Allow me to introduce myself: I am a labor supporter and a former union staffer for SEIU and AFSCME.
I have been nervously anticipating the UAW/GM strike. As Ron Gettelfinger strike, although sometimes necessary, nobody "wins" with a strike.
Here you have us: an audience of hundreds of thousands every day who, assuredly, could be of help in some way.
I know folks from the AFL-CIO read and monitor DailyKos, and post to it as well.
Tell us: what can we do to help?
Can we donate to the strike fund, to send a message to the boss that people support striking workers?
Can we send letters to our political representatives--or our potential candidates--letting them know we are aware of the strike, support the workers, and would encourage them to show their support?
Can those of us who own GM cars send a letter to the company, or to local dealers, letting them know of our support?
I quote my man Jesse Jackson from 1988:
Workers, you fight for fair wages, you are right -- but your patch, labor, is not big enough.
Women, you seek comparable worth and pay equity, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.
Women, mothers, who seek Head Start, and day care and prenatal care on the front side of life, relevant jail care and welfare on the back side of life, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.
Students, you seek scholarships, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.
Blacks and Hispanics, when we fight for civil rights, we are right -- but our patch is not big enough.
Gays and lesbians, when you fight against discrimination and a cure for AIDS, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.
Conservatives and progressives, when you fight for what you believe, right wing, left wing, hawk, dove, you are right from your point of view, but your point of view is not enough.
But don't despair. Be as wise as my grandmama. Pull the patches and the pieces together, bound by a common thread. When we form a great quilt of unity and common ground, we'll have the power to bring about health care and housing and jobs and education and hope to our Nation.
We, the people, can win.