Don,
I'm curious as to your work history. Pardon me, but you sound as if you have not worked at the bottom of the pay scale much. There are usually at least two sides to every story. I remember working for Johns Manville in my youth. As our 'union' contract came up for renegotiation, the JM higher ups decreed a 'gift' of 5 acres for a new park to the town of Lompoc, CA (which adjoined JM's vast land holdings). Needless to say, when we went out on strike, the local rag could find nothing to say but praises for JM and nothing but stink to say about the evil striking workers. Fortunately for JM, Ronnie Reagan was Governor. He polished up his aircraft controllers technique on us. After we had been striking about 5 weeks, he sent up about 500 California Highway Patrol officers, LA sheriffs, etc. to "keep the peace". Funny, but no peace had been broken until they showed up. They immediately began to beat peaceful workers(including their wives) with clubs. All this occurred on the one lane road in a canyon leading up the valley to the factory, convienently out of sight of any other townfolk, reporters, etc. There was not one newspaper article or TV report published telling what happened. This same scenario was replayed over the next few days. It had the desired effect. The strike was broken and we returned to work. Irony of ironies, for less money than we previously earned! With our spirits as well as bodies broken, JM decided that their previous raises were to be withdrawn and our wages reduced instead. Nothing like "supply and demand"! Although a more appropriate term might be "devide and conquer".
Hollywood is very good at proclaiming the "rags to riches" story in its many facets. However, can all be billionaires? Who would then clean your toilet or haul your trash? Our government has tacitly allowed illegal immigration in order to keep the labor pool 'fluid' at the bottom rungs of the pay scale. The inadequacy of our public education system is simply an added insurance policy. |
