A federal appeals court in Washington DC has ruled that Obama was not authorized to make an appointment to the national Labor Relations Board last January. Obama claimed Congress was out of session.
The Court ruled they were just out of town for the weekend and had not officially been gaveled out of session. (Sounds like a set up to me.)
This is a Congress where it’s possible to filibuster a bill via email. You don’t even have to be there in person, like James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington talking yourself hoarse, to filibuster a bill. Hell, you don’t even have to be in Washington. You can be in Hawaii on a million dollar trinket paid for by corporate sponsors. Just fax or phone in your filibuster.
At issue are over 300 rulings made by the Labor Relations Board in the last year. (The LRB mitigates labor unions and their dealings with corporations.)
I’ve never been a Big Fan of Big Labor. I think they were wrong to draw the line on wages and let all those good manufacturing jobs go overseas. I think they should focus more on training of their members and professionalism; less on politics and wages. A good job is a precious thing.
In the best of all worlds, I’d wish all the union people on China. Go over there and organize. Fight for clean air and clean water and an end to child labor. Level the playing field for us.
I have, however, been totally disgusted by the reaction of Big Business to this court ruling. REALLY disgusted. All my favorite cable news shows are piling it on the LRB. They’re spiking the ball. Hurray for big business. Screw labor unions. This is the death knell to the labor movement.
Big sigh. It wasn’t unions that drove all those good jobs overseas. It was Big Business. They support Washington in refusing to label China as a currency manipulator, for pegging their currency at 40% below fair value versus the dollar. That way they can make things in China and sell them here for a guaranteed 40% profit.
During the campaign I was afraid of how the unions rallied behind the Democrat banner. All those crowds, a few fist fights; Bruce Springstein playing some tunes.
At least the unions got people to go vote. They didn’t twist arms. They just drove busses. They were out in droves, celebrating democracy and asserting their civil rights.
The way the cable business news channels are rallying against this LRB ruling is much, MUCH more frightening. There are no crowds, but the effect on policy is even greater. These people assert their will through behind-the-scenes, smoky-back-room arm pulling. They’re Judas Iscariot and “et tu Brute” Brutus rolled into one.
Thirty senators stabbing sharp knives in Caesar’s back.
Plundering democracy.
