Hot Button Issues: Chavez, Gates & Unions

[Truth Talks]

I perused DU for years before I finally registered. One trend I enjoyed was the divorce from Bill Gates.

DU and other forums used to regularly sprout flame wars focusing on Bill Gates or Microsoft. As the Microsoft whores found it increasingly difficult to defend Microsoft's crappy software and sleazy business practices, they tried a new trick: Change the topic to Bill Gates, who had conveniently resigned as Microsoft's CEO to become the greatest philanthropist in world history.

It appears to me that this propaganda stunt is beginning to falter. Though Bill Gates still has some defenders here, most people appear to recognize him for what he is: A "creative capitalist" (in his own words).

Hugo Chavez is another story. His numerous critics often complain about people who revere Chavez as a god - another propaganda stunt. There are indeed many people who adore Chavez - myself included. But I think most of us are smart enough to realize he isn't God. Trying to accurately analyze and assess Chavez is a very frustrating endeavor because the corporate media have buried him in so much BS.

I don't object to people criticizing or questioning Chavez, as long as it's done in an intelligent manner. But whitewashing him as a pompous dictator is simply stupid. It's interesting to note that that's virtually the official right-wing line. No one hates Chavez more than George W. Bush's fan club, so it's a little disturbing to see such a vocal contingent of anti-chavistas here.

Another interesting thing: Why do we se so few threads bashing Colombia's right-wing President Alvaro Uribe?

I would think most thinking people would regard Latin American unity as a good thing, and Uribe is clearly the odd man out. How can people support the U.S. government's continuing (and escalating) military support of this murderous bastard? How can people not be concerned about Colombia sending troops to Afghanistan?

Another thing that disturbs me is the attitude some people here have towards unions. They seemingly deify them as gods: NO CRITICISM ALLOWED. When I criticized the National Education Association and Teamsters on one recent thread, I was slurred as "anti-union" and "Libertarian."

Excuse me, but I spent sixteen years in public education, getting screwed by the NEA every day. (Bill Gates certainly has a fondness for corrupt teachers union officials.) I later worked with a corporation parasitized by the Teamsters, and I can tell you all kinds of stories.

Remember the late Jimmy Hoffa? Did you know his son of the same name now heads the Teamsters?

I'm not stupid. I recognize unions as a necessary evil, needed to protect workers from the likes of Bill Gates. But nowadays many unions (or the two I have experience with, at least) are in bed with the enemy. Excuse me if I have strong words for unions that sell out their dues-paying members. As far as I'm concerned, there are few life forms lower than a union whore.

There are so many issues swirling all around us these days. Hugo Chavez, Bill Gates and unions may seem insignifcant in comparison. Yet Bill Gates might be regarded as the world's #1 Capitalist Pig. (And, no, I don't hate capitalism. I favor a mixed economy - capitalism + socialism.) Hugo Chavez is arguably the world's #1 socialist, and he's certainly the most notable critic and opponent of U.S. imperialism/corporate corruption. Does that not deserve respect?

Chavez and Gates are of immense importance, both practical and symbolic.

Finally, with the economy tanking, unions have never been more important. Ignoring union corruption or dismissing it as the lesser of evils is simply stupid.

So where do you stand on Bill Gates, Hugo Chavez and unions - and can you back up your opinions with logic, facts or experience?

Viva Chavez!

[wtbymark]

1. MyOp on unions

There are definite pros and cons to being in a union or not. I was an IBEW member for 6 years and now im in a non-union shop (making double), granted I could be fired tomorrow for absolutely no reason, but I wouldn't be desired and making this money if unions didn't exist. They create the floor of labor's wages and benefits (even though they aren't the floor themselves), they create laborforce competition which raises all wages. The attack on labor has resulted in stagnet wages for all US workers over the past 30 years. Even though I might never be in a union again, I still support the unionization of labor 110%.

[Truth Talks]

2. To join or not to join?

As I said, I'm not anti-union. Nevertheless, the idea of choosing whether or not to belong to a union is an interesting one.

When I worked for the U.S. Postal Service, I was a "casual" - i.e. a non-permanent employee with no union protection. I love hard physical work, and I was rewarded for it.

At my present job, I work even harder, yet I'm treated like sh*t, thanks largely to the Teamsters - which devote most of their time and energy to the laziest, most obnoxious people in the building.

On the other hand, I eventually fell in with some really scary supervisors at the post office. With no union protection, I finally just abandoned ship. At my present job, I've only encountered one supervisor who I'd describe as a tyrant - and the Teamsters are buddy-buddy with her.

Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place.

[bemildred]

3. The first thing you do to obfuscate an issue is polarize it.

Make it a matter of good vs evil, reduce it to only two possible points of view, both extreme.

[Truth Talks]

4. OK, let's hear it.

If you have a middle ground position to offer, let's hear it.

As I said, Hugo Chavez isn't perfect. He's done a few things I'm not happy about, and there are a few other things I'm not sure about. But he's also done some spectacular things. If his report card included grades ranging from A to F, I'd still give him an A overall.

My biggest fear is that Chavez might commit a fatal error - or perhaps he already has. Maybe his economic reforms are destined to fail. But I have yet to see any conclusive evidence that Chavez is a failure. I see him as a man who has taken on a Herculean task and is staying the course.

Bill Gates is another story. As far as I'm concerned, he's a complete SOB. There's no middle ground there for me.

Similarly, I have little but contempt for the Teamsters and National Education Association, and I have a hunch most unions have been infiltrated and corrupted by corporate interests by now. However, I'm not knowledgeable about all unions. One union that fascinates me is the Wobblies, which is reportedly attempting to unionize Starbucks. The Wobblies have a heroic reputation, though a lot has changed since the early 20th century.

But I think I stated that I oppose union CORRUPTION, not unions in general. It's hard to imagine any middle ground on that point; one either approves or condemns corruption. Merely tolerating it (as so many union members do) is tantamount to approving it in my book.