February, 2011 archive
Cartoon Quip 0
Newscaster introducing guest:
In keeping with our station’s “Fairness Model,” let’s hear from a bigot . . . .
Harley Schwadron in the March Playboy.
The Geography of Political History, Economic Double-Talk Dept. 0
Dennis G. lines up a fascinating collection of maps through time at Balloon Juice to illustrate trends in labor-management relations–efforts by the plutocracy to keep wages low–as moderated by the states through time. He starts with slavery, moves though convict-labor, and reaches the contempororary era.
I commend it to your attention as context for the Republican attack on workers.
Here’s his bit on the double-talk (emphasis added):
The effort to push back against labor rights started almost immediately. By 1947 this movement was able to pass the Taft Hartley Act and open the door to new restrictions to the rights of workers. By the Reagan era in the 1980s, the movement to steal labor was repackaged and resold to the most gullible and cynical among us. Since then it has picked up a lot of steam. Laws to restrict the rights of workers have been given the very Orwellian name, “Right to Work” laws—as in in you have the right to work, but not the right to come together and ask for a fair deal. In a “Right to Work” State, a worker is on his or her own. The State will always fight against you. You are on your own sucker and you just have to deal with it. In a “Right to Unionize State” you have back-up, regardless of whether or not you work in a Union shop.blockquote>
Facebook Frolics, Good News Bad News 0
Bad news:
Good news (emphasis added).
It’s heartwarming to some, downright scary to others, who worry that in-car technology is too distracting. But mostly, it’s a work in progress. General Motors Co. is still testing the OnStar Facebook system, and it may never become a standard feature. No other manufacturers are offering a way to check Facebook with voice commands, either.
The article goes on to describe other research automobile manufacturers are doing to ensure that drivers don’t see us before they hit us.
Double-Fast Double-Talk 1
May cause suicidal thoughts.
When you listen to the fine print in those prescription drug ads, you understand why the announcer is talking double-talking double-fast.
Light Bloggery 0
Break time.
Divided and Conquered (Updated) 1
Republicans are framing an issue of non-government employees vs. government employees fighting over a shrinking pie. Current events in Wisconsin illustrate this.
If employees’ share of the pie is shrinking, doesn’t it make sense to consider whose share of the pie has been increasing.
Renee Loth considers this in the Boston Globe (emphasis added).
The answer, Gruman quickly adds, is not to strip government workers of their health and security — a beggar-thy-neighbor approach that lowers everyone’s standard of living — but to improve the prospects of others. “The resentment is misplaced,’’ he said. “You need to increase private-sector unionization so those workers can start getting decent benefits again.’’
Addendum, Moments Later:
The Booman quotes Georgetown professor Joseph McCartin, who says much the same thing. An excerpt.
Note that the “20- or 30-year period of failure” roughly corresponds to the period since the election of St. Ronnie Reagan and the Republican Party’s worship of voodoo economics.
Words Fail Me 0
You can’t make this stuff up.
Stop the Republican Hatin’ on Women 0
Sign the petition.
Dustbiters 0
The FDIC munches on some appetizers:
Dessert:
