Comments on: Trumka: Creating Jobs Is Best Way to Fix Deficit http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/ News for working families Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:35:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: williamrayson http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17598 williamrayson Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:59:38 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17598 Your proposal is interesting. 1. Let the super rich continue to bleed us dry until the economy grinds to a complete halt. 2. Immigrants without papers and others, who for one reason or another, are stuck in minimum wage jobs without health care will no longer be able to survive in the US. All the undocumented leave, together with many documented family members and naturalized citizens. 3. Overnight, 25 % of all jobs become vacant and available to anyone willing to work for next to nothing, but no one wants those jobs. The last leg of the ecomony then crumbles as we even stop selling junk food to each other. Now, without immigrants, the bosses would have to come up with new bogeymen to scare and divide the working class -- like inner city youth, the hadicapped, gays, people with accents, our incredibly high percentage of incarcerated workers, Moslems, people with too much education, or not enough, or have unions, or don't. Divide and conquer will continue to work against the American working class, which knows nothing of its own history, with or without immigrants, but our economy and society will not. Your proposal is interesting. 1. Let the super rich continue to bleed us dry until the economy grinds to a complete halt. 2. Immigrants without papers and others, who for one reason or another, are stuck in minimum wage jobs without health care will no longer be able to survive in the US. All the undocumented leave, together with many documented family members and naturalized citizens. 3. Overnight, 25 % of all jobs become vacant and available to anyone willing to work for next to nothing, but no one wants those jobs. The last leg of the ecomony then crumbles as we even stop selling junk food to each other. Now,
without immigrants, the bosses would have to come up with new bogeymen to scare and divide the working class — like inner city youth, the hadicapped, gays, people with accents, our incredibly high percentage of incarcerated workers, Moslems, people with too much education, or not enough, or have unions, or don’t. Divide and conquer will continue to work against the American working class, which knows nothing of its own history, with or without immigrants, but our economy and society will not.

]]> By: IllegalsGoHome http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17502 IllegalsGoHome Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:25:55 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17502 Sorry to hear the number of illegals self deporting is so low. 100% would be much more to my liking. Oh well, perhaps those remaining will eventually follow the example. Hopefully sooner rather than later. LOL! Companies who use illegals can go bankrupt if they so choose. It would seem to me, though, that bankruptcy would not, in the long run, be in their best interests. As for them leaving the country? Good riddance! We don't need employers who have only their personal best interests at heart. This country needs employers who realize that in order to prosper in America and for America itself to prosper they must pay American wages to Americans. Eventually E-Verify, which many states are now legislating on their own (since the federal government is remiss in so doing) will bring a halt to the illegal practice of employing illegals. I find it very troublesome that you seem to condone the illegal invasion of this country. We have immigration laws for a reason and FYI they are quite liberal. We admit more legal immigrants each year than every other country in the world combined. And in addition to that, we are far easier on those who choose to circumvent our laws than other countries. Point of fact, three American hikers who had the misfortune to unintentionally and without malice cross the Iranian border. Where are they? According to the Iranians they are merely being 'detained'. We can only hope and pray that proves true. If those three young Americans are fortunate they will someday return to their country and their families. I look upon those who are in this country illegally as common, garden variety home invaders. The USA is my home and therefore everyone who is in it illegally is a home invader. Sorry to hear the number of illegals self deporting is so low. 100% would be much more to my liking. Oh well, perhaps those remaining will eventually follow the example. Hopefully sooner rather than later. LOL! Companies who use illegals can go bankrupt if they so choose. It would seem to me, though, that bankruptcy would not, in the long run, be in their best interests. As for them leaving the country? Good riddance! We don’t need employers who have only their personal best interests at heart. This country needs employers who realize that in order to prosper in America and for America itself to prosper they must pay American wages to Americans. Eventually E-Verify, which many states are now legislating on their own (since the federal government is remiss in so doing) will bring a halt to the illegal practice of employing illegals.
I find it very troublesome that you seem to condone the illegal invasion of this country. We have immigration laws for a reason and FYI they are quite liberal. We admit more legal immigrants each year than every other country in the world combined. And in addition to that, we are far easier on those who choose to circumvent our laws than other countries. Point of fact, three American hikers who had the misfortune to unintentionally and without malice cross the Iranian border. Where are they? According to the Iranians they are merely being ‘detained’. We can only hope and pray that proves true. If those three young Americans are fortunate they will someday return to their country and their families.
I look upon those who are in this country illegally as common, garden variety home invaders. The USA is my home and therefore everyone who is in it illegally is a home invader.

