When Gary Gerard wants to write a critique about a movie and the message it sends out, it would help if he actually saw the movie. As he starts to launch his so-called discussion of the movie he pauses to admit that he did not see the movie. At this point the column should end.
And that is the problem with this country. People make up their minds on issues like health care reform before reading the details. They allow pundits and newspaper columnists to dissect the issue for them. And since this means that people are getting information from a point of view skewed in the direction of the columnists, those who formulate their opinion in this way are not only lazy but misinformed. Then they go out to these tea party rallies and scream about everything but the issue at hand, which is interesting since they remained silent while the largest expansion of government power took place during a Republican administration.
Now Gerard is guilty of the same offense. But that did not stop him. He tries to give you this "balanced" point of view by attempting to denounce both sides of an issue. Once upon a time Gerard proclaimed himself a civil libertarian, but in reality this column shows himself to be a right-wing shill he tries to deny he is. To compare the legislative agendas of corporations and unions is ridiculous. For Gerard to suggest some equivalency in the legislation pushed by unions and corporations is another example of Gerard being disingenuous.
Corporations push for legislation that would bail them out of trouble and end regulations that keep people safe. They fight against clean water, clean air, health insurance, safety standards in food, clothing and other goods. And while they speak of free markets they push for laws to make sure that the free market doesn't hurt them.
Unions, on the other hand, fight for things like the 40-hour work week, labor laws, worker benefits, safety in the workplace, overtime, retirement benefits, paid vacations, the Americans with Disabilities Act and family leave, everything that non-union workers take for granted.
Unions helped build up a middle class during the '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s. And corporations fought them all the way. What little middle class is left in this country is due in part to a continued vigilant stance by unions against corporate deregulation run amok. And remember the unions were not asking for a bailout when corporate America ran to President Bush hat in hand and the Republicans were so willing to oblige.
