionguy]

The labor movement when it started was DEFINATELY needed, but it has morphed into an evil caricature of its former self that BLINDLY follows the "party line", and BTW- I'm in a trade union, and have paid out the better part of $4,000 in dues for '09. On the other side, corporatism is just another form of UNCONSTITUTIONAL totalitarian rule, that is no better than socialism, communism, or fascism. BALANCE... somewhere in the MIDDLE (maybe slightly to the right of middle) you will find the truth and true freedom yet while preserving the rights of the citizen against those who would make them into slaves... be it "revolutionaries" waving foreign flags on our own soil, corporate boards of directors, or power-mad politicians.



BTW-- I OWN page 2.

The "unions were needed before, but not now" is a common belief. Consider one fact: unions peaked in their numbers and strength in the late 1960's. Workers wages have declined EVERY year since 1973--save one year in the 1990's. I think those two issues are related.

Meanwhile, the richest 1% have nearly doubled their share of our nation's wealth.

Meanwhile, what workers take home is much less than it was forty years ago--we have less wages (when you adjust for inflation), more debt, less access to healthcare, less secure pensions (or none at all), less vacation time, etc.

I agree with you...we need balance...right now, we don't have it. Its far too skewed in the direction of those at the top.

True, the Oregonian, Fox News, and most other mainstream media talk a LOT about the "power" of unions...but that isn't the truth. Of course, ALL those outlets are owned by large corporations or very wealthy individuals.

Finally--how in God's name did you pay $4,000 in union dues? The highest dues I ever heard of was 2% of your wages. Which union is this??

 

[AGCR]

Threatening violence against people you don't agree with in a public pro-gun forum. Might as well write a check to the Brady Foundation.

So who should I write a check to when SEIU thugs attack a BLACK MAN who is protesting Obamacare, while attending a town hall? WHo should I write a check to when the leftist jerks are demonstrating downtown PDX and trashing private/public property and assaulting the police officers onthe scene?

Spare me your moral superiority....[/QUOTE]

Don't forget tactical superiority as well. Since I pay attention to the activities of anti-gun groups, I'm aware they generate membership by portraying American gun owners as intolerant types who might blow anyone away they don't agree with. By way of contrast, since I travel in many political circles, I've never heard any liberal/leftist gun owners fantasize about machine gunning, say, a Tea Party gathering. By walking into that trap you just provide juicy material for the next Handgun Control Inc. fundraising mailer. A more paranoid individual might find such loose talk possible only as the work of agent provocateurs.

 

[Chee-to]

What he said.

The rallying cry was "taxation without representation".

We get to vote nowadays.

The forefather legacy is over-used today...especially by people who have no problem kneeling at the altar of Corporate America who have taken all manner of liberties away from Americans.

Riiiiiiiiight........

Sure can tell what you been drinkin' we are about to get taxed out of our pants and unconstitutionally forced by the Progressive Socialistic Hierarchy to "buy" a turd in a punch bowl..........

 

[mpmax]

Unions have no power? Who's the president?

 

[Chee-to]

Unions have no power? Who's the president?

And why does the big "0" kiss their butts ?

 

[Stomper]

Meanwhile, what workers take home is much less than it was forty years ago--we have less wages (when you adjust for inflation), more debt, less access to healthcare, less secure pensions (or none at all), less vacation time, etc.

Yeah, you should SEE how much has been taken out of my gross pay by the GOVERNMENT... SS, Medicare, Fed, OR State, Property tax, etc... THOUSANDS, and even after all my deductions, my adjusted gross income looks like I will have to send in about ANOTHER $1000 on April 15th... I'm sooooo looking forward to having to shell out more for Obamacare when it's in full effect. Just how much tax is enough?

I agree with you...we need balance...right now, we don't have it. Its far too skewed in the direction of those at the top.

Agreed... on BOTH sides of the isle.

True, the Oregonian, Fox News, and most other mainstream media talk a LOT about the "power" of unions...but that isn't the truth. Of course, ALL those outlets are owned by large corporations or very wealthy individuals.


You mean union officials like say... Andy Stern, head of the SEIU who has more access to the oval office than just about ANYONE? Andy Stern... who helped write the Obamacare legislation?



Finally--how in God's name did you pay $4,000 in union dues? The highest dues I ever heard of was 2% of your wages. Which union is this??


Let's see... crunching ALL the numbers my dues equal $3,203.03 (national and local) so I was off a bit from my earlier post, and that is about 4.5% of my gross wages. I won't mention my particular union, I don't want to end up having to shoot any "kool-aid drinkers" who may want to ATTEMPT to "persuade" me not to "talk against our union brethren" while I'm out in the hall's parking lot one evening. About 75% of our members are currently sitting on the bench, but I have been able to stay busy year round with the exception on being layed off briefly last July. I keep my skill-sets versitile and don't settle on focusing on (and only doing) one aspect of my trade like many of the brothers did/do.

By way of contrast, since I travel in many political circles, I've never heard any liberal/leftist gun owners fantasize about machine gunning, say, a Tea Party gathering. By walking into that trap you just provide juicy material for the next Handgun Control Inc. fundraising mailer. A more paranoid individual might find such loose talk possible only as the work of agent provocateurs.

First of all, you must not read the leftist blog-o-spheres that the left FEEDS on, like the Huffington Post and the like... and they not only FANTACIZE about "harrassing" a Tea Party event, they actually do it.... like the thugs from IBEW I heard about recently. Whether its with guns, or just sheer brutality/intimidation is acedemic, the end result is the same.

