Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Monday, October 24, 2016

Thank You, Unions and Liberals

Today, October 24, 1940, marks the 76th anniversary of the 8-hour day and the 40-hour work week, brought to you by Liberals and unions. 

You're welcome.

And speaking of Liberals...

via Daily Kos:


If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people---their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties---someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a Liberal. ---John F. Kennedy


“I believe in a relatively equal society, supported by institutions that limit extremes of wealth and poverty. I believe in democracy, civil liberties, and the rule of law. That makes me a liberal, and I’m proud of it.” ---Paul Krugman

 "Reality has a well-known liberal bias." ---Stephen Colbert


“Today’s so-called ‘conservatives’ don’t even know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.” ---Barry Goldwater 

 "Everybody knows God is nonpartisan, but I swear Jesus was a liberal---the best, the biggest, the original bleeding heart---the one who embraced the outcasts, the model for us all. Just read the stuff in the New Testament written in red." ---Molly Ivins


And Happy Birthday to a special someone who often visits here.





8 comments:

Infidel753 said...

the 8-hour day and the 40-hour work week, brought to you by Liberals and unions.

And we all know that the right-wingers -- or at least the "libertarian" contingent thereof -- would take away the laws protecting those things if they got the chance, just as they'd take away the minimum wage and what few workplace protections we have.

"If an employer can find somebody desperate enough to work 60 hours a week for $5 an hour and no overtime, the government shouldn't take away his right to do that! If you don't like it, find another job! FREEDUMB!!!"

The price of liberalism and of its gains is eternal vigilance. Unions have already been dangerously eroded, but we can and must still keep on voting for liberals.

Infidel753 said...

Reading your link, it's interesting that one of the first major steps was President Grant's proclamation in 1869 setting an eight-hour workday for government employees. A President can't determine policy for private-sector employers, but he can help set standards by establishing rules for the federal government, which in many cases is competing with those employers to hire people. That's one way of looking at Obama's establishment of protections for gay employees in federal workplaces -- though I hope this time it doesn't take 71 years for national standards to catch up.

Dave Miller said...

It may mark that anniversary, but for many it isn't working out so well.

My son regularly has to work 75 hour weeks and while the pay is good, it leaves him little time for a personal life.

Companies and even civil employers, prefer overtime with experienced employees rather than training and developing new ones.

In Las Vegas, we'd have an abundance of great new jobs if the the police and fire depts would eschew overtime and hire new workers. but the unions will not permit it.

As a lib, I am grateful for all the unions have done over time, but they, like any other institution, have their limits.

Bluebull said...

Very proud liberal who voted today here in Florida - all blue! Only had to wait 2.5 hours this time, too. Last election was nearly 8 hours in the sun. Doesn't matter - no matter how much crap the Republiscumbags throw out to limit voting, the more they drive us to vote them OUT!I was with a group of 8 and we made a party out of it.

Your Special Someone Who Visits Here said...

Thanks, Shaw.

Shaw Kenawe said...


Bluebull I voted today as well at Boston City Hall, and there were long lines for early voting. Hillary has a 99.8% chance of winning Massachusetts and its 11 electoral votes and I hope she runs up the vote to add to a popular vote landslide.

Infidel753, America was prosperous when the unions were strong.

Didn't President Obama mandate overtime for federal employees as well? Something corporations have been trying to cheat working men and women out of for years.


Dave Miller, yes, any large organization, unfortunately tends toward corruption. We've seen it with governments, unions, and even religious organizations.


Special Someone You're welcome. Hope you're having a grand day!

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave, what's your take on Cortez Masto?

Dave Miller said...

Shaw... I'll be voting for her, but she would lose easily in a non Trump year. She's no Harry, that's for sure, but he didn't pick here for that.

He picked her because she checked the correct boxes... female and Latina... at least that's what he said.

But I hope she wins...