Post-Labor Day musings. I’m still digging through and translating my grandfather’s papers from his union days. A snippet of a letter he wrote and sent, several years after he retired, unloading on the union’s current leadership:
Dear Brother,
I hoped that some member of the General Executive Board would remember that there are still a few—very few, in fact—comrades living who, because of their age, were forced to retire and who are compelled to live on a pension that was established many, indeed very many, years ago, when the cost of living was considerably lower than it is today; while the salaries of the officials in general have been adjusted to keep pace with the cost of living.
These forced retirees have been abandoned as though they were human refuse. Has there been even one member of that group who has remembered these old comrades who contributed so much to the formation of this organization?
We have condemned the conduct of the employers… I am tempted to say that even the leaders of the labor movement are among the worst enemies of the working class.
I don’t think he was happy with what his union had become less than 50 years after its creation. I often wish I could ask him about what he thinks about labor unions today.
It always amazes me when supporters of communism are surprised that when they help give power hungry people the power to rob the rich, they don’t then see any need to share wealth or power with the useful idiots that they used to take the place of the former rulers. I guess that is why the left goes after the education system, it is easier to convince the ignorant that serving the new masters is somehow better than serving the old masters.
I often tell Elena I think we were blessed in our revolution, there are so few that don’t result in the same or worse. We recently watched The Scarlet Pimpernel, it showed the more common pattern. The embrace of young young leftists of socialism and what it shows about their ignorance is more depressing to me than the thought of the damage their victory would cause. It does not matter how badly the experiments fail, they will just keep claiming that we just need to keep giving our rulers even more power and less accountability and it is sure to work.
People being people, any organization -- no matter its type -- will become corrupt over time regardless of its idealistic ambitions. We’ve become corrupt less slowly, but it’s there whether local, state, or federal.
KCRA 3 first reported back in 2024 that project leaders, known as the California Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee, quietly spent $5.2 million in taxpayer funds to mine granite in Raymond, California, ship it to Italy for finishing, and then return it to Sacramento for installation. It is one small expense in the project’s $1.2 billion total price tag.
Only the best for our rulers. The taxpayers can live on the scraps left over and beam with pride at the finery they provide for the ruling class. Don’t you feel proud?
[Verse 1]
And when the sunshine showed
Her face i felt like i was ready to die
Went lookin for a place to hide
A hole i could crawl inside
Long lines
Whiskey bottles
And the same old song
I smell death in the air
And i know it won’t be long
And i could say im trying to change
But thats just another lie
Its been a day and a half
And i’m still high
[Verse 2]
And i feel like jackson mississippi
A river running
Like jackson mississippi
A river running
Like jackson mississippi
A river running threw my veins
And when the daylight dissapeared
I took a good look inside
Behind my pride
I sat down and cried
I know im not a fool
But i dont know whats wrong
Mabe its time to pack
And just move on
[Outro]
And i could say im trying to change
But that would just be a lie
Im looking for some one to tell me why
Thread pic: that took a little work to make.
Good morning, GN. After a weekend of cooler temperatures and more than an inch of rain, summer roars back with temperatures over 100°.
Happy Tuesday (and first day of school), Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Sven!
It’s not only hot, it’s humid, like Texas or Florida humid.
Hi, Paddy. We got the same mugginess here as well. Not going to be a comfortable couple of days.
Post-Labor Day musings. I’m still digging through and translating my grandfather’s papers from his union days. A snippet of a letter he wrote and sent, several years after he retired, unloading on the union’s current leadership:
I don’t think he was happy with what his union had become less than 50 years after its creation. I often wish I could ask him about what he thinks about labor unions today.
It always amazes me when supporters of communism are surprised that when they help give power hungry people the power to rob the rich, they don’t then see any need to share wealth or power with the useful idiots that they used to take the place of the former rulers. I guess that is why the left goes after the education system, it is easier to convince the ignorant that serving the new masters is somehow better than serving the old masters.
I often tell Elena I think we were blessed in our revolution, there are so few that don’t result in the same or worse. We recently watched The Scarlet Pimpernel, it showed the more common pattern. The embrace of young young leftists of socialism and what it shows about their ignorance is more depressing to me than the thought of the damage their victory would cause. It does not matter how badly the experiments fail, they will just keep claiming that we just need to keep giving our rulers even more power and less accountability and it is sure to work.
She found it boring, not enough action. Oh my.
Raymond Massey was so good!!!
People being people, any organization -- no matter its type -- will become corrupt over time regardless of its idealistic ambitions. We’ve become corrupt less slowly, but it’s there whether local, state, or federal.
California, ayup.
Only the best for our rulers. The taxpayers can live on the scraps left over and beam with pride at the finery they provide for the ruling class. Don’t you feel proud?
Not proud; not entertained.
And a song to close out the night -- Jackson Mississippi Kid Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykS39EnVKyw
[Verse 1]
And when the sunshine showed
Her face i felt like i was ready to die
Went lookin for a place to hide
A hole i could crawl inside
Long lines
Whiskey bottles
And the same old song
I smell death in the air
And i know it won’t be long
And i could say im trying to change
But thats just another lie
Its been a day and a half
And i’m still high
[Verse 2]
And i feel like jackson mississippi
A river running
Like jackson mississippi
A river running
Like jackson mississippi
A river running threw my veins
And when the daylight dissapeared
I took a good look inside
Behind my pride
I sat down and cried
I know im not a fool
But i dont know whats wrong
Mabe its time to pack
And just move on
[Outro]
And i could say im trying to change
But that would just be a lie
Im looking for some one to tell me why