Second, I'm not paranoid, and I don't fantacize about machine gunning down a rally... I was referring to the large crowd of racists brown supremists in the earlier posted photo, MOST of whom are statistically PROVEN to be here ILLEGALLY, engaging in sedition against the laws of my country... not to mention the FACT that the "political philosophy" they are flying the red banners for (communism) is responsible for the murder, torture, and suffering of MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of human beings... do you know how far you would get "demonstrating" under the same sets of circumstances and demanding they change THEIR laws in their home countries in Latin America? You'd last about 3.5 minutes and you'd be beaten, possibly SHOT, and definately imprisoned... BELIEVE IT.

As for wrapping oneself in the U.S. Flag during your little "political movement" parades... so what. The U.S. Flag in and of itself is just so much material sewn into a particular pattern, its the IDEA and NOTION for which it SYMBOLIZES that makes it worthwhile and noteworthy. In 1939 the Pro-Nazi American-German Bund headed by Fritz Kuhn staged a HUGE rally in Madison Square Garden.... see the flags, and Geo. Washington (no less!) as a back drop? Those red flags with Che on them are NO BETTER than the ones with swastikas on them pictured below (BTW- they were red too).... heh, you're not even orignal. Sorry friends... you don't get to have it both ways.

 

[pdxjohann]

May day was a BIG DEAL in the union town I grew up in. Then Labor Day too. Labor Day. I'm just sayin', real people's dads, uncles mostly, had their brains air conditioned by providence of wooden clubs cracking their skulls open for sake of not working day after day of 12-16 hours 'til they were working unsafely. Weekends, blue laws were the silent trench lines later. Regular people forced into watching their kids have a life as desperate as their own unless they broke the cycle..... hey wait a minute. something seams weirdly similar here.

 

[mpmax]

I just saw a special on the Military Channel about Philidephia's contribution to WW2. Odd, the transit UNION tried to shut down the War Industrys with a transit strike during 1944 because the transit system wanted to hire BLACKS. Something the UNION would not tolerate. Proud heritage you got there.

 

[unionguy]

.

So who should I write a check to when SEIU thugs attack a BLACK MAN who is protesting Obamacare, while attending a town hall? WHo should I write a check to when the leftist jerks are demonstrating downtown PDX and trashing private/public property and assaulting the police officers onthe scene?

Spare me your moral superiority....[/QUOTE]

Brother, can you think about what you're writing?

Have you heard ME defend violence by anyone? Are you really trying to hold me responsible for some SEIU issue?

I'm talking about Personal Responsibility...my comments were directed at those threatening violence on this forum (or elsewhere).

To try to undercut my point by some alleged violent incident by someone else who happens to be in a union, is ridiculous.

Sorry, by bringing up someone else's violent act, you don't deflect the responsibility people have for threatening violence when its flat out wrong.

 

[unionguy]

Riiiiiiiiight........

Sure can tell what you been drinkin' we are about to get taxed out of our pants and unconstitutionally forced by the Progressive Socialistic Hierarchy to "buy" a turd in a punch bowl..........

Ah...and gee...haven't like 20 Attorney Generals filed lawsuits WITHIN OUR COURT System to challenge the constitutionality of the healthcare bill? So, that claim will be addressed.

That option wasn't available to our forefathers. They couldn't get redress through elections or the courts...hence a revolution became necessary.

We aren't living in those conditions today...so, to threaten violence is still wrong and Un-American.

 

[Stomper]

Brother, can you think about what you're writing?

Have you heard ME defend violence by anyone? Are you really trying to hold me responsible for some SEIU issue?

I'm talking about Personal Responsibility...my comments were directed at those threatening violence on this forum (or elsewhere).

To try to undercut my point by some alleged violent incident by someone else who happens to be in a union, is ridiculous.

Sorry, by bringing up someone else's violent act, you don't deflect the responsibility people have for threatening violence when its flat out wrong.

Maybe you should do the same, like PERHAPS qualify your statements with something like, "although many haters in the left-wing causes have recently committed acts of violence, it is wrong to..." That's ALL I EVER HEAR from leftist... "well the Republicasn did this (or that)" or " where were YOU when Bush was doing X, Y, or Z?" to deflect an issue, and they're NOT alleged acts of violence I mentioned, I saw it on live newsfeeds.

I don't recall a "threat" of violence in this thread, as in, "I'm going to gun down the May Day parade particpants". Expressing a sentiment (albeit harsh) of hostility towards large groups ILLEGAL foreign invaders (displayed in a prior posted photo in this thread) DEMANDING things of our government (and taxpayers) is NOT a threat. Stop beating that drum, we get enough of the, "owwww.... we're scared of the violent, hate-mongering right-wing crazies" from the putzes on Capitol Hill.

Out right murder of groups of people you disagree with wouldn't be the right thing to do... a point lost on jerks like Bill Ayers when he planted bombs at people's PRIVATE HOMES, and other various locations. Those tactics of murder, assaluts, and intimdation are tools of the usefull idiots on the left, recently RECORDED saying things like, "we know that power comes from the barrel of a gun", "we will TAKE your farms, we will TAKE your banks, etc.", Andy Stern employs the tactics of "we use the power of pursuasion, and if that doesn't work we'll use the pursuasion of power".... all veiled threats from the left...you're looking for something that just isn't here.... go fish.