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Trump: Where the Rubber Hits the Road
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees ^ | November 30, 2016 | Lee Saunders, AFSCME President

Posted on 11/30/2016 3:39:37 PM PST by mdittmar

Last week, families came together to express gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. If your Thanksgiving table was anything like mine, there was plenty of lively debate about politics and current affairs, about what a Trump administration will mean for our country’s future.

First, it cannot mean a rise in hate speech. It must not mean attacks on women, religious minorities, LGBTQ people and communities of color.

There’s no question that white nationalists have been emboldened by this election, or that Donald Trump has stoked fear and resentment for political advantage. This has to stop, and the president-elect has an obligation to stop it. It’s the very opposite of what makes America great.

If he is truly committed to unity and healing, there may be opportunities for cooperation — perhaps on infrastructure investment, as long as it provides good-paying jobs and not just corporate boondoggles. I don’t believe obstructionism should be our default position, as it was for the right wing from the moment President Obama was elected. There’s too much at stake for short-term political brinkmanship. We in the labor movement and the progressive community will work with President-elect Trump when — but only when — doing so aligns with our values.

The Trump campaign tapped into legitimate frustration on the part of so many working people. It’s time to address this economic insecurity, and we will hold the president-elect’s feet to the fire to ensure that he does.

But in many cases, the Trump governing agenda seems to contradict the Trump campaign platform.

If fighting for the forgotten woman and man is the president-elect’s goal, for example, it’s unclear how trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy get us there. The same goes for a rollback of the Obama administration rule allowing millions more Americans to receive overtime pay. And if wresting power from the elites is a defining principle of a Trump presidency, does it make any sense to undo regulations that rein in greed and excess on Wall Street?

For generations, it’s been the labor movement that has led the way in lifting living standards for working people. Why, then, would someone who claims to be working people’s champion pursue a national right-to-work law that would crush collective bargaining rights? Although Trump suggested he would shore up the retirement safety net, there are indications that he will move to privatize Medicare and convert Medicaid to a block grant program.

Such an approach would mean Draconian benefit cuts inflicting pain and hardship on millions of people. It is also deeply unpopular. Recent polling shows that 80 percent of Trump voters believe “protecting Social Security and Medicare” should be a priority for the incoming administration and new Congress.

Donald Trump was elected on a pledge to help working people. Now is his chance to show us, not tell us. We will give him every opportunity to prove his sincerity, and we will not miss an opportunity to oppose him if he doesn’t


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: unions
Well,Lee,I don't know any "white nationalists",but I know you.
1 posted on 11/30/2016 3:39:37 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar

Isn’t it odd that a guy who’s supposed to be concerned with working conditions and wages is obsessed with deviant sexual practices, Black Nationalists, Mexican Separatists, and hatred of White people?

When was the last time Mr. Saunders saved 1000 jobs at a private company? Oh that’s right. Lee is one of our Overseers, the self appointed oppressor class who refer to themselves as our government, even though no one elected them.

This guy is the reason the Blue Wall came down. Even the average union drone can see he doesn’t give a crap about them.


2 posted on 11/30/2016 3:44:17 PM PST by Regulator
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To: mdittmar

AFSCME and AFGE: enslavers of the American people.

Start with an immediate denial of payroll union deductions anywhere that can be done under the law.
Meanwhile change the law and also go for Right To Work legislation.


3 posted on 11/30/2016 3:46:31 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: mdittmar

Lee sanders should open his eyes and ears


4 posted on 11/30/2016 3:49:42 PM PST by stocksthatgoup (MSM = HOME OF FAKE NEWS)
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To: mdittmar

Interesting that a union person would use the phrase “Where The Rubber Hits The Road”.

That was from an old Firestone tire commercial.

Firestone, I believe, was in the midst of a dust up with their union when the union workers decided to sabotage some tires to make Firestone look bad.

Those sabotaged tires damn near killed the Ford Corporation. It was those tires that were blowing up and sending Ford Explorers crashing and killing people.

