SEARCH
Working Families Ask: What’s Wrong with America? |
|
 |
|
| Like millions of us, Steve Skvara wants to know: ‘What’s wrong with America’—and how will the next president fix it? | |
Last night’s AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum brought to a national stage the many reasons we in the union movement keep fighting for economic justice in this nation—the women and men whose labor has created a strong America yet who are not sharing in the American dream.
Millions of our nation’s working and middle class were represented by Deborah Hamner, whose husband, George Junior Hamner, was one of those killed in the Sago Mine disaster; Shirley Brown, who with her co-workers has tried to form a union with AFSCME at the Catholic-run Resurrection Health Care for four years; and Jim McGovern, who served in Iraq but returned home to find his job at Maytag had been outsourced.
One of those union members, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker from Indiana, posing a question to the candidates, drew huge applause and a standing ovation; and now, he is rightfully getting much media focus for his moving description of how, after working for decades at LTV Steel, the company cut his pension by one-third and abolished his health care coverage. Skvara broke down as he described being unable to pay for health care coverage for his wife who had devoted her life to him and their family. His question for the candidates?
What’s wrong with America, and what will you do to change it?
Skvara, writes Logan Murphy at Crooks and Liars,
represents millions of hard working Americans who have lost their jobs and benefits and face the humiliation of not being able to provide for themselves or their families. Can you imagine a Republican fielding a question like this?
In fact, this summer, Republican presidential candidates were squirming in their chairs at the thought they would be asked real questions as part of a CNN debate in September that will include questions from people who submitted them via YouTube. After seeing the Democratic candidates answering questions on CNN from people on YouTube clips, several of the Republican candidates tried to claim scheduling conflicts to get out of a similar forum. Didn’t work. CNN called their bluff and rescheduled the debate.
It says a lot that Republican candidates fear everyday Americans to the point they grasp tightly to a forum with stale, pre-packaged questions from slick-haired moderators.
On America blog, Joe Sudbay pointed out how the recent Democratic debates—the one on CNN and the one at last weekend’s YearlyKos conference and our own forum with 17,000 union members in the audience—have engendered something close to real dialogue because they have included questioners from mainstream America. As he writes:
I think this development in the debates has been a positive development. The candidates can’t give their usual canned and rehearsed responses—well, they can, but do so at their peril.
Pretty much everyone agrees with the assessment of Payson Schwin, who blogged the forum for us last night: America’s working women and men were the stars of the Presidential Candidates Forum.
Check out more blog coverage of the event at Firedoglake, Open Left, ThinkProgress and Laborrights.
Check out video of the forum at Greatscat!
The New York Times has the full transcript of the forum here.
12 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
The main thing that is wrong with America is our leaders in Washington as well as local leaders next door are selling America to foreigners for $$$$$. We no longer can trust our government but have to watch every one of them carefully for corruption. The shyster attorneys are the next big enemy of the American people who are involved with the ACLU And other anti American organizations such as CAIR. We no longer can take freedom for granted but must fight on a daily basis.
I sense a bit of mis-directed anger in the previous post. Lets not play the same game tha GWB and his cronies play.
Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11 and the ACLU has nothing to do with the Neo-Cons who screwed up our economy.
What is wrong with America? It has been hijacked by a small group of very wealthy and powerful Americans who are dictating the socio-economic direction of this nation.
Take a look at Newsbusters AND the comments therein. Vile, disgusting.
Mr. Murray - is on CNN rambling again to John Roberts (quasireporter)….me, me, me……
I would have to say that the biggest problem is the fact the corporate elite are getting a free ride from the Republicans. When the NLRB is picked by which ever party happens to be in office at the time, how can it not be bias. Same thing with U.S. supreme court justices ( which hear a lot of NLRB cases ). There needs to be a change in how these positions are picked. How can a handful of people decide whats best for millions?
Union members are taking the right step by speaking out. If we don’t look out for our future and our children’s futures, we are all doomed to let corporate greed do it. This country is fast reverting back to the sad days that our ancesters fought so hard to do away with. Fair pay, 8 hour work days, safe working conditions, and respect. Lives were lost for these things. It’s time to stand up and fight for them again.
