Huckabee Said...

I used to be a Republican until they started their campaigns of dishonesty and fear. Nothing could get me to vote for 4 more years of a Bush clone. I like Mike much more than two faced John.

Most people who don't like unions were never in one. When my ex walked out after draining our bank account with the money I saved to be home with our son (the one he said wasn't his-My ex came back Thanksgiving, I had the baby med december and he left right after Christmas... and the boy was his or immaculate conception....) I paid his parents to live there... I had to go back to work asap. The union fought for me and I got back when the baby was 5 weeks old. The union pushed for an exam...and the doctor understood my circumstances and I went back...I bought the formula and diapers and paid the doctors to. When you need them, the union is there.

If you read the conditions that caused the unions to form, you will fully understand the vital need. Many people don't get it, but I know how important a union can be.

Former Communication Workers of America union member!

Excellent article, Marilyn!

I feel much the same as you do. I came from being dirt poor and I don't resent the rich at all. I don't want their money. I have a job and I work for a living. Just don't take more taxes from my paycheck and stay out of my business.

I want reform in Washington. I've had Mr. Obama as my state senator and I don't want him as my president!

William, Senator McCain has been known as a maverick from the beginning. Both sides have said so - before the campaign started. And both sides have respected him for that. He's on our side. Not on the side of the good ol' boys.

Heather, I do understand why unions were started. I just think most of them are like corrupt governments now. Yes, I have been in a union myself. And my dad was in one all of his working life. I've studied them, believe me.

Thanks, Lera. You know, now that you mention it, we don't hear much from people who had Obama as their state senator. Hmmm.

Marilyn, If I remember your post about why you are not a Democrat correctly I seem to recall feeling that the reasons you gave were quite reasonable and left a comment to that effect. My own parents were poor Republicans. They were "Taft" Republicans. They grew up in poor families (collecting nuts and berries from the woods and gardening to have enough food). During the Depression they sometimes went hungry. Both my parents worked hard and long hours for very little pay. They were good people, never asked for handouts, and gave part of what they had to charity. My father was a member of a union during WWII. He hated it. His inside view of the union soured him on unions for the rest of his life.

Therefore I think I have a pretty good idea of where you are coming from. But I would like to point out to you, if I may, that your perception of the Republican Party doesn't seem to match my perceptions of what they have been doing over the last 30 years. Republican Presidents have not come anywhere near balancing a budget. They have added hugely to the national debt. I would rather wait until I have saved enough to pay cash for what I want than to borrow to have it right away. That is why I have a comfortable life today at age 67. I don't think cutting taxes and replacing that government income with borrowing is responsible.

Secondly, the Democrats may tax the rich and give to the poor but the Republicans tax the poor and give to the rich. I think that you will find if you investigate it that over the last 30 years the proportion of the tax burden has shifted toward the poor and middle class and away from the rich.

Third, money flows up the social class pyramid from the poor to the rich and powerful. Jobs are not created by giving the rich more money, they are created by the poor and middle class spending the money they have. This is why there is a significant correlation between the economy prospering under Democratic administrations and suffering under Republican administrations. Please check this contention for your self. I know you will trust data from your preferred sources over data from mine.

Finally, a brief note about political campaigns. The party out of office always talks about how bad things are and the party in power talks about how good things are. This is standard procedure. Since the Republicans have been in power for all but 8 years since 1980 the Democrats have been the ones out of power and complaining. Back when the Republicans were out of power they complained about how bad things were. It isn't a party characteristic, it's a product of who is the incumbent.

There are lots of other reasons for being a Republican than the stereotypes of the two parties.

I am in a union now and have been in the steel workers union. The one I am in now doesn't do a thing for me but give me a $25 dollar gift card at Christmas. I would like to not pay them dues at all. They contribute to the Democrats. Nuff said!

Marilyn, it is probably because Obama has done next to nothing for the people he supposedly represents and wants to help. You are correct in that the Democratic Party is about raising taxes and giving more power to our government, but there is little in the way of helping out the American people.

If Sen. McCain is such a wonderful leader, after being in congress for so long why was he never elected Majority Leader. I respect his courage as a pow but being a fighter pilot is not leadership unless you are a wing or squadron commander. Being a Pow for five years qualifies you for nothing but admiration of the nation and back pay. Sen McCain has no more or no less qualifications to be the president of the United States than any one else who got shot down and captured by the enemy and there were plenty of them. Some are even walking the streets homeless and with no job. But then who gives a damn about them.

John, Senator McCain has a record that anyone can find if he/she chooses. It's far more impressive than Obama's.

great article :)

Marylin, I didn't mention mention Obama. I simply stated the obvious.

One more obvious thing. The last person that claimed he was an outsider and not part of the Washington DC establishment and was going to cut spending and make for a less intrsive govenment was George H W Bush AKA the president/

Things changed a bit after President Bush was nominated. Remember? 9/11?

My DH and I are both proud members of the NEA and AEA. My hubby serves as his local's President and is also on the Board of Directors at the Arkansas state level. Before organizing my husband was subjected to several bouts of intimidation and harassment because he dared to challenge the unsafe conditions of the children he transports, via a school bus, everyday. Since organizing the children of this district are SAFE, simply because he and the AEA managed to get many new laws passed in the state of Arkansas. PLUS, the intimidation and harassment has stopped! I have a hard time when people start running down unions and insinuating all they are about is filling their pockets because its NOT true. If left up to the supervisors and administration and their so-called cost-costing management some of the children of this state would be dead.

Well, Miz Lynn, I've seen what happens behind the scenes. In public, unions look good, perhaps. But many not behind the scenes...like many organizations.

My husband and I have been behind the "so-called" scenes too. What I object to is the idea ALL unions are bad. That would be like me saying ALL church organizations are bad because of the likes of Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, Jim Jones and Richard Roberts.

Excellent article Marilyn, thank you.

You're right, Miz Liz. There might be some good unions. I think most were at the beginning. Pehaps. The NEA? Teacher's union? There's one that I dislike tremendously, but I don't wish to get into that now.

I liked what McCain said tonight about rewarding good teachers and encouraging bad ones to find new jobs. I hope he can accomplish that.

I agree with you on McCain and Paiin. But not all unions are bad. They have done a lot for the working man/woman