Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, says "it's time to stop rewarding Republican obstructionism." If only the President and Democrats cared what labor thought. He says "[t]he House of Representatives now has the opportunity to make the tax cut deal fairer, so our economy can get back on track to shared prosperity and growth." If only the House gave a shit. He says, "[w]orking families must not continue to bear the cost of unnecessary giveaways to the wealthiest." But we all know they will give to the rich under Democratic or Republican Party rule. He says that "[w]orking families are counting on the leadership in the House to improve fairness and equality in this deal." You know, I really like Nancy Pelosi, and if there were 217 more Nancy Pelosis or Anthony Weiners or Jesse Jackson Jr.'s or Barbara Lees or Raul Grijalvas, yes, working families might be able to count on the House. But we know the fix is in. President Obama and blue dogs will get this tax deal and Republican obstructionism will be enabled further.
Here is his full statement.
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
on House Improvements to the Tax Cuts Deal
December 15, 2010
The House of Representatives now has the opportunity to make the tax cut deal fairer, so our economy can get back on track to shared prosperity and growth. Working families must not continue to bear the cost of unnecessary giveaways to the wealthiest. Changes to the deal must begin with eliminating the indefensible cut in the estate tax, which is simply another bonus to the super-rich.
It’s time to stop rewarding Republican obstructionism. These obstructionists, who insisted on more tax cuts for the wealthiest at a time of record income inequality, have lost all credibility in dealing with the deficit.
Working families are counting on the leadership in the House to improve fairness and equality in this deal.
Time, The Page, House of Labor Demands Change
In 2004, when George Bush was re-elected, we were stuck in an endless war (Iraq) and the rich were making out like bandits with tax cuts. In 2011, we will be stuck in an endless war (Afghanistan) and the rich will be making out like bandits with tax cuts.
The more things change, the more ....
I wish I could bring you hope, but the truth is that working people are going to get screwed until they fight back. You can ask President Obama to fight for you all you want, but he's not going to do it.
So it's up to each of you to fight back. How? I'm not sure.
But what we have been doing in trying to reclaim the Democratic Party has failed. It's failure will be seen as the House rubber stamps the tax cuts for the rich. Oh, they will have some "show votes." But the fix is in.
I think unions are one of the few forces that will fight the corporate rule of this nation through the two parties. I'm glad Trumka is asking Democrats to be Democrats, but I have little hope it will succeed. We can't even get the odious estate tax cuts out. The landed gentry is here to stay. Perhaps the solution to unemployment will be service to the rich (butlers, maids).
At some point, people will fight back.