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The Struggle with Belligerence

by: Couch Potato Politics

Fri Nov 12, 2010 at 10:57:35 PM EST

Welcome to Blue Jersey, Couch Potato Politics. Not too often do we frontpage someone's first post. Thanks for posting it. - promoted by Rosi

It's hard to fathom the seemingly unfettered commitment to ideologically driven intolerance that seems to ooze from every pore of Mr. Christie. His belligerence to and repudiation of Public Workers and Teachers by attacking their Unions does nothing to promote his case with the people he really needs on his side to improve the conditions in New Jersey.

The people he attacks are the backbone and nerve center of what has made New Jersey the "Garden State" for decades. The men and women, who provide the services, educate the children who have tested at the top, nationally. Instead of reaching a hand across the table he overturns the table and blames the workers for his temper tantrum.

Mr. Christie spent this last election cycle being seen at the podium of every political hotbed race, supporting his Republican Party Dolls and slamming many of the people who would be asked to vote for them. That is the irony of his message and manner. He attacks Labor, essentially Voters, assuming that they are all pro-liberal and somehow the "Enemy". There are Union members, proud Union members who are also conservative and don't see the Union as some kind of parasite on the system but as a necessary arbiter and monitor to stand with workers when they have no voice at the contract table.

Mr. Christie hides his attacks behind claims he is in contest with the inflexible Unions but sidesteps the fact that the Unions are the employees. Many of the people working in the Union Hall offices are transitioned in from the workforce because they understand the method and machinations of the work environment. He makes some kind of monster of the Unions when they are essentially the workforce. He also ignores the truth of how truly flexible Unions are as exampled by their willingness to reopen their contracts with Governor Corzine last year. Instead of appreciating that willingness to work with the state, he is now trying to tear up the MOA Mr. Corzine hammered out with New Jersey Public Workers.

It is tiring to see his attacks, day after day, article after article, and not hear anyone ask him the most obvious question of all; why does he hate Unionized Labor? Unionized labor built most of this country, its buildings, cars, power plants, communications systems and infrastructure and they did it well because they were fairly compensated and protected through the efforts and organization of Unions.

It is time the Democratic Leadership in New Jersey and the rest of the country took off the kid gloves and put on the boxing mitts and stood toe to toe with the likes of Chris Christie and his ilk. No more begging for compromise from people who neither know the meaning of the word nor care to understand the principles of it.

Couch Potato Politics :: The Struggle with Belligerence

Tags: Union, Labor, featured, Teachers, State Workers, NJEA, CWA, Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, (All Tags)

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The Struggle with Belligerence | 10 comments

Look in the Mirror First (1.00 / 1)

I agree until you ,at the end ,ask others,mainly the democratic Leaders, to take off the gloves.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE WORKERS THEMSELVES!

Christie has denigrated whole professions and the people in those professions have cowered.

Until the actual workers in those professions begin to speak up for their profession,AS INDIVIDUALS, then no organization ,union or democratic party ,can help.

I personally am sick and tired of wimpy teachers and wimpy government workers not having enough pride in their personal professions. They should be angry and they are not.They should be leading the way with their union leadership instead of waiting to just follow.

Teachers and government workers are acting likes wimps and they are getting exactly what they deserve for acting that way.

It is a damn shame.

by: firstamend07 @ Sat Nov 13, 2010 at 16:34:02 PM UTC

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I'm all for not cowering. (0.00 / 0)

I know firstamend thinks there's been a lot of cowering and that point's been made by him/her several times.

I'd be interested to hear from others too whether they agree or disagree on that.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Sat Nov 13, 2010 at 21:29:05 PM UTC

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Disagree (0.00 / 0)

Seems to me that NJEA has been aggressively combating Christie from the start of his campaign. ? Checked out Redstate and got 25 hits on NJEA (denouncing, condemning) indicating they're doing a pretty good job of standing up Christie's billigerence.

mmgth

by: mmgth @ Sat Nov 13, 2010 at 23:18:03 PM UTC

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If there has been any cowering, it... (3.50 / 2)

...is being done by our Democratic electeds, particularly the Democratic leadership in the Assembly and Senate who are taking their marching orders from corrupt party bosses who are more interested in having a good rapport with Christie than standing up for large-D Democratic or small-d democratic values.

The unions have stood up for themselves as much as they could, but when push comes to shove, their only power comes from their ability to collectively bargain, which will be diminished once the Assembly and Senate pass Christie's "toolkit" legislation, and their ability to organize in support of candidates for elected office who will support their issues of concern, which has been a one-way street under the current Democratic leadership in Trenton.

The only unions that the current Democratic leadership have supported have been the Building and Construction Trades, of which the Senate President is a member. Everybody else from the teachers to the cops to the firement to the public employees have been royally screwed over at every turn.

This is one more reason that progressives have to organize and provide Democratic voters with progressive alternatives in the upcoming legislative primary elections. If the Democratic establishment isn't going to be there for the workers who make every public institution in the state function on a daily basis, there should be a progressive alternative that they can support who will fight for them on all of their issues of concern.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sun Nov 14, 2010 at 01:42:02 AM UTC

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Same old,same old (0.00 / 0)

You sound like Christie.Blame,Blame Blame!

Everything is everyone elses fault.

Well guess what. Government worker unions are weak politically because they got lazy and complacent. Government workers have allowed themselves to be beaten down and have lost the ability or the "drive" to promote themselves.

Instead of blowing theri own horn and explaining to the taxpayers what it is they do and how well they do it, they sit back and do nothing.

It is a damn shame they have lost pride in their work!

I am no fan of the current government worker union leadership but even they cannot lead a group of people who do not want to be led.

Stop blaming others for things you can control yourself! That is what Christie constantly does and it is getting old!

by: firstamend07 @ Sun Nov 14, 2010 at 13:01:55 PM UTC

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not everyone, just the D leadership (0.00 / 0)

As I said before,...

The unions have stood up for themselves as much as they could, but when push comes to shove, their only power comes from their ability to collectively bargain, which will be diminished once the Assembly and Senate pass Christie's "toolkit" legislation, and their ability to organize in support of candidates for elected office who will support their issues of concern, which has been a one-way street under the current Democratic leadership in Trenton.

If they sit back and do anything, they sit back and do their jobs, which in the case of teachers, cops, and firemen should be enough. Just because they do not spend every waking, non-working hour shouting from the rooftops how important they are does not mean that they have lost pride in their work. I would love to be a fly on the wall when you tell a cop or a fireman that he/she has lost pride in their work.

Stop deflecting blame that the Democrats in Trenton have more than deserved by their poor performance over the last year. If anybody is emulating Christie in this regard, it is you, Sweeney, and the rest of the Democratic leadership in Trenton.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sun Nov 14, 2010 at 14:22:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreements and Disagreements (4.00 / 1)

It isn't the NJEA that is falling down on the job of responding, aggressively, to Mr. Christie's attacks and diatribes, it is the Democratic leadership in the Assembly and Senate.

Somehow, it seems they have been cowed by a perception that aggressive response and repudiation of Mr. Christies words would sully their reputations when, in fact, it is just the opposite. These leaders need to stand with the public workers and teachers at every assault. These folks are paying taxes too and they are citizens and contributors to New Jersey no less important or vital than any private sector worker.

As a side and sad note, some unions have been further weakened by the failure of membership to elect for a voluntary Strategic Industry Fund (Fighting Money). They seem to have missed the message that no battle is free and right now, Mr. Christie and his supporters seem to have unlimited pockets.

It is the curse of a truly Democratic Organization that we must, as a body, agree in majority, on how to march. The Right has unwavering allegiance and submission to their leadership and allow them to dictate terms, not ask counsel or commitment.

In the end, we must ask all parties to commit to the cause, whether it be the membership of unions, the management of unions or the politicians that depend on unions to act as their advocates and messengers on the ground.

If we don't stand together, we fall alone
That didn't last long.

by: Couch Potato Politics @ Sun Nov 14, 2010 at 15:43:55 PM UTC

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IBEW and proud (4.00 / 1)

I have been retired for about 2 years and thanks to my union job with a major telecommunications company I was able to provide a good middle class life for my family. I am sick and tired of all the union bashing much of which is drilled into the heads of low information voters by the "main stream media" which is out to protect their corporate masters. Union people are very flexible and for the most part do not put unreasonable demands on their employers when times are bad. My union settled for very small raises in order to preserve benefits. We sat down with the company and came up with ideas on how to lower medical cost with co-pays and networks of doctors. Most people get an unfair picture of unions with TV shows like the Soprano's, this may have gone on in the old days but it is no means what unions are about today. If it wasn't for unions most people reading this would not have what they have today.

by: bluescat1 @ Sat Nov 13, 2010 at 17:18:56 PM UTC

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IBEW (retired) (0.00 / 0)

Me too.

mmgth

by: mmgth @ Sun Nov 14, 2010 at 05:03:45 AM UTC

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Union (4.00 / 1)

I'm glad to have this diary posted here and glad you posted that comment as well, bluescat1.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Sat Nov 13, 2010 at 21:26:50 PM UTC

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The Struggle with Belligerence | 10 comments