Views in brief

UTLA dues vote not surprising

I AM not in the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), but the contradictory behavior of the voting members does not surprise me ("Why did the UTLA dues increase fail?"). Disappoint me, yes, but surprise me, no.

It is truly amazing what is going on in the Los Angeles Unified School District these days. A teacher can get non-re-elected for being too "Afrocentric." More and more school space is being invaded by charter outfits.

Los Angeles School Superintendent David Brewer sent phone messages against the June action only to UTLA members. A large number turn out to a rally against budget cuts...but a majority do not want their union to have the financial ability to do what they need to do.

I was in a national union a few years ago. It was not a teacher's union, but it was a union with lame locals for many years. A cadre of activists joined the job force where I lived, fought for the leadership of the union and got things done. We purchased a building for the local, developed membership committees and trained shop stewards. We also were active in the community.

Through the work of the rank-and-file leaders, even those who did not support the new leaders initially were forced to come around. When we needed money (dues increases, etc.), we got it, only because we laid the groundwork for it through fighting against management as though we were dogs in a fight to the death. Our brawl was the righteous struggle for dignity, justice and decent wages and retirements.

I would strongly suggest that the proposal for the dues increase be resubmitted at a later time, and that the UTLA and grassroots activists in UTLA demonstrate the concrete need for the additional funds in the near future. Even in tough financial times, the members of the bargaining unit must make sacrifices in order to support their trade union organizations. Think otherwise at your own peril!
Steve Johnson, Los Angeles

SW got the Seattle strike right

I AM a 40-year member of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Sprinkler Fitters Local 699. I just wanted to let you know that your article on the strike was the most accurate and informative of any that I have read ("Strike shuts down Seattle building sites"). Keep up the good work!
Dennis Daly, from the Internet

Democrats are part of the problem

IT SEEMS now that every week, Republican Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri insists that the state deficit is "much bigger than we thought."

Of course, every "solution" is a new outrageous attack on immigrants, state workers, homeless and poor working people, teachers and students (including college students), and towns and cities.

Almost every member of Rhode Island's General Assembly is a duplicitous Democrat, just like the duplicitous Democrats who control the U.S. Congress. These Democrats in the General Assembly say, "We have no other choice" and "Brace yourself," and then rightfully criticize Carcieri for the outrage he is--while going right along with him at the same time.

Since 2001, the Democratic Party has sat on its hands as Bush won an election by the power of the Supreme Court instead of the American people. Only one brave Democrat cautioned against invading Afghanistan after September 11, warning us to simply pause and think through the implications.

Bush's Orwellian USA PATRIOT Act was not read before the Democrats voted for it, and since has met no opposition whatsoever to even amend it. Now, the Democrats have their own similar "Homegrown Terrorist Prevention Act."

In 2002, Democrats went along with Bush's lies about Iraq and the decision to go to war with the defenseless country. The little opposition from some Democrats was based on how to best fight the "war on terror."

Democrats have not resisted Bush's far-right-wing judges. Democrats have not called on the Bush administration to shut down Guantánamo Bay or Abu Ghraib prison. They have purposefully tried to avoid bringing up the discussion. There has been no discussion from Democrats about prosecuting the heads of Blackwater or Haliburton for a reason: They do not want to.

Not a peep was made from the Democratic Party over the horror brought on by how the government "cleansed" New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and privatized its rebuilding. The Democrats never want to talk about things like racism or the death penalty, and try to find "common ground" on abortion rights.

The Democrats are as pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian as the Republicans are. Democrats took impeachment "off the table" even before winning a congressional majority in 2007, and since have voted for every war spending bill asked of them.

Of course, the Democrats never run out of excuses, such as "We need a 60-vote majority," "We have to wait until the next Democrat is president next year," or just "We need to support our troops." I apologize that I've voted Democrat in my life--but have learned from my mistakes and will not repeat them.
Greg Morse, Providence, R.I.

Farewell to a racist

JESSE HELMS is dead and gone. Some conservatives may try to moderate some of his views because he became friends with Bono--but Jesse Helms never supported equality or civil rights. We must never forget that he was a racist when he was a Democrat, and he was a racist when he was a Republican.
Chuck Mann, Greensboro, N.C.

Keep up the good work

I WANTED to say that your new Web site is really good. I used to read it occasionally, now I come here daily. I'm impressed by the high caliber of your writers and the wide group of excellent writers who are here. Keep up your work.
Reed Eurchuk, Vancouver, Canada