Ed Keeps On Pushing The Thought Of A General Strike......

[global1]

in Wisconsin. He had one of the state senators say that it is dangerous for a general strike because that would play into Walkers plan to privatize. Why won't Ed just stop there and stop trying to goad the people of Wisconsin into a strike.

I like what Michael Moore said and that is to have the people continue their show of anger in Madison, Lansing, Indianapolis and peacefully protest. I like the idea of high school students walking out the last hour of school - but Ed pushing a general stike really bothers me.

[midnight]

1. Can a general strike be peaceful?

[elocs]

2. Does Ed live in WI? Will he have to suffer the negative consequences to a general strike?

That's a "no" to both of them. Will he be sorry if such an action causes us not to win some some of the senators being recalled? Probably.

I live in Wisconsin and I vote "no" regarding a general strike.

[sabrina 1]

5. I think there should be strikes across the country, not just in Wisc.

The French did it, the Egyptians did it. It's the only way to get their attention.

Americans, especially the left, are so frightened to use the actual weapons they have, the power they have. That is why we are where we are.

Years ago was the time to use these weapons, but we got the same thing 'oooh, {{{{shudder}}} we'll make the right wing mad at us, they'll say mean things about us and people might believ'e them etc. etc. And here we are because they KNOW we are too weak and too afraid to use that power.

When you are dealing with bullies, you have to get it through their thick heads that you are willing to push HARDER than they are and then do it and then BLAME THEM.

I give up sometimes on the left. These are NOT nice people, they are crooks, thugs and they hate this country and its people, they care about one thing, MONEY! And that's what has to be taken away from them before they start to realize we cannot be dismissed anymore. WE HAVE POWER, they KNOW that, but they also know we are too afraid to use it.

People are dying in Libya, in Yemen and around the world because they will no longer live under the thumb of a Totalitarian state. We can stop it here if we have the guts to do it, but fear prevents us.

As the Egyptians, the Tunisians and the Libyans have said 'the barrier of fear is broken, they cannot frighten us anymore'. We have yet to reach that point here.

And yes, people will have hardship, but they won't die, no one is asking them to die as the Libya are doing. Just maybe struggle for a while until we win. And we would, if we shut down this country.

[elocs]

6. Fantasize if you like, but I don't see successful general strikes happen in this country.

I think the likely result of such actions would be to turn the majority of public opinion against us.

It's fun to live in an alternate reality and pretend this huge and diverse country is like Egypt, Libya, or Tunisia, but it is not. We have regular elections in this country and there is a huge chunk of the electorate that is not on either end of the extremes and they will punish at the polls those they see as becoming too extreme.

Why do only about half the eligible people bother to turn out to vote in this country? Because even if things are bad the vast majority of them are not going to risk what they have.

There are not enough "we" to shut down this country. It won't happen, but if you enjoy the fantasy, then dream on.

[sabrina 1]

8. People vote for their own interests as they perceive them.

When minorities went out on strike a few years ago just for a few days, no one 'turned against them'. Even friends of mine who are anti-undocumented workers, rather than being angry, were upset that they could not go to their favorite restaurant and just wanted to see them back at work.

Strikes work, they always have. People don't like being inconvenienced and to make sure they know who is responsible, the message counts.

Are you saying Americans are different than Europeans eg, so selfish that they will turn their anger on those being victimized by an out of control government?

When the French organized nationwide strikes last summer, people thought that also. Instead every day more people joined in the strikes. True, there far right, Qadaffi supporting president ignored them, but he will not survive the next election.

Across Europe, in Greece eg, Iceland, Ireland and elsewhere, those who were in power and who pushed 'austerity' programs on the people to pay the debts of corrupt bankers, are losing elections and being replaced.

Bankers are now being prosecuted. That should be part of any strike here also. A demand to make those who caused the problems pay for the results of their corruption.

It is a popular theme as a majority of Americans want them to pay. Republicans are workers too and all those I know are in favor of workers striking in order to force real changes in this government, and to reduce the influence of corrupt Wall St. bankers in our government.


Funny how in the past, strikes did work, but we keep hearing that it will only make people mad at us. That might be the case if we didn't have a majority of Americans furious at the bailouts of Wall St., Repubs and Dems and Independents. But that is not the case.

Across the globe, in Europe and elsewhere, people are demonstration by strikes, just who is more important to a country's well-being and the workers have the sympathy of the majority, because WE ARE the majority.

Fear will never get us anywhere, it has not for over a decade now.

It's time for real change, and to 'break down the barriers of fear' and just do what is right.

[msongs]

3. gives him something exciting to boost his ratings. he is an entertainer after all nt

[snappyturtle]

4. Regardless of what Ed Schultz says, I won't doubt that he may have

been told that a general strike could be the next option to the public workers. Possibly it was discussed when he was in Madison. I think the people are angry enough to take this action all by themselves....not that I think it is a wise move.

[reformist2]

7. A general strike could turn the public against the unions.