Comments on: 5PM Wed. Oct. 26 LABOR COMMUNITY MARCH

By: robert

robert — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:34:45 +0000

How is it ok that a giant union is supporting your movement when its not ok for corporations to support politicians? This union is nothing but a corporation! Hypocrites! Btw I’m also a union member.

By: Ha

Ha — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:21:46 +0000

You speak with such broad authority, your statements can’t help but be falsehoods.

By: eric

eric — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:08:54 +0000

No, occupypdxer, I disagree with your logic. If you think that politicians are being bought and that’s what’s ultimately impacting policy, then if Group A has $5 million to donate, and Group B has $3 million to donate – then why would it matter to the politicians being bought the level of employees or union members? If you and I went to a car auction and you bid $10,000 on a car, and I bid $7,000 on the same car, you’d be the one who got it – and it wouldn’t matter whether you or I had pooled our money from 100 investors, 10, or if it was just 1 person. If the politicians are being swayed primarily by the almighty dollar then according to Occupy’s slogans those who are simply throwing the most money at them should be who has the influence. I understand your point that there are more people the unions are representing then at a company like Boeing, but with Occupy being concerned about influence peddling – then it is hypocritical to be in favor of some of the largest lobbyists and PACs while being against others. You can’t have it both ways. The NEA is the largest donor group giving politicians over $56 million. So, if you are against someone like JP Morgan because they donate a lot of money and get special treatment despite their troubles, then surely you see how inconsistent it would be to not be against the NEA given all of their favorable treatment by the US Government despite their abysmal failure in providing quality education.

By: occupypdxer

occupypdxer — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:25:30 +0000

Do you know how many people’s interest Boeing represents? What about Wells Fargo? How many people’s interest does the AFL-CIO represent? Please understand these numbers have a direct correlation to your comment.

By: eric

eric — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:41:50 +0000

I’d like to know how much this Tom Chamberlain clown makes. I suspect he’s one of the 1% that Occupy rallies against. Also, the AFL-CIO is a much bigger special interest group that buys off politicians than most businesses and industries. In 2007-2008 for Federal and State elections they were the 99th largest contributor. In fact, not only was the AFL-CIO a major special interest, but disproportionately to industries and businesses, so were other unions. In 2007-2008 out of the top 100 contributors unions made up roughly 20% of all contributions with those unions who were in the list of the top 100 contributers buying influence with about $215 million. In fact, the AFL-CIO was a bigger donor to political causes than companies like Boeing, Wachovia, Merrill Lynch, Exxon Mobil, and Wells Fargo. See the list: http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list_stfed.php?order=A

If you are worried about special interests influencing elections then the unions (including the AFL-CIO) are a good place to start. Yet, if you are embracing unions then obviously you don’t really care about getting money out of politics, do you? Oh wait, that’s right – I remember now – “some of the animals are more equal than others”. Your Marxist movement isn’t flying with the general population. Your alignment with unions gives you even less credibility. The union parasites long ago outlived their usefulness and now simply prey on the ignorance of their members.

By: carol

carol — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:35:46 +0000

http://www.katu.com/news/local/132551463.html