About this "GM THING"...

[PCIntern]

I recall in 1980 the late "great" Ronnie Reagan took a trip to Pittsburgh, donned a hardhat and went to the steel mills which, at that time, were churning out vast amounts of steel products for America and much of the world. Standing there in his workshirt and hardhat, he joked around with the workers and told stories of "Welfare Queens driving Cadillacs" and the like. Patted these workers on the back, got back in his limo and took off.

They all thought he was a great guy and voted for him. Reagan's trade policies essentially caused the near-shuttering of American steel production and most of these huge, bustling plants went silent after decades of literally non-stop, 24 hour a day production.

But but but...Welfare Queens!!!

But but but...Hillary's emails!!!

But but but...Border Wall!!!

But but but...no fucking jobs at the plant. I hope each of those dumbasses who voted for Trump sobs on his or her way to the Unemployment Office to register for the benefits...or as the Trump/McConnellistas would call them: the "entitlements which need to be cut back".

I do feel bad for those who voted with the Democrats who now, unfortunately, get to say, "Toldja so!" to the dopes.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. If memory serves,

Reagan bamboozled union workers in 1980 by capitalizing on two factors:

1. He didn't strongly flex his anti-union muscles until PATCO when he fired the air traffic controllers; so he was an unknown commodity.
and
2. The workers trusted him because Reagan was well known as the former president of a large union, SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Back in those days, it was unheard of a brother/sister to betray unions.

[PCIntern]

2. Yes and yes. nt

[MyOwnPeace]

3. AND.........

I think it is an outrage that they named an airport in our nation's capital after "Raygun" after what he did to the air traffic controllers' union.

[GetRidOfThem]

9. Locals don't like to call it that...

To us, it is still simply "National Airport". Most people I know cringe when it is called by its full name... (I won't repeat it here)

[MyOwnPeace]

11. Good to hear!

[raging moderate]

17. Yes! A DC resident TOLD me that! Back in about 2004. National Airport!

Last edited Sat Dec 1, 2018, 11:01 AM - Edit history (1)

Thank you! I couldn't remember the exact right name! National Airport! I will remember!

[True Blue American]

5. That,right there

Was what the suckers believed. Former Union President!

But they still voted for Republicans who slowly but surely destroyed their protection. The terrible Unions! Honestly, they still do not understand. I can not figure why so many of them believe the Unions are at fault. I actually hear that from Union members.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. And remember, until Reagan, Republicans were Democrats Lite.

Gerry Ford, Nixon (who created the EPA and Head Start), Eisenhower, Bob Dole. Union workers didn't see there was a change a-coming.

[True Blue American]

8. Nixon actually wanted health care

For all, but I do not think he pushed it.

[Left-over]

13. Geared to kill our unions

The whole deal in advertising, reviews, and rating systems is geared to make non-union automobiles and other products look sexier and more appealing, even though there is proof that is contrary to that, than union made counter parts. In this we need to remember that the mass media is owned by the supporters of right wing propaganda.

[True Blue American]

16. Love

My Buick. Before it was Olds.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. More to keep in mind:

Lane Kirkland, then head of the AFL-CIO supported Reagan's firing of the PATCO workers. That was a betrayal, pure and simple.

If anyone calls DCA anything other than Washington National Airport to me, I correct them. I worked there for ten years. Eventually the name will be changed back, I'm sure of that.

It was around that time that the demonizing of unions began in full force, and continues to this day. The whole "right to work" bullshit is an essential part of that.

I started my working life in 1966 with Ma Bell, as an information operator, later a toll (long distance) one. In Arizona, which at the time was only one of two "right to work" states in the country. We were very aware that we were paid less than our sisters (the operator job was more than 99% female at the time) in other states. I have also never forgotten exactly who crossed the picket line during the 1968 strike.

[livetohike]

4. My Dad was three years from retiring from Edgar Thompson works

in Braddock PA in 1983. His seniority saved his job, but many 20+ years of service lost their jobs. The plant is one of the few still open in the Pgh area. He despised Reagan long before this. He called him “that B list actor”.

[True Blue American]

6. I heard Union

Members call Reagan much worse. But fools still admire him.

From B List actor to Reality star. Liar, bigot and con man. Actually both of them were. So was Nixon.

[livetohike]

10. Exactly. My Dad passed in 2004, but in my head I can hear what

he would say about Trump! My Dad was a Union steward and Democratic committee man for years. It’s why I love politics.

[True Blue American]

14. My Son was. Only company

In town that had a Union for Engineers. His dad was 100% Union.

The place that gave them all College Educations.

[Efilroft Sul]

12. My dad was cut from National Tube in McKeesport...

…with six months to go before he reached full pension eligibility. He was still a young man then with nearly 20 years on the job, and was one of the few steelworkers with the foresight to see the mills weren't coming back. He was able to find employment on the locks with the Army Corps of Engineers and was able to work 22 more years. My dad was also smart enough to realize Reagan was a complete flim-flam man, but nobody at the mill would listen to him. Of course, those damn fools were Reagan Democrats. Now most of them are probably Trump MAGAbillies, and living proof that wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age.

[True Blue American]

15. You said it all.

It seems their brains freeze on stupid.

[liberalmuse]

18. I remember those years.

On my visits to relatives in Ohio, I saw first hand how his policies devasted once thriving smaller towns. They became havens for drugs, crime and despondency. Republican policies hurt the working class, so The Southern Strategy and wedge issues are their carrot on a stick to lure the voters that they disdain and disparage in private.

[RainCaster]

23. It's still that way in Ohio

My family there still thinks that DFT is their savior. Because he speaks in their dog whistle tongue, he must be one of them.

[Honeycombe8]

19. You nailed it.

These jokers are so stupid to have not seen Trump for what he was. After all, millions did see him correctly: a total rich boy wimpy fake who is a pathological liar, narcissistic, and doesn't care one bit for "the working man," whom Trump has taken every opportunity in his life to steal from and screw.

[Farmer-Rick]

20. Remember when RepubliCONS called corporations job creators?

We should actually call them job destroyers.

[The Liberal Lion]

21. Being a Pittsbugh native and living there at this time

I just couldn't understand how blue collar workers could be once again fooled by this line.