Union Vs. Church

[burythehatchet]

One supported the Democratic party, the other was usurped by the Thuglican party (or maybe the other way around).

The conservative movement has eviscerated unions over the past 30 years. Churches are the network that they used to organize at the local level. The waning influence of unions outside of the upper mid-west resulted in a weak local organizing effort.

From personal experience I know that the organization here in Georgia was non-existent. Why? People are eager to volunteer but cannot find a venue.

The Progressive party must rebuild that network at the local level. Since the South is a "right to work" area, no union influence here. So some other vehicle has to be built.

[Democat]

1. The left no longer has a strong alternative to churches

The only way we are going to have one is probably to take over some churches of our own.

Politics and religion mixing sucks, but what other group has such strong ability to reach, and in many cases control, voters?

[China_cat]

2. That's not completely true

I work for a union local based in Jacksonville, FL.

[burythehatchet]

9. can you say which?

[China_cat]

10. OPEIU Local 73

[Bluzmann57]

3. What the hell are you talking about?

I get your point about the church being usurped by the repubs, but how does this equate with Unions vs. church? I am a Union member and I know a great number of Union Brothers and Sisters who are church going people but are still Democrats. The Labor movement in this country will be dead in about four years if we don't fight now. We cannot dictate to people what they should or should not believe. All that does is make folks rebellious. It is my wish that every blue collar person in the world is Unionized, but I am certainly not naive enough to believe it'll ever happen.

[burythehatchet]

4. Perhaps we mis-communicated

I was just pointing out that that those two spheres used to compete in terms of how they served the two parties. I hope that clears it up. Sorry if you understood something else.

[Bluzmann57]

6. OK I am sorry

if I offended you. It's just that I'm getting angry about the way people are generalizing all religious people around here. Now I am not saying that you are doing that at all. And as I said, here in the Midwest, it may be somewhat different, although maybe not. As I re-read your post, it seems that you are pointing out something that may be a different type of cultural thing than I am used to. I am sorry if I insulted you.

[burythehatchet]

7. no sweat

My opinion is that it would be great to re-invigorate the labor movement. The "right to work" BS in the South is what keeps workers from organizing. So we have to either strengthen that network or build an alternative in various parts of the country.

I would propose some type of advocacy group for all workers who require collective bargaining power. I believe it should be researched and discussed.

[mikehiggins]

8. Once again I rise to say

what we need is to field a new party that would focus on fiscal responsibility, environmental sanity and common-sense protectionism.

All other issues would be sidelined or backburnered until after the party was organized and began to win elections. GOPuke efforts to engage on those issues would be clearly and loudly labeled unAmerican and unPatriotic by the new party, a message that would be repeated every single time a party spokesman was seen on tv or heard on the radio.

"This is a nation in crisis," the message would say, "and these issues, as important as they may seem, will do nothing but distract from the things we have to do TO SAVE AMERICA from the real threats to our survival!" and so on and so forth.

I'd like to see it called the Modern Progressive Party, something that sounds good and can be defended from assault from any quarter.

[Democat]

5. They are both large existing organizations important to political parties

One seems to be getting strongs (churches) for the Republicans and one is getting weaker (unions) for the Democrats.

This thread was not meant as an insult from what I read. :)