The end result was that the plant where these union thugs sabotaged tires was closed down.

The sabotage by the union workers killed innocent people and cost union workers their jobs.

Great idea for the union people to bring this back up.


5 posted on 11/30/2016 3:56:31 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: blueunicorn6

firestone 500


6 posted on 11/30/2016 3:58:25 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar
white nationalists have been emboldened by this election

If by "white nationalist" you mean "proud of being white," then I plead guilty.

If by "white nationalist" you mean "proud of being American," then I plead guilty.

If by "white nationalist" you mean "proud of my ancestry"," then I plead guilty.

If by "white nationalist" you mean "proud of what white people have accomplished over the ages," then I plead guilty

7 posted on 11/30/2016 4:03:54 PM PST by IronJack
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To: mdittmar

government unions should never have been allowed to exist.


8 posted on 11/30/2016 4:09:17 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: mdittmar

The Black Nationalists, Indian Nationalists, and Hispanic Nationalists are pretty stoked as well.


9 posted on 11/30/2016 4:11:13 PM PST by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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To: 867V309

Exactly. They are the mafia arm of government.


10 posted on 11/30/2016 4:16:59 PM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

If Trump did everything to appease this group, they still will vote for Hitler in 4 years if he was a Demorat.


11 posted on 11/30/2016 4:30:43 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Election 2016 - Best election ever.)
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To: mdittmar
Dear Mr Saunders, Since when do you even talk to Trump voters? You sure as he!! Don't speak for them!😂
12 posted on 11/30/2016 4:36:35 PM PST by sauropod (Beware the fury of a patient man. I've lost my patience!)
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To: blueunicorn6
Interesting that a union person would use the phrase “Where The Rubber Hits The Road”.

It sounds more like a Bill Clinton campaign ad...

13 posted on 11/30/2016 4:40:11 PM PST by rfp1234 (DinosorosExtinction)
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To: mdittmar

There’s too much at stake for short-term political brinkmanship. We in the labor movement and the progressive community will work with President-elect Trump when — but only when — doing so aligns with our values.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well then it is my most fervent prayer that you will never be able to work with President Trump because your values are what has damn near brought this country to brink of destruction. GET LOST YOU FREAKING MORON.


14 posted on 11/30/2016 5:14:46 PM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (Time for the 'TRUMP 2020' yard signs)
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To: Regulator
There’s no question that white nationalists have been emboldened by this election, or that Donald Trump has stoked fear and resentment for political advantage.

I absolutely question it!

Trump stands for none of those things.

Just another DNCMedia lie.

15 posted on 11/30/2016 5:21:02 PM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: IronJack

If by “white nationalist” you mean “proud of being white,” then I plead guilty.

If by “white nationalist” you mean “proud of being American,” then I plead guilty.

If by “white nationalist” you mean “proud of my ancestry”,” then I plead guilty.

If by “white nationalist” you mean “proud of what white people have accomplished over the ages,” then I plead guilty
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I could not have voiced my exact same position any better. Those who use the term “white nationalist” in an effort to intimidate or shame people who identify as such will soon discover they are wasting their time. You want to take us on? Bring it!


16 posted on 11/30/2016 5:24:17 PM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (Time for the 'TRUMP 2020' yard signs)
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To: mdittmar

Re: the new administration-—”It must not mean attacks on women, religious minorities, LGBTQ people and communities of color.”

But attacks on men,mainstream religion worshipers,straight people,and white communities are OK.

Uh huh,I get it.

JERK !

.


17 posted on 11/30/2016 5:48:06 PM PST by Mears
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To: Regulator
Isn’t it odd that a guy who’s supposed to be concerned with working conditions and wages is obsessed with deviant sexual practices, Black Nationalists, Mexican Separatists, and hatred of White people?

Kind of like a breakfast cereal company thinking it should be making political statements.

18 posted on 12/01/2016 3:32:14 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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