]]> By: ATTNEY http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17489 ATTNEY Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:45:13 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17489 the best way to fix the deficit is for obama to resign as president. obama gets more ignorant by the day the best way to fix the deficit is for obama to resign as president. obama gets more ignorant by the day

]]> By: mars7578 http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17479 mars7578 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:57:46 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17479 Blaming immigrants is a easy target,however a functioning economy will have plenty of jobs.We have created a third world adapted financial system that takes from workers and over rewards the few.Companies can not just be profitable but must meet wallstret expectations.If that means low wages,low benifits or layoffs ,then so it is.Intead of adressing the issue ,Congress either cut taxes for the rich or add more programs to meet the shortfall in salary.Both are equally destructive a health economy. Blaming immigrants is a easy target,however a functioning economy will have plenty of jobs.We have created a third world adapted financial system that takes from workers and over rewards the few.Companies can not just be profitable but must meet wallstret expectations.If that means low wages,low benifits or layoffs ,then so it is.Intead of adressing the issue ,Congress either cut taxes for the rich or add more programs to meet the shortfall in salary.Both are equally destructive a health economy.

]]> By: Kent http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17477 Kent Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:30:51 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17477 You know, "out-sourcing" and "globalization" has been going on since capitalism got underway in the 1500s. European colonization of the Americas was the first big capitalist enterprise and to begin with most labor was provided by indentured workers. Within a hundred years businessmen began importing labor from Africa. After slavery was prohibited during the civil war thousands of indentured Chinese workers were brought in to build railroads and canals in the west, while in the east, millions of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe provided cheap labor. At one time or another all these groups were called scabs by those who had arrived earlier. But you know what, those "scabs" are our ancestors. Promoting divisions between workers only serves the interests of those who exploit us all. You know, “out-sourcing” and “globalization” has been going on since capitalism got underway in the 1500s. European colonization of the Americas was the first big capitalist enterprise and to begin with most labor was provided by indentured workers. Within a hundred years businessmen began importing labor from Africa. After slavery was prohibited during the civil war thousands of indentured Chinese workers were brought in to build railroads and canals in the west, while in the east, millions of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe provided cheap labor.

At one time or another all these groups were called scabs by those who had arrived earlier. But you know what, those “scabs” are our ancestors.

Promoting divisions between workers only serves the interests of those who exploit us all.

]]> By: williamrayson http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17473 williamrayson Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:10:20 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17473 It would be nice if we could stop whining and start marching. It would be nice if we could stop begging for a crust of bread from the same politicians that our union 'leaders' told us we had to vote for to prevent disaster- stop begging with hat in hand, and start demanding like the powerful force we could be if we got out of bed with the enemy, and inspired our members through organizing our ranks and supporters in independent mass demonstrations like our best leaders got mudered for doing in the 60's. It would be nice if we would organize our own party, and stop being the Democratic Party's bitch. It would be nice. It would be nice if we could stop whining and start marching. It would be nice if we could stop begging for a crust of bread from the same politicians that our union ‘leaders’ told us we had to vote for to prevent disaster- stop begging with hat in hand, and start demanding like the powerful force we could be if we got out of bed with the enemy, and inspired our members through organizing our ranks and supporters in independent mass demonstrations like our best leaders got mudered for doing in the 60′s. It would be nice if we would organize our own party, and stop being the Democratic Party’s bitch. It would be nice.

