What would happen if . . .

[Brigid]

The History Channel or PBS were to produce and air a carefully researched, well-crafted series about the history of the labor movement in this country?

They could talk about the Knights of Labor; the Homestead Strike; the Molly Maguires; Ludlow, CO; Honea Path, SC; Harlan County, KY; the Pullman Strike; the Haymarket Riot; and of course my personal favorite, the Matewan Massacre and the Battle of Blair Mountain. And that is just for starters.

A job for Ken Burns? Or maybe the producers of the superficial but absorbing "The Men Who Built America?"

Americans need to know this stuff, and they don't.When I mention any of these events, except maybe Haymarket, to anyone, I get only blank looks in response.

[Demoiselle]

1. Excellent idea. Probably scares the poo out of some people. Should we start a write-in campaign?

[Brigid]

4. Hmmm . . .

I need to do a little research and find out whom to contact.

[Warpy]

2. PBS has scratched the surface here and there

and some of it has even made it on the air here in NM.

They've shown "Salt of the Earth" a few times, but not as many times as they should have. It's very much worth watching.

[Brigid]

3. The History Channel touches on it occasionally too.

They don't really avoid talking about these topics; they just have never put on programming that focuses on them. But they don't sugarcoat it when they do talk about it. Their account of the Homestead Strike and their portrayal of Henry Frick in "The Men Who Built America" is absolutely riveting. So is their account of the Battle of Blair Mountain in "Hillbilly: The Real Story."

[Warpy]

5. True, when they tear themselves away from aliens, the bible and Nostradumbass,

some of their programming has been stellar.

[Brigid]

6. Yes, it's been "All Aliens All Day" on H2 today.

[Warpy]

8. That guy seems blissfully unaware that he's an internet meme

and not in a good way.

[Brigid]

9. The Hair Guy?

One of the best hucksters around. A little hair gel (or is it mousse?), a few wacky theories he came up with while smoking some high-quality weed, and he's probably a millionaire. Nice work if you can get it.

[Squinch]

7. New for 2014: Chasing Bigfoot through Ice Roads to a Pawn Shop Run by The Great Kazoo

[FailureToCommunicate]

10. Great movie! Everyone should see it! It was as much about feminism as it was union struggles

Juan Chacón and Rosaura Revueltas...

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Awesome idea!!!

If only!

[ErikJ]

12. HA! That will never happen! Labor history is hush-hush

THey dont even teach it in schools anymore--if ever. We got a tiny bit in my high-school though.

[Brigid]

13. I do know . . .

That I gained most of my knowledge in this area piecemeal -- from here and there, and mostly by surprise. Americans need something systematic and accessible. If it scares TPTB, then so much the better.

[brooklynite]

14. Would Americans "know this stuff" because of something on PBS?

The people who WATCH PBS probably aren't the people you're trying to reach.

[Brigid]

15. Gotta start somewhere.

[Quantess]

16. How about teenagers or 20 somethings who watch PBS?

They might learn something they didn't learn in school.