Back to the 19th Century

[Don M.]

It seems that the American Worker is becoming less relevant with every passing year. This article sums it up nicely. What kind of nation will our grandkids, and beyond, be living in??

http://www.salon.com/2015/02/10/rob..._full_speed_back_to_the_19th_century_partner/

Somehow we need to reverse this trend of the wealthy buying our government, and politicians who pay little more than "lip service" to the general population. The "Citizens United" ruling is the ultimate "Green Light" for the total corruption of our political process.

 

[AZ Jim]

One of the "escape" methods for employers is the hiring of "Independent Contractors". The Company or Corporation avoid all labor law and benefits.

 

[Jackie22]

Good article, I nearly always agree with Robert Reich, I also agree with this person's comment in the article.....

"A lot of the attitude American's have today comes from the last 30 years of having the right wing noise machine beat into their heads how bad unions are. It's been a steady drum beat since Reagan got into office. A drum beat that is financed by big business to convince the American worker they need to vote against their own self interests and go with what big business wants. And no small coincidence that the middle class is non existent today. But, still too many American's won't wake up to slow erosion of liberties and economic doom the conservatives have brought with them"

 

[QuickSilver]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/182729-house-dems-push-bill-to-overturn-citizens-united-ruling

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/campaign-finance-amendment-house-democrats-108877.html

The legislation has virtually no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled House

http://www.thenation.com/blog/18159...citizens-united-today-guess-what-stopped-them

Fifty-four senators, all Democrats and independents who caucus with the Democrats, voted Thursday for the amendment to clarify in the Constitution that Congress and the states have the authority to do what they did for a century before activist judges began intervening on behalf of wealthy donors and corporations: enact meaningful campaign finance rules and regulations.

But forty-two senators, all Republicans, voted no. As a result, Udall noted, the Republican minority was able to “filibuster this measure and instead choose to support a broken system that prioritizes corporations and billionaires over regular voters.”
The Republican opposition effectively blocked further consideration of the amendment proposal, since sixty votes were needed to end debate and force a vote. And, even if the Republicans had not filibustered the initiative, actual passage of an amendment would have required a two-thirds vote.

There's also action in the State Houses... as this is a Constitutional Amendment and will require radification by 3/4 ths of the States.

 

[darroll]

Some of the problem with putting workers back to part time was Affordable Care (Obama Care)
Don't these people look into what will happen when they pass major bills.
Obama Care is here to stay as the insurance companies moved on.
The tax structure forces companies to put their workers on part time.

 

[QuickSilver]

Some of the problem with putting workers back to part time was Affordable Care (Obama Care)
Don't these people look into what will happen when they pass major bills.
Obama Care is here to stay as the insurance companies moved on.
The tax structure forces companies to put their workers on part time.

BS to the Obamacare scapegoat. Businesses had it figured out LONG before Obamacare that if they hired only part time employees they could get out of providing benefits.

 

[Don M.]

What our politicians...and the Oligarchs who control them...better realize is that No nation has prospered and endured for long without a vibrant Middle Class. If our leaders had any knowledge of History, they would begin to realize that, and quit trying to decimate our workers to the benefit of the filthy rich. This nation is taking the same failed road as the Roman Empire...and the results will ultimately be the same. Whereas it took the Romans 3 or 4 hundred years to dig their grave, things like Citizens United might very well accomplish the same goal in a matter of a few decades.

If this disparity of wealth continues to grow, there may be a new cottage industry in building/using Guillotines...much like the French did to their corrupt masters 200 years ago.

 

[Butterfly]

BS to the Obamacare scapegoat. Businesses had it figured out LONG before Obamacare that if they hired only part time employees they could get out of providing benefits.

True. This has been going on for years and years -- businesses keeping employees at below full time work to avoid benefits, and also attempting to classify workers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and the employer's share of social security deposits, as well as benefits. This really leaves the employee holding the bag, and is illegal, but they still get away with it.

 

[Don M.]

Staples is now limiting its part time workers to 25 hours a week so as to avoid giving them any benefits.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sapna/stapl...-employee-hours-ahead-of-obamacare#.qyGyOEZRY

Staples can't afford to pay benefits to its people....yet it can afford to make a 6.3 billion dollar offer to buy out Office Depot, thus reducing its competition, and making even more money. I guess I will be adding Staples to the list of companies I no longer plan to purchase from.

 

[Ralphy1]

The country will only change course when we take it to the streets in serious measure and not just a token such as Occupy Wall Street...

 

[Ken N Tx]

Staples is now limiting its part time workers to 25 hours a week so as to avoid giving them any benefits.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sapna/stapl...-employee-hours-ahead-of-obamacare#.qyGyOEZRY

Staples can't afford to pay benefits to its people....yet it can afford to make a 6.3 billion dollar offer to buy out Office Depot, thus reducing its competition, and making even more money. I guess I will be adding Staples to the list of companies I no longer plan to purchase from.

Sam Walton did this years ago..I once tried to use a pay phone at Sam's receiving dock, I was calling an 800 number that is normally free..I received a message that I needed to deposit a quarter to place the call!! I tried this twice and got the same message. I asked the receiving clerk what was up with the phone?? She told me that Sam owned the phones and a fee was required!! I asked to use her phone and she refused saying she would be fired!!

 

[QuickSilver]

The country will only change course when we take it to the streets in serious measure and not just a token such as Occupy Wall Street...

I remember when conservatives detested the Occupy Movement... called them a bunch of dirty filthy hippies and free loaders and so on. Even enjoyed watching out of control cops pepper spraying them. ... WELL.... perhaps they need to rethink their assessment? AND maybe we all need to take it to the streets as you say?