Is the bus strike accomplishing anything?
If so, what? All the suffering is our side.
Do Pawlenty and House Republicans care if transit
is shut down for 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months?
Their supporters aren't suffering much. A handful
of Republican legislators have substantial numbers of
Metro Transit riders. The others don't.
If Labor ends up looking weak, union organizers are
going to have trouble getting support from people hurt
by the strike, especially low-wage workers and
immigrants.
I am not going to be a cheerleader for a no-win
"strategy". It's not really a strategy, it's inertia.
Passing the hat at union meetings isn't enough.
Somebody has to force this strike to a quick
settlement.
To be fair, we don't have any recent tradition of
general strikes in the United States.
Wildcat strikers are usually fired. A successful
wildcat strike is about as likely as a successful
prison revolt. Sympathy strikes are illegal.
It is absolutely necessary to defeat the
Republicans who caused this strike in Novenmber 2004
and November 2006 elections. But, that doesn't do
anything to force a settlement of the bus strike.
What will it take? What could be done?
What if Labor, progressives and environmentalists
imposed a 35mph speed on the Metro area?
During WWII, the United States had a national speed
limit of 35mph. The purpose was to save rubber and
gasoline.
Before they were drafted, Willie and Joe had to
live with a 35mph speed limit. If it was good enough
for Willie and Joe, it should be good enough for you!
Maybe you didn't know that the CLUC, Trades and
Labor and the Teamsters could set a speed limit for
the Metro area. Think about three or four trucks
driving slowly, side-by side...
If you want to help impose a slower speed limit by
being a "pace car" it would be safer to do it in a
bigger vehicle.
Those of you who drive SUVs and other big vehicles
without written permission from Greenpeace and Ralph
Nader must be wracked by guilt. You could assuage your
guilt and help the cause of transit by joining the
drive slow campaign.
What about all those Gay Farmers in rural MN? You
know, the farmers who put pink triangles on the back
of their tractors. They could show their outrage over
all the Republican hatemongering against gays by
taking their tractors to the Metro area and driving
slow on the freeways.
What-you mean those triangles are slow moving
vehicle symbols? Not pink triangles? Never mind!
Environmentalists could pick a different speed
limit. An all-roads, no transit solution is terrible
for the environment.
Something drastic has to be done to force an end to
the bus strike or else it could drag on for months.
Ed Fesler [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minneapolis
Corcoran
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