SOLIDARITY
I am disgusted with What is happening to our country!! It has to stop now!! I am about to loose my home because of poor health insurance coverage. I’ve been on disability for two months and my coverage expired because I no longer have any hours left in the trust office. Now bills keep coming in but no way to pay them. Also getting disability is is not adequit enough to live on. Look what your giving to the Mexicans flooding our country illegaly. You are giving them are disability ,welfare programs and health care at our expence. Shame on the American Government, SHAME ON YOU!!! Ifeel for you Mr. Steve Skvara and all the people in this position, while our politicians squander our hard earned money they have confiscated thru taxation. This must stop!! Our politicians and government have the responsibility to take care of our own first. We have the right to hold them accountable. Wake up Americans and take a stand. Become an activist. Put common sence back in our Land and get rid of the new world order B.S.. When it comes time to vote you better know who you are going to vote in and out of office.
One suggestion I have for such debates is to allow the questioner 10 seconds to respond to the candidate’s answer. What I saw, often, was that the candidates did NOT answer the question. For example, the women from Resurrection Hospital asked Rep. Kucinich about protections for people who try to unionize, and he responded with some boilerplate general promises, rather than addressing her specific issue. They get away with this all the time, and it’s a shame. These union members obviously have very serious questions they put a lot of time into planning, and I think the least we can do is hold the candidates accountable to answering the questions.
Union brothers and sisters: Please work to REPLACE NANCY PELOSI AND HARRY REID — they are exercising NO leadership, failing in every way to implement the mandate of the last election, and trying to conduct political business as usual. If the party leadership will not step up, I am stepping off. A life-long union Democrat, I will abandon the party and work vigorously for any 3rd party liberal candidate who opposes the tyranny of the Bush monarchy and Beltway politics. Put impeachment back ON the table. thank you
Please take a look at Australia and New Zealand – they are both under British system. They have many things in common:
• If you want to complain about the product/service of a private company, contact the company by email, phone or mail. Someone in the company will reply to you shortly, often by mail. On the bottom of the letter, you are not just given this person’s name and contact numbers, but an upper authority’s name and contact number, plus the name of the government departments if you are still not happy. Private companies are usually eager to solve the problems to consumers’ satisfaction, or they will soon out of business.
• If you want to complain a government officer, you can always find the personal that is in charge of complaint on their website. This person is always from a separate department. They always take it seriously and always write you letters. In the letter, you are also given the name of his/her superior to ensure your case is being properly overlooked. If you thank them for their fairness, they will smile and tell you: “Don’t thank me. It’s my job. I’m hired to do this.” They thank you for pointing out their flaws.
• Government monitors businesses closely. Misleading advertising is a serious charge. Dishonest companies and their owners are soon blacklisted. Their wrong-doings are published on official websites for public to view for free. Dishonest companies close doors fast. People in these countries say what they mean, mean exactly what they say.
• Government sees seniors and investors vulnerable and pay extra attention to ensure they are not misled and ripped off. Once found, economic losses will be recovered and the crooks will be prosecuted. You can rarely find crooks in these countries.
• The public believes in fairness. They believe that bad people should be punished and innocent people should be protected. They believe only that way they can live a good life. Although their world is not perfect, everyone is willing to go extra miles to “make it a better world”. As a result, there are many government watchdogs established by people like you and me, simply for the purpose of having the law enforced. You often hear them saying “money is not the most important. It is your lifestyle”.
• The government looks after its people. You don’t see seniors being forced to sell their houses simply because their retirement income cannot cover the sky-rocked land tax.
• You only see ordinary leaders or ordinary people in these countries. It does not matter who the leader is. Employees are well trained. They do not have to excel. They just need to follow the guides. It is the system that makes everything in order. British system is thoroughly considered, well managed and constantly improved. You can also find British system shines in Britain, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.
• They only accept immigrants with “good character”. Crooks are always reported, blacklisted, deported and can never enter these countries. That explains why people in these countries are super nice and “pure”. Those who do not comply with law are all kicked away! Where do those bad people go? Well, they go to countries that give them total freedom…
There are many great spirits in this country. America is the only country that goes extra miles to help other countries in history.
But you got to look after your own people.
If your people’s own living environment deteriorates, you will no longer being looked up to.
Good luck.
[...] this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can’t afford his wife’s health care, shook the [...]
WHAT WE DO TO THE COMMUNITY WILL COME BACK TO US
Some articles online reminds me of the differences between Socialism and Capitalism.
Socialism system looks after everyone in the community, especially the weaker and the poorer. Capitalism system is all about big money seized by the strongest, smartest, the boldest and often, the trickiest.
