Government shutdown a corporate lockout of the people

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http://peoplesworld.org/government-shutdown-a-corporate-lockout-of-the-people/

The government shutdown is a corporate lockout of the American people.

In the private sector, if the company and its union have not reached agreement when the contract expires, common practice is to extend the old contract while negotiations continue. But what if the company is determined to increase profits by busting the union, gutting the workers' health benefits, raiding the pension plan and eliminating workers' rights on the job? They resort to a lockout - they shut the company's doors, and prevent the workers from doing their jobs or getting paid.

That's exactly what the Republicans, led by the tea party caucus, have done - not only to 800,000 government workers, but to the American people.

Context

The government crisis takes place as we near the start of the sixth year of economic depression. The wealthiest one-tenth of one percent - one in a thousand families - have fully recovered and have grabbed almost all of the modest gains made by the economy since 2009. But working families continue to suffer, with 25 million unemployed or underemployed, and with the typical household having lost $7,490 in annual income since 2000. Infuriated at having lost the 2008 and 2012 elections, the Republican Party, particularly its tea party extremists, are prepared to devastate the entire country in their racist drive to cripple the Obama presidency.

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Long, but a good read worth the time. Government shutdown parallels corporate lockouts of union workers.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Here's the reply I got from my Republican Congressman, Steve Womack, when I emailed

him concerning the shutdown.

"I appreciate you reaching out to me to express your thoughts regarding the government shutdown.

I am opposed to a government shutdown. It is not in the best interest of Arkansans or our country, and I want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

As you know, the House has passed three bills that fund all aspects of the government, with the exception of Obamacare. The first bill defunded the health care law. The second bill delayed for one year the implementation of the law. And the third bill delayed for one year the enforcement of the individual mandate. Each time, the Senate stripped out the Obamacare language and sent back to the House a "clean" continuing resolution.

It is no secret that I am opposed to Obamacare. However, I have said all along that defunding the law is not an achievable goal. The Democrats control the White House and the Senate, and there is no way Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will do anything to undermine the law. Even if he did, President Obama would not sign it. Additionally, a government shutdown does nothing to halt Obamacare, because the implementation of the law can continue during a shutdown.

I stand ready and willing to work with anyone – Republican or Democrat – to resolve this issue. I am under no illusion that the President will do anything to undermine his signature legislative achievement; however, as the leader of our country, he has a responsibility to bring both sides together to find a way to move forward.

Thank you for contacting me."

[Starry Messenger]

2. Good letter, interesting.

I hope this shutdown fractures the Republican coalition.

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3. night kick