Call to Action in Fight to Protect Middle Class

Google images-maps (0.00 / 0)

Look up right to work states
then Red state vs blue state
and now look up slave states vs free sates
Notice any difference?

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by: tchair @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 19:52:29 PM CDT

Excellent analyasis. (4.00 / 2)

Thanks.  The current NH legislature seems to want to drive the state to the bottom of the heap so we look more like Mississippi than the progressive forward leaning state we had become in recent times.  Sad.  They are being directed by powers outside of the state.  There is no doubt about that.

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by: mevansnh @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 05:43:31 AM CDT

What happened (4.00 / 2)

to the "Live Free" part of the motto?  Since when is it OK that money and influence from outside NH set the direction we take?  These so-called "representatives" sure are not representing anyone who lives here.  

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 06:05:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Free" is a bit of an illusion. It's either a euphemism for "exploit" (0.00 / 0)

or it serves to hide the conviction that

"Freedom is obedience to the law."

And the law is, of course, a man-made institution.  Subjugation by the rule of law is presumably better than being subject to a dictator's caprice.  It is, if you value permanent and consistent subjugation over all.  The law is not necessarily just.  The law isn't necessarily equal.  Indeed, it is quite possible for everyone to be equally deprived of their human rights, serially or all at once.  Everyone, for example, can have the right to life and be deprived, at the same time, of the necessities required to live.  

"No free lunch" means just that. What you need to live is denied, unless you work for it. Perhaps the exclusive use of property (private property rights) is so highly valued because it comes with the promise that those without property can be denied the necessities of life, unless they work for them. 'Tis not necessary to have legal slavery, if people have to work to live.

People owning other people is a really hard habit to break.

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by: hannah @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 06:27:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

If this bunch really believes in liberty... (4.00 / 3)

...then they would embrace the right of an employer and it's workers to negotiate and enter into a contract that includes terms requiring union membership and uniform pay and benefit provisions.

Right-to-Work advocates, while superficially claiming to be embracing freedom for workers, are actually trying to use the state to restrict the terms of freely-negotiated private contracts...with the result that Market Power once again becomes concentrated in the hands of the purchasers of Labor, driving down the price they pay for their labor.

This is the most pervasive blind-spot that Rightist-Libertarians have: their inability to understand that 'markets' only function properly when negotiating rights and market power on both sides are equivalent.

The Conservatives actually do understand that, but don't give a crap, because they prefer to keep labor powerless...

(I'm the poster formerly known as Thomas Simmons)

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by: Tully Fitzsimmons @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 06:17:21 AM CDT

I am not sure why a supposedly egalitarian nation is suddenly (0.00 / 0)

fixated on the "middle class."  Who came up with that formulation?  Was it Democrats who were embarrassed about championing the working class.  What's wrong with a political party representing the people or the public or popular issues?  
Conservatives perceive the people as antagonists and denigrate the popular will as somehow beneath them. But there's nothing to be gained from respecting their sensibilities. Indeed, if conservatives hate people, their own kind, that's a negative characteristic that ought to be front and center in our consideration of anything else they hate or like.

I think we have been so distracted by irrational animosities directed at superficial attributes of some people that we've ignored the conservative animosity towards all members of their own species who resist being subject to their will.

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by: hannah @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 06:38:14 AM CDT

No community, (4.00 / 2)

no trust of others, no caring, just power.  I guess that is the only way they can feel safe.  What a way to live, in fear of your fellows.  But can't you just feel it in the State House these days?  They are terrified of us, and blustering, in hopes that we will fall back on our old ways and offer our care, our community, our intelligence, to bail them out again.  
NO GOING BACK!  Stop bailing them out, tell the truth about these people.  

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 07:02:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I plan to be there n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 07:58:20 AM CDT

Anyone? (4.00 / 1)

Has anyone else noticed that the free-stater who frequents this site has been rather reticent lately?  Why?  Is he ashamed of what his colleagues are doing?  He should be.  

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by: mevansnh @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 08:51:11 AM CDT

Hate to tell you (0.00 / 0)

but the little boy playing "government" with his buddies and leaving his trail of knocked-down blocks behind him is back.  

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 17:23:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hmm, this might change things a bit: (0.00 / 0)

Fed Judge: State Legislatures Don't Have Authority To Limit Collective Bargaining Rights

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by: beverlywoods @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 16:44:54 PM CDT

Y'all are going to be there (0.00 / 0)

On Tuesday morning - right?

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by: judy stadtman @ Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 17:41:04 PM CDT