(Please do not confuse Socialism with Communism. Communism generally associates with confiscation of everybody’s asset, hand over to the leaders of the Communists, squandered by the leaders (and leaders’ families), and killing of the rich (and their descendents) to prevent revenge at a later date.)
What’s wrong with America is that in this country, capitalism has gone too far. Remember the aim of capitalism is profit maximizing. Profit – material benefit is the priority in this system. One shouldn’t be surprised that in such country the weakest and poorest being left behind first, later the average people, then the less wealthier… More and more Americans will be complaining about their lives. One day, we’ll all find that the good old America has gone.
Why? Because this is a system values wealth, power and winning the game (playing tricks) over fairness, mutual consideration and morality. What was that America dream? America dream is about making money quick, on a piece of land that other countries would not allow you. This piece of land gives you all the freedom to achieve your goal. If you are smart enough, you’ll get rich before 65.
Because the goal of the government is making profit, not looking after people’s life, you are on your own. You look after yourself. You will soon find that responsibility, reliability, hardworking and trust does not lead you to giant success. Instead, you end up being taken advantaged of, cheated and laughed at. You will soon find that being a smartest yet ruthless person, you would not being punished, but make a good life out of it. When more and more people learn this lesson, more and more Americans become unfriendly, inconsiderate and self-centered. This is exactly what had happened.
It is a country you make your fortune. It is not a country you enjoy life – life for average citizen is tough in this country! America is a battle field. If you want a peaceful, relaxing lifestyle with friendly, truly loving and caring people, you should go to a socialist country, such as Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia…
All the smart and successful Americans know that! They are practicing that for years!
There are only four options for the average Americans:
• Join the ruthless. Be the smartest. Just harden your heart.
• If you cannot harden your heart, leave this country.
• If you can either leave the country, nor hearten your heart, join the majority Americans - Sit down, complain and hate. Be unfriendly, inconsiderate and self-centered to each other. And do nothing else.
• Join or form a government watchdog association in your area, ensure the law is enforced. If the politicians ignore you, keep seeing them and talking to them. If you are ‘annoying’ enough, they will do something to get rid of you. 2 years later, you will find this works. 5 years later, you’ll find your living situation improved. 10 years later, you and your children will thank you for making all the efforts.
We also need to teach our children to be considerate. We also need to understand that complete selfishness will hit us back. Giving care to the community results in receiving care. We should learn to be a good person, not just a successful one. We should learn it is a shame to hurt other people. We shouldn’t be shameless in order to succeed.
Our lives are in our hands.
We all deserve our government, don’t we?
Some valid points from Michellee. I would suggest a fifth option. An option that would in essence take a mass movement of the working men and women, whether union or not. A march to Capitol Hill enmass to send a message that we are tired of politicians catering to the money of big business. The preamble of the U.S. Constitution states that all men are created equal. Yet in todays world workers are being treated as second class citizens. The law says we are allowed the right to form unions, yet many employers deny that right. The NLRB is even denying that right by allowing these employers to get away with it. There appears to be no protection from the government, for workers. We need to get that protection back. The only way to get the attention of these people, is a public showing. Not just a few thousand people marching. We need millions.
Michellee’s fourth option has merit, but do we have the time to make it happen. At the rate that jobs are leaving the country, I think not. It’s time to put politicians and the corporate elite on notice. With CAFTA, NAFTA and any other afta that the government has throwed to the American people, we are losing the battle in the import/ export business. That’s not entirely true. We are winning the import side of it. What would happen if we stopped buying the goods that the corporations stole from the American workers, and took out of the country to produce. We’ve had the power to do so from the get go, yet we continue to buy foreign made products. We keep the profits rolling in for these greedy business tycoons, who elected to keep all the profits for themselves, by moving their businesses out of the country.
Now foreign countries are putting businesses here on American soil. Sure they are creating jobs. But not high paying jobs. Not union jobs. Most have stipulations they say they won’t locate here if their company is to be unionized. They are gaining more and more land. What’s wrong with this picture? American businesses locating out of the country and foreign businesses locating here. It appears that the government is selling the American workers out. By not enforcing the NLRA the government is allowing these foreign businesses to set up shop with cheap labor by not allowing the workers to form unions.
We must take a stand before it’s too late. Before more American jobs are lost. We need to kick the politicians and the corporate big wigs out of the same bed. We need to stand up and fight back.