by Damon Martin
The union movement in the United States is in crisis mode thanks to the recent legislation being pushed forward by leaders in government looking to destroy or virtually eliminate public sector employees’ rights to collective bargaining.
Since the 2010 elections, many state governors have made it a priority to propose laws that will strip government employees of any real power they may have in negotiations – vastly weakening the power of their unions in the process.
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by Blogbot
Thousands gathered in front of statehouses across the nation to show their support for the public sector workers in Wisconsin whose collective bargaining rights are under threat. Such rights are as American as apple pie, and are a cornerstone of any democracy. It’s beyond belief that we have troops risking their lives in the name of freedom abroad, while we’re even contemplating denying our citizens these fundamental rights here at home.
Thanks to Cathy Roberts for these images from today’s event in Downtown Los Angeles.
by Damon Martin
When the Republicans took over the House of Representatives, it was with a promise to balance the budget and take back the old time values of our Founding Fathers. So far the GOP’s best efforts to reduce spending has been to try to cut funding to NPR and PBS, redefine rape under the law, and now they want to take away essential medical services from women nationwide.
Yep, that’s right, the latest Republican brainstorm was proposed by Representative Mike Pence of Indiana. It would pull all Federal funding from Planned Parenthood, which was given $363 million dollars last year by the government, and helped treat or give medical services to millions of Americans.
Started in the 1920’s by Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood provides medical services ranging from birth control to cancer screening to pregnancy testing and counseling, as well as STD testing and treatment, and yes – that word Republicans hate so much – abortion. While the funding from the government never directly goes towards abortions, the money does fund clinics who provide those services, and that’s fundamentally why Republicans are after the organization.
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by Damon Martin
“Can you tell me how to get…how to get to Sesame Street?”
According to the Republicans if you’re following Big Bird, you’re following a leftist liberal who will walk you straight into an abortion clinic while asking for government handouts.
Okay, yes that’s a bit extreme, but Republicans have once again set their sites on cutting spending within the government, while looking in all the wrong places. Much like the Republican House of Representatives before them, the newest legislature has again targeted the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for elimination, proposing to cut all funds supplied by the Federal Government.
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