]]> By: williamrayson http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17472 williamrayson Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:59:14 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17472 It has been documented that over 7% of America's undocumented workers - oops! I mean criminal Martians - oops! I mean 'illegal aliens' - 7% of them have left in this last year ON THEIR OWN ACCORD. Where is the corresponding rise in employment? Companies which depend on superexploited labor such as criminal Martians, when denied access to those employees, will hire others, yes, but at the same level of pay and benefits (slaves), or they will leave the country, or they will go bankrupt. Demonizing immigrants is a dead end losing strategy, which is why it is so vehemently promoted by the most vitriolic enemies of unions and workers rights. Capitalist crisis does require the changes only socialism can make possible, but a Labor Party does not have to be socialist to be effective, as long as it is capable of helping to unite our class to fight against the bosses' onslaught and organizing the unorganized - including those among us who were not lucky enough to secure legal permission to enter our country, but were somehow smart enough, tough enough, and determined enough to find a way to get here anyway. It has been documented that over 7% of America’s undocumented workers – oops! I mean criminal Martians – oops! I mean ‘illegal aliens’ – 7% of them have left in this last year ON THEIR OWN ACCORD. Where is the corresponding rise in employment? Companies which depend on superexploited labor such as criminal Martians, when denied access to those employees, will hire others, yes, but at the same level of pay and benefits (slaves), or they will leave the country, or they will go bankrupt. Demonizing immigrants is a dead end losing strategy, which is why it is so vehemently promoted by the most vitriolic enemies of unions and workers rights.
Capitalist crisis does require the changes only socialism can make possible, but a Labor Party does not have to be socialist to be effective, as long as it is capable of helping to unite our class to fight against the bosses’ onslaught and organizing the unorganized – including those among us who were not lucky enough to secure legal permission to enter our country, but were somehow smart enough, tough enough, and determined enough to find a way to get here anyway.

]]> By: IllegalsGoHome http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17469 IllegalsGoHome Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:34:35 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17469 I am 100% in favor of creating PRIVATE sector jobs for AMERICANS. NO new government bureaucracies and NO MORE H1-B slots. And any jobs bill MUST include E-Verify as a permanent and mandatory stipulation. And it MUST apply to EVERY employer! I am 100% in favor of creating PRIVATE sector jobs for AMERICANS. NO new government bureaucracies and NO MORE H1-B slots. And any jobs bill MUST include E-Verify as a permanent and mandatory stipulation. And it MUST apply to EVERY employer!

]]> By: Kent http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17465 Kent Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:03:42 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17465 Everyone who's commented so far has made at least one good point. As you've mentioned, there are a lot of things that need to change: laws concerning immigration, lobbying, and taxation; energy policy; and our relationships with existing political parties. However, as you also make clear, a lot of people seem to have power that we don't have. You mention town councillors, federal legislators, lobbyists, stockholders, and corporate executives. None of them has our interests at heart. In fact, the needs of workers and the unemployed are more often than not considered an obstacle to other people's prosperity. We cannot rely on the powerful to look out for our interests; we have to create power for ourselves. The longer we wait, the worse things are going to get. We need to march on Washington - and stay there until our needs are met. Everyone who’s commented so far has made at least one good point. As you’ve mentioned, there are a lot of things that need to change: laws concerning immigration, lobbying, and taxation; energy policy; and our relationships with existing political parties. However, as you also make clear, a lot of people seem to have power that we don’t have. You mention town councillors, federal legislators, lobbyists, stockholders, and corporate executives. None of them has our interests at heart. In fact, the needs of workers and the unemployed are more often than not considered an obstacle to other people’s prosperity.

We cannot rely on the powerful to look out for our interests; we have to create power for ourselves. The longer we wait, the worse things are going to get.

We need to march on Washington – and stay there until our needs are met.

]]> By: Tyler http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17462 Tyler Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:57:53 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17462 ts the right time for a Federal Jobs Program. Americans often ignore the fact that poverty in a wealthy country is a human rights’ issue when pointing to the human rights’ failures of other countries. If a third of the children in New York City are growing up in poverty, they’re cheated of their rights just as much as if their parents were denied the vote or kept ignorant by the censorship of a tyrannical regime. Poverty doesn’t just happen. America is productive enough to ensure that no child is hungry or ill housed or poorly educated. Freedom from want is one of the “Four Freedoms” that the victorious Allies set up as a goal at the end of World War II. That it remains unachieved more than a half-century later is a crime that we shouldn’t pretend not to notice. Could you go all out for a Federal Jobs program? The scale of the unemployment crisis is mind-boggling. Former low income earners, blue collar workers, and those in the middle-class suffering from the Great Recession. Its time for Americans to demand a jobs program from the Federal government, similar to those put in place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It can be done. We need a ground swelling humane response to an inhumane situation. Francine Tyler New York, Feb. 20, 2010 ts the right time for a Federal Jobs Program. Americans often ignore the fact that poverty in a wealthy country is a human rights’ issue when pointing to the human rights’ failures of other countries. If a third of the children in New York City are growing up in poverty, they’re cheated of their rights just as much as if their parents were denied the vote or kept ignorant by the censorship of a tyrannical regime. Poverty doesn’t just happen. America is productive enough to ensure that no child is hungry or ill housed or poorly educated. Freedom from want is one of the “Four Freedoms” that the victorious
Allies set up as a goal at the end of World War II. That it remains unachieved more than a half-century later is a crime that we shouldn’t pretend not to notice.

Could you go all out for a Federal Jobs program? The scale of the unemployment crisis is mind-boggling.

Former low income earners, blue collar workers, and those in the middle-class suffering from the Great Recession. Its time for Americans to demand a jobs program from the Federal government, similar to those put in place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It can be done. We need a ground swelling humane response to an inhumane situation.

Francine Tyler

New York, Feb. 20, 2010

]]> By: dearjohn http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17460 dearjohn Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:44:15 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17460 I agree. I have read several articles here crying about poor exploited Indian Welders and Machinists imported from India by Allied Signal. I have commented on each one, (but have not yet seen a comment posted). These people are scabs, instead of outsourcing American Jobs to India, Allied Signal is importing scab labor to fill jobs that can be filed by Union American Workers! I agree. I have read several articles here crying about poor exploited Indian Welders and Machinists imported from India by Allied Signal. I have commented on each one, (but have not yet seen a comment posted). These people are scabs, instead of outsourcing American Jobs to India, Allied Signal is importing scab labor to fill jobs that can be filed by Union American Workers!

]]> By: educated http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17456 educated Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:44:20 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17456 Put an end to oursourcing, make Corp. America pay their fair share of taxes, and stop sending money to Isreal. It's not rocket science folks, just politics. Put an end to oursourcing, make Corp. America pay their fair share of taxes, and stop sending money to Isreal. It’s not rocket science folks, just politics.

]]> By: educated http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17455 educated Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:38:26 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17455 Put an end to outsourcing, make Corp. America pay their fair share of taxes, and stop sending money to Isreal. It's not rocket science folks, just politics. Put an end to outsourcing, make Corp. America pay their fair share of taxes, and stop sending money to Isreal. It’s not rocket science folks, just politics.

]]> By: vdunsworth http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17451 vdunsworth Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:38:09 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17451 We need jobs for Americans! There are 8 million illegals taking our jobs now. Pass the SAVE Act, requiring E-Verify and 8 million jobs open up tomorrow. Stop excessive H1B visas another couple million Americans resume working and payig taxes. Our government, corporations and even union leadership would rather have more workers (read: CHEAP workers) than have well paid AMERICAN workers. We need jobs for Americans! There are 8 million illegals taking our jobs now. Pass the SAVE Act, requiring E-Verify and 8 million jobs open up tomorrow.

Stop excessive H1B visas another couple million Americans resume working and payig taxes.

Our government, corporations and even union leadership would rather have more workers (read: CHEAP workers) than have well paid AMERICAN workers.

]]> By: Alex Majthenyi http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/19/trumka-creating-jobs-is-best-way-to-fix-deficit/comment-page-1/#comment-17450 Alex Majthenyi Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:09:34 +0000 http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=25897#comment-17450 Tankers from Yemen carrying liquefied natural gas to begin rolling into Boston Harbor this month despite fears about the highly flammable cargo originating from a suspected al-Qaeda stronghold. With US natural gas supplies at a record high why are we importing LNG? We can and should create millions of jobs by using our own natural resources. Alex Tankers from Yemen carrying liquefied natural gas to begin rolling into Boston Harbor this month despite fears about the highly flammable cargo originating from a suspected al-Qaeda stronghold.

With US natural gas supplies at a record high why are we importing LNG? We can and should create millions of jobs by using our own natural resources.